Low ridership results in elimination of Friday evening Happy Bus loop
Money saved will be used in other areas
By Terrece Draper
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: News
As of Nov. 5, the Happy Bus will not be running Friday evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tyson Johnston, Student Government Association Vice President of public relations, said that the evening loop was started because of the closing of Boozel Dining Hall for renovations.
"Last year, during the fall, the purpose of the shuttle bus was to get students from the lower end of the campus to Weisenfluh Dining Hall while Boozel was closed and being renovated," Johnston said. "It was paid for at the time by the food service."
But after seeing the popularity of the evening loop, SGA decided to continue it even after Boozel reopened.
"Due to the popularity of the evening shuttle, SGA picked up on it and pursued external sources of funding to fund it," Johnston said.
He said that it cost SGA $27,000 a year to run the 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. shuttle Monday through Friday.
One of the main reasons why SGA decided to not to continue the Friday evening shuttle was because its seen a decrease in the number of riders on Friday evenings.
"During the day, Monday through Friday, the shuttle bus service to on-campus destinations between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. averages about 400 riders," Johnston said. "The shuttle bus service to off-campus destinations, during the same times and days, averages about 350 riders."
Johnston said Monday through Thursday, the evening shuttle bus service averages riders in the mid 70s, while Friday evening averages riders in the low 50s.
"Monday through Thursday there are evening classes that go beyond 5 p.m. and on Friday there aren't evening classes, and classes end at 5 p.m.," he said.
Johnston said this was a great opportunity to save money and put it towards other transportation areas, such the additional costs of adding a security guard to the late-night shuttle.
Erica Stephens, a 19-year-old biology major, said she's affected by the change.
"I think it's stupid because I have to walk to dinner from Building F now during the winter," she said.
Reva Forrest, a 20-year-old management and marketing major, said that he won't be affected because he has other means of transportation.
"I don't care because I have a car," he said. "I can drive to where I need to be at that time and find a parking space when I get back because everybody goes home on the weekends."
Johnston said that SGA is looking into many alternatives for the future because of the success of the transportation system.
"SGA is looking into transportation grants to help expand the services we offer to the students," he said. "That includes increasing the hours of the buses and getting more buses to haul more people."
Tyson Johnston, Student Government Association Vice President of public relations, said that the evening loop was started because of the closing of Boozel Dining Hall for renovations.
"Last year, during the fall, the purpose of the shuttle bus was to get students from the lower end of the campus to Weisenfluh Dining Hall while Boozel was closed and being renovated," Johnston said. "It was paid for at the time by the food service."
But after seeing the popularity of the evening loop, SGA decided to continue it even after Boozel reopened.
"Due to the popularity of the evening shuttle, SGA picked up on it and pursued external sources of funding to fund it," Johnston said.
He said that it cost SGA $27,000 a year to run the 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. shuttle Monday through Friday.
One of the main reasons why SGA decided to not to continue the Friday evening shuttle was because its seen a decrease in the number of riders on Friday evenings.
"During the day, Monday through Friday, the shuttle bus service to on-campus destinations between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. averages about 400 riders," Johnston said. "The shuttle bus service to off-campus destinations, during the same times and days, averages about 350 riders."
Johnston said Monday through Thursday, the evening shuttle bus service averages riders in the mid 70s, while Friday evening averages riders in the low 50s.
"Monday through Thursday there are evening classes that go beyond 5 p.m. and on Friday there aren't evening classes, and classes end at 5 p.m.," he said.
Johnston said this was a great opportunity to save money and put it towards other transportation areas, such the additional costs of adding a security guard to the late-night shuttle.
Erica Stephens, a 19-year-old biology major, said she's affected by the change.
"I think it's stupid because I have to walk to dinner from Building F now during the winter," she said.
Reva Forrest, a 20-year-old management and marketing major, said that he won't be affected because he has other means of transportation.
"I don't care because I have a car," he said. "I can drive to where I need to be at that time and find a parking space when I get back because everybody goes home on the weekends."
Johnston said that SGA is looking into many alternatives for the future because of the success of the transportation system.
"SGA is looking into transportation grants to help expand the services we offer to the students," he said. "That includes increasing the hours of the buses and getting more buses to haul more people."
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