The Brewer City Council, searching for more cost-effective service from The Bus, is considering axing several runs on the present schedule and changing the routes of others.

During a public hearing on the matter Tuesday evening, riders and drivers turned out to defend the present Bus schedule.

A woman in the back of the council chamber told councilors that deleting runs would have a negative impact on the city. Others who spoke in favor of the present bus schedule — all of whom were woman — seemed to agree.

“If the bus ran all day, more working people would ride it,” one woman said.

“There is no question Brewer’s ridership would be better if there was service all day. But at what cost?” responded Bob Osborne, a transit planner at Bangor City Hall. “At what level of service are we satisfied in regard to cost?” he asked.

Based on the results of a study conducted by Scott Babbidge, a summer administrative employee at City Hall, city officials have pondered deleting one or all of these runs: 6:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:15 p.m., and 1:45 p.m.

Babbidge, who presented the study to the council in August, recommended eliminating the Sherwood Forest section of the southern loop and modifying the northern loop in an attempt to pick up more riders.

Furthermore, the study suggested dropping service on five holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Patriots Day, Columbus Day, and Thanksgivng Friday.

Osborne advocated eliminating the 6:15 run, which is frequently empty, and said that if another run were to be added it should be in the early afternoon hours, when ridership is heaviest.

A woman representing area students said public transportation served to integrate young people into the community. The Bus transports students to vocational and recreational facilities.

Public transportation costs Brewer about $12,000 each year. Joe McNeil, manager of The Bus, said $5 comes out of the city coffer for every loop.

According to statistics compiled by The Bus during the summer, the season’s high was 108 riders on May 11, and the low was 29.

“The goal is to make it cost-effective,” Council Chairman Ronald Harriman said. “If we’re going to run it, the benefits should be in line with the cost. And right now they’re not.”

Councilor Jerry Hudson called the bus service “vital and critical.” He suggested the city engage in a “ride the bus campaign.” He added that although the bus may not be widely-used, public transportation in general is a program well-worth the investment.

When Babbidge presented the report to the council in August, he said that if signs were installed along the two loops, ridership would probably increase.

Councilor Marilyn Lavelle agreed. She said at the time that The Bus should engage in a promotion effort to raise community awareness which would include putting up signs. She also suggested the bus company offer incentives to increase ridership.