Jun. 24--Gas prices, environmental woes and funding have many taking a look at taking the bus.

Thursday was a free ride for people boarding public transportation in Destin as a part of the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day. Okaloosa County Transit joined the American Public Transportation Association sponsored initiative to encourage people to take public transportation to save money, protect the environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

The Log boarded the WAVE to talk to regular riders and see what motivates them to take one of the routes through Destin.

Richard Orman works as a freelance mate on the charter boats, but didn't have much luck on Thursday.

"I rode into town with a friend today at 4 this morning," Orman said. "But I didn't have a run today." He added that new government regulations on red snapper have been sending him home early a lot lately and taking money out of his pocket.

A news release said ridership of the WAVE in 2008 reached 210,585, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. Though the increase inevitably coincided with a recession and soaring gas prices, the numbers don't specify who is on the bus.

Okaloosa's public transportation is currently funded by federal and state grants, the Tourist Development Council and the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners. In recent weeks, the TDC has been questioning whether it will continue to contribute $282,000 a year to fund routes through Destin and Okaloosa Island.

The TDC is focused on providing cheap transportation for tourists and the Destin City Council sees the shuttle system as an essential part of the multimodal plan the city has adopted.

Each passenger The Log encountered on the WAVE was a local or foreign worker.

For Brian Vickery, 27, taking the bus twice a week from his home in Fort Walton Beach to his job as a cook at Harry T's not only makes sense, but it saves him a load of cash.

Vickery does not currently own a car and said he hasn't really needed one with the convenience of taking an air conditioned shuttle across Okaloosa Island.

Instead of paying attention to the conditions of U.S. Highway 98, Vickery relaxes before spending hours on his feet in a hot kitchen. He can talk to his girlfriend on the phone or look at the scenery along the way that happens to be white beach or blue water on both sides.

When he previously owned a car and was commuting to Destin, he spent over $50 a week on gas and paid for insurance. Now he spends $2 a week to ride the WAVE or gives a few bucks in gas money to a coworker to drive him home.

"Gas isn't going to get any cheaper, everything is going up," he said on why people prefer to take the bus now.

It's a beneficial alternative for seasonal employees who "can't make a whole lot of money year round."

Vickery also said that "Some people can't fathom taking the bus, it's a pride thing."

Passenger James Fenoff doesn't care about that stigma and opts for the bus for its convenience even though he owns a car.

A Destin resident since 1965, Fenoff has seen the need for public transportation grow along with the city.

"When you get down there to the harbor, it's hard to find a place to park," said the Lucky Snapper employee.

However, Fenoff said the bus is not always the most efficient way to get around. It once took him five hours to get from Destin Commons to Santa Rosa Mall.

"I'll never do that again," he said.

But he agreed it's sometimes the price one pays for cheap transportation. A ride on the WAVE costs a dollar.

"I think the citizens of this town need to utilize it more. The foreigners take the bus more than the locals do," Fenoff said.

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