. >> reporter: donald williamson living on a fixed income rides the circulator almost every day. >> because everyone doesn't have money to pay for transportation. certainly it's free, it helps someone save some money. >> reporter: in february, the mayor waived the $1 fee in an effort to get more people on the bus and out of their cars. since then ridership has gone the first month. free ride more than 20,000 additional rides than february of last year, and then in march nearly 80,000 additional rides over march of last year. >> that tells us that free circulator has been working and people are excited about the service and we see that didership grow as a result. >> reporter: fun runs out at the end of this year. d.c. councilmember mary shea isn't connced funding the free rides is the best way to get cars off the streets. >> is it really the case that we are getting more peo re toe the circulator and getting them out of their cars? i think that's completely known. you may have people riding the circulator since it's free because maybe they want to get on the bus to get warm. >> ruporter: she

. >> donald williamson, living on a fixed income, rid the circulate or almost every day. >> because eveet have money to pay for transportation. certainly if it's free it will help someone save some money. >> reporter: in february mayor bows bowser waived the $1 fee in an effort to get more people on the bus and out of their cars. since then ridership has gone m. the firstth of the free ride, more than 20,000 additional rides than february of last year. andhen in march, nearly 80,000 additional rides over march of last year. >> and that tells us that free circulate or has been working and people are excited about the service and we see that ridership continuing to grow as a result. >> reporter: funning for the free bus service runs out at the end of the year. d.c. counc member isn't convinced funding the free ride is the best way to get cars off th>> streets. tiit really the case that we are getng more people to ride the circulate or and getting them out of theirar c i think that's completely unknown. you may have people riding the circulate or now since it's free because maybe they just