Bus question for Mr. Bus Guy

In our local media they’re reporting that school districts are experiencing as much as a 50% increase in bus ridership, since many high school students are leaving their cars at home due to higher gas prices.

Are you experiencing the same thing in your area? How do you cope with the increased demand?

Are routes and schedules set up on the assumption that everyone will ride the bus, with the result that a lot of seats are empty? Or do you anticipate that a lot of students will drive, and then get caught in a crunch if everyone decides to ride?