Shuttle routes and schedules have changed due to complaints concerning construction and a decline in adequate buses. “The main complaint of students was that the shuttle routes were too long and too slow,” said Paul Welch, eight-year director of support services.
The complaints, which began last fall and spring, primarily regarded the maroon route, which serviced Hardy Street, Hilbun Hall and Mitchell Memorial Library. The route ran 3.6 miles and took 20 minutes to complete. A strong voice among those with complaints about the maroon route came from residents of Aiken Village.
“Their (residents’) biggest concern was getting to the central part of campus,” Welch said.
On July 23, their voices were heard.
During a shuttle advisory panel, Student Association President Parker Wiseman invited student representatives, including one from Aiken Village, to voice concerns and discuss possible solutions to reduce the length and time due to the construction and reduced number of buses.
Welch said he believes allowing the students to attend the panel and express their concerns was important.
“We are trying to meet the needs of as many people as we can,” Welch said. “We deemed it imperative to listen to our students and work with the Student Association. After all, students are our primary users.”
As a result, the maroon route takes between 12 and 17 minutes to complete and consists of one bus that runs from Aiken Village to the Perry Cafeteria and Union.
In addition to the gray route, which remains unchanged to prevent excessive traffic from students living on fraternity row, the green route now carries students to Hardy Street, Hilbun Hall, Mitchell Memorial Library, Allen, The Union, Giles Hall, Humphrey Coliseum and behind Garner Hall.
The blue route, a 15-passenger van, runs students, faculty and staff from research facilities to The Union. The research department provides the driver and the fuel, and support services provides the van.
Because of a lack of buses, the recently formed Bully Express no longer exists.
“Our buses are designed to last seven years,” Welch said. “We own eight buses, but since Monday (Aug. 19), we’ve only been able to run six at one time due to maintenance work. The first five buses enter their seventh year this year.”
Problems such as these are an even bigger factor in the shuttle route change.
“We have two buses in reserves in Alabama being refurbished,” Welch said. “Maintenance work ranges from lack of air conditioning to replacing costly tires.”
However, Welch reassures students that their needs aren’t being neglected.
“We are trying to do as much as we can with our aging and limited equipment,” Welch said.
On the first day of fall classes, the new routes came as a shock to many students, such as sophomore Audrey Johnson.
“I didn’t know there was a change in shuttle routes,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know what bus to catch so I just ended up walking to class.”
Students who live off campus, such as junior Amanda Dillon, searched for limited parking.
“I usually just park my car and catch the shuttle to class and work,” Dillon said. “I know a lot of people that ended up driving to class because they didn’t know what shuttle to take. That added to the campus traffic.”
Welch sent e-mails to students explaining the change in the shuttle routes. He said that the new routes were in the process of being printed out and posted, but construction to the roof of the printing department delayed the process.
Despite the change in the routes, the numbers of students riding the shuttle the first two days of classes showed that the services are off to a good start.
“Last year, 2,846 students rode the shuttle buses on the first day,” Welch said. “On Monday, 3,075 students rode the shuttles. On Tuesday, the numbers were 2,960 as compared to last year’s second day of 2,907.”
Welch said they now have bids to buy a new bus and are continuing to refurbish and upgrade old buses. He said he hopes that students continue to support the shuttle buses and notes their importance to the services.
“I ride the different routes all the time,” Welch said. “Our students are very polite and always say ‘Thank You’ almost without exception. We really appreciate it.”
Johnson said she would continue to ride the shuttle bus until things are worked out.
“I’m glad he (Welch) sent the email,” Johnson said. “Now that I know what’s really going on, I will definitely continue to ride the shuttle buses to class.”
Dillon agreed.
“I’ve always used the shuttle buses, and I never planned on stopping. The drivers are friendly, and for the most part, they’ve always gotten me where I needed to be on campus,” she said.
Although he realizes the sudden change in routes left many students upset and confused, Welch vows his dedication to servicing students and points out his appreciation toward them.
“We’ve visited other colleges. We’ve noticed the upkeep of their buses. Unlike many buses we’ve seen, our riders respect our buses and take care of them. They are they ones who have helped us make them last and look as good as they do,” Welch said.
On Tuesday, the numbers were 2,960 as compared to last year’s second day of 2,907.”
Welch said they now have bids to buy a new bus and are continuing to refurbish and upgrade old buses. He said he hopes that students continue to support the shuttle buses and notes their importance to the services.
“I ride the different routes all the time,” Welch said. “Our students are very polite and always say ‘Thank You’ almost without exception. We really appreciate it.”
Johnson said she would continue to ride the shuttle bus until things are worked out.
“I’m glad he (Welch) sent the email,” Johnson said. “Now that I know what’s really going on, I will definitely continue to ride the shuttle buses to class.”
Dillon agreed.
“I’ve always used the shuttle buses, and I never planned on stopping. The drivers are friendly, and for the most part, they’ve always gotten me where I needed to be on campus,” she said.
“We’ve visited other colleges. We’ve noticed the upkeep of their buses. Unlike many buses we’ve seen, our riders respect our buses and take care of them. They are they ones who have helped us make them last and look as good as they do,” Welch said.