Rising fuel prices have led to significant increases in costs for public transportation agencies in recent years. A possible benefit from higher prices, though, is an increase in ridership as motorists seek options to reduce their fuel consumption. Many transit systems of different types and sizes across the country have experienced increases in ridership in recent years. This presentation analyzes the effects of gas prices on bus ridership by employing a variety of models. Analysis is conducted on ridership for different types of transit systems, with an emphasis on bus ridership for small urban and rural transit systems in the Upper Great Plains. Higher gas prices are found to result in increased ridership, but the increases in fare revenues are not enough to cover the higher fuel expenses for the transit systems. As a result, transit agencies are having difficulties meeting the demands for increased service due to budget pressures caused by rising fuel costs.