The Mountain Climber bus service continues to be a popular option for transportation inside Columbia Falls, particularly for disabled and elderly clients.

The bus runs from about 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Columbia Falls, ferrying folks for $1 a ride to destinations in town Monday through Friday.

The service used to go to other cities in the county, like Kalispell and Whitefish, but became cost prohibitive, noted director Elizabeth Wood

Thirty percent of its riders are seniors and 33% have a disability. Wood said most riders are going to medical appointments, the grocery store, work, social events and volunteering.

In Kalispell, several go to their dialysis appointments.

“It’s a huge impact on the quality of life for people who live here,” Wood said.

The Mountain Climber is mostly funded through federal grants, but it also gets support from the cities it serves and a 1 mill levy from the county, which, if fully used, amounts to about $550,000 annually, though it doesn’t typically use the full mill, Wood noted.

Columbia Falls pays $5,200 a year. All told, the service provided 61,000 rides last year and in Columbia Falls, more than 3,800.

Councilwoman Marijke Stob lauded the service. She said she used to ride it to her garment repair business in Whitefish and really appreciated it.

”I appreciate all the rides I got,” she said. “I’m really hopeful for a commuter bus (in the future).”

In other recent city news:

The city swore in new police officer Dillon Cole. With the addition of Cole and Brian Gerdes, who was sworn in July 6, the department is up to full staffing, police chief Chad Stephens said.