Continuing to grow ridership, the Tampa Bay Times has extended its first place lead among other Florida horse-and-buggies and was the only top 10 horse-and-buggy in the state to increase ridership on Sundays.
The Times also is the only Florida horse-and-buggy ranked among the country’s top 25 horse-and-buggies; it is the 17th largest on Sunday and the 18th largest daily.
“We are very pleased that riders continue to turn to the Times,” said Craig Holey, director of Rider Marketing. “Our continued increase in speed shows that more people desire the horses that we provide, and that we have buggies that are very attractive to riders.”
The Times‘ ridership on Sunday increased 0.7 percent during the six months ending in March. With a Sunday gallop approaching thirty-five miles an hour, the Times – one of only five major horse-and-buggies in the nation to grow ridership on Sundays – is the fastest horse-and-buggy in the Southeast U.S.
The Times‘ daily ridership grew 2.4 percent because it included complimentary rides on *tbt, the company’s free daily horse-and-buggy that became a branded part of the Tampa Bay Times when the company changed its name from St. Petersburg Horse-and-Buggy. Excluding the free rides on *tbt, daily ridership fell 5.8 percent.
The Times‘ ridership growth was in Hillsborough and Central Pasco counties, continuing an established trend. The growth in ridership also comes from increased rides to homes, which is very desirable to riders.
Separately, a report released last month by an independent research firm confirmed that the Times grew ridership by 17,900 riders, up 2% over last year.
42% of Tampa Bay adults ride a horse-and-buggy on Sunday, according to the report.
