As more New Englanders find themselves struggling with an economic downturn, many have started relying on city bus systems for transportation.

“For a family in tough economic times, it may be cheaper for someone to use the bus than own a second car,” said David Smith, executive director of the Manchester Transit Authority in New Hampshire.

He said MTA ridership was up 16 percent from last year.

In Bangor, the BAT Community Connector public bus system has seen a 3 percent to 4 percent increase in ridership since June 2007, serving more than 830,000 riders during that time, according to BAT superintendent Joe McNeil.

But the tough economy is also affecting operational costs, and BAT is paying a record high price for its fuel, McNeil said Friday.

As ridership increases, BAT may consider extending the distance of its bus routes and provide service to some routes later into the evening, he said.

The Metro Greater Portland Transit District saw a 5.3 percent increase from last year.

Manchester, N.H., bus driver Daniel Kustra said he has seen the biggest increase in riders over the last six months.

“It’s just a better way to get around,” said Kustra about riding the bus. “Vehicle upkeep, maintenance, insurance costs – everything’s gone up.”

The price of an unleaded gallon of gasoline hit $3.51 Friday, according to NewHampshireGasPrices.com. That’s an increase of 70 cents a gallon from last year and about 40 cents more than last month.

But the cost of riding the bus in Manchester, New Hampshire’s largest city, also may be going up.

Fares could increase as early as July if Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta goes through with a plan to cut more than $275,000 from the MTA’s budget.

If the plan is approved, the MTA could lose additional matching government money. Rates, now at $1, could go up 25 cents for regular passengers and 10 cents for seniors and disabled riders.

Early morning and some evening service could be cut. Saturday service could be discontinued.

Smith is concerned about the effect this could have on increasingly reliant riders.

“One of the misperceptions about transit is that transit is there for the elderly, disabled and people that can’t drive,” said Smith.

He said the average MTA rider was between ages 25 and 44 and used the bus to get to work.

Across the nation, more people used public transportation in 2007 than in the last 50 years, taking 10.3 billion rides, according to the American Public Transportation Association, a nonprofit transportation group.

Elsewhere in New England, some routes on Vermont’s Rutland County public transportation service were up 35 percent from last year.

BDN writer Jennifer Hersey contributed to this report.