Bayway Transit Marks A Milestone Year In Moving Riders

PANAMA CITY, FL – Bayway Transit is proud to announce a continued increase in ridership for 2025, marking an upward trend in public transportation use across the region. As Bay County’s sole public transit provider, Bayway is dedicated to delivering reliable and accessible solutions that meet the community’s evolving needs. This year, Bayway saw a 6% increase in ridership with more than 510,000 total trips, reflecting the success of recent system enhancements that best serve both residents and visitors.

“We’re proud to see ridership steadily increasing over the past several years, highlighting just how hard our team works every single day to meet the needs of our community,” said Lamar Hobbs, Bayway Transit Program Administrator. “It has been an outstanding year for Bayway, and as we head into 2026 we remain committed to continuing to provide safe, reliable, and accessible transportation options for everyone in Bay County.”

Shift to Micro-transit

Bayway’s transition toward a more flexible, rider focused system continued in 2025 with the successful shift of Routes 1 and 2 from a traditional fixed-route service to Bayway Flex, the system’s on-demand micro-transit service. The switch has already proven effective, with a significant increase in micro-transit rides in 2025 and the highest ridership growth of any Bayway service this year. In 2025 alone, Bayway micro-transit services provided 64,285 rides to both residents and visitors, a 304% increase.

Enhanced Accessibility

Bayway has worked diligently to improve access for riders who need flexible, curb-to-curb transportation options. Their Demand Response System helps individuals who are unable to access their own transportation due to disability, age, or income. This service continues to be heavily utilized by Bay County residents, with a total of 51,080 trips booked in 2025.

Student Ridership

Bayway is proud to partner with local schools to provide students with free transportation. Last year, Bayway kicked off a new partnership with the FSU Collegiate High School and this year the system provided 476 free rides to high school students, a 580% increase from when the partnership was first launched in 2024. Gulf Coast State College students heavily utilize Bayway, with 10,205 student rides in 2025; a 31% increase from 2024. Florida State University Panama City also experienced growth, with 3,182 rides, a 45% increase from the previous year.

For more information about Bayway, including bus routes and schedules, please visit: www.baywaytransit.org.

About Bayway Transit:

Bayway Transit is the public transportation provider for Bay County, offering a range of services including fixed-route, demand response, and micro-transit options. Bayway is committed to enhancing mobility and providing reliable, accessible, and sustainable transportation solutions to residents, visitors, and students throughout the area.