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:ws & Observer(Print Friendly) : http : //www . . . ws/columnists/Story/831902p . 821424c . html http : //cgi . newsobserver. com/standing/help/tools/_scripts/friendly-print . cgi <br /> r <br /> "We will be doing some tweaking of the system so that the day we open up for fare -free service we have better <br /> service on the road , " said Mary Lou Kuschatka , Chapel Hill ' s transportation director . <br /> Chapel Hill Transit expects its annual ridership of 3 million will increase 10 percent to 20 percent when the fare boxes <br /> disappear . Kuschatka agrees convenience is key to improving ridership , but she says that enabling people to get on <br /> the bus without fishing for change is providing a convenience . <br /> "A lot of people say ' Oh , the money' s not the issue , ' but I believe it ' s one more barrier for people who are not familiar <br /> with the system , " she said . " It ' s easier to go put the key in the ignition than to make the phone call to find out what the <br /> fare is . " <br /> Staff writer Richard Stradling can be reached at 8294739 or rstradli ( � newsobserver . com <br /> BACK <br /> © Copyright 2000 , The News & Observer. All material found on newsobserver. com is copyrighted The News & Observer and associated news <br /> services . No material may be reproduced or reused without explicit permission from The News & Observer . <br /> s <br /> ) f 2 10/30/2001 2 : 38 PM <br />