The Cleveland Area Rapid Transit had a 50-percent increase of passengers Thursday as people took advantage of free bus rides during an initiative to encourage the use of public transportation, a CART spokesman said.

CART's Dump the Pump event has been held for five years and has seen a lot of success in previous years, with this year netting an increase of 50 percent passengers taking advantage of free rides, CART spokeswoman Vicky Holland said.

OU students and Norman residents were able to ride free during the initiative, and if riders grabbed a ticket before leaving the bus, they were able to get a free T-shirt on the South Oval with a picture of a gas pump blossoming from a green stem and pouring a green liquid, volunteer Elliot Holland said.

CART buses are usually free for students, and 50 cents for other passengers, according to the CART website.

“They are pleased to be given free rides,” Elliot Holland said while handing out T-shirts to participants. “I hope it gets more people to use the bus, because it is green.”

Some bus riders donned their free T-shirt while riding the buses, others acted as though riding the bus was just a part of their day-to-day activities.

About 1,500 people ride CART buses on a normal day, but about 3,500 to 4,000 people ride on Dump the Pump day, Vicky Holland said.

Psychology senior Aditi Jalla said she already uses the bus all the time, but she likes the idea of Dump the Pump because fewer people driving is good for the environment.

“Today isn’t just about celebrating public transit, it is about giving back to the community,” Vicky Holland said.