There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people using Charlottetown transit this summer.

Some days are seeing more than 600 riders. (CBC)

Transit officials say there are an extra 100 passengers a day riding the buses compared to last June and July, when the service carried about 450 people a day.

"People are being strapped, their budgets are being strapped with the increase in fuel costs," said general manager Bobby Dunn.

"We're getting phone calls, like I say, on a daily basis from new people every day, whether it's youth, students, adults and seniors. They're calling every day wondering how do I use the transit system. It's very encouraging."

Some days, there are more than 600 riders, said Dunn, similar to what the system was handling in April before the university term ended.

More tourists are also riding the bus, said Dunn, and daycares are using the service to get to local parks and swimming pools. The children are not being counted in the passenger numbers because many don't have to pay due to their age, but Dunn is counting on them being the paying customers of tomorrow.