A continuing rise in ridership on The Bus means students trying to get home or get to class have less wiggle room.
For the sixth consecutive year, students can expect less elbow room on The Bus when they hop on to come to campus or go home.
The Bus, also known as the OSU/Stillwater Community Transit System, has experienced another increase in ridership, said Steve Singleton, the manager of OSU’s parking and transit services.
“We heard ridership levels off after the third year at most places, but that hasn’t been true here,” he said. “Ridership has been up every year the system has been in existence.”
Since the bus system began in 2003, Singleton said they have seen a huge increase in ridership. About 207,000 people rode the buses during in 2003 to 2004. That number quadrupled to more than 885,000 riders in 2007 to 2008.
“We’re almost to the point ridership is outstripping our resources,” Singleton said.
Singleton said the gray route, which runs down Perkins, has experienced the most problems from increased ridership.
“A lot of times this bus will only get halfway down Perkins and then will have to go back to campus because it’s full,” he said. “A trail bus then comes behind and picks up the riders who are left.”
Singleton said the university has received a grant to purchase two more big buses and two more small buses next year to help ease some of these problems. He said the goal is to be 100 percent on time. However, one student said she doesn’t have any problems with the system now.
“They’re on time, they’re accessible and convenient,” said Brytnee Tucker, an agriculture communication freshman.
Singleton said he thinks several factors contribute to the increase in ridership; high gas prices, a lack of parking on campus and the fact that people are becoming more familiar with the services are a few of them.
Maggie Farrell, a human development and family sciences senior, said both gas prices and parking problems are reasons she is trying the buses out.
“They are really convenient,” she said. “I will save a lot on gas, and I don’t want to mess with parking on campus.”
The buses are open to the public and free to students because of fees. People who are not associated with the campus may ride the bus for 50 cents.
Singleton said 12 bus shelters, six on campus and six off, were installed this year, and that the goal is to install 12 more next year. He also said the Multimodal Transportation Facility will provide a nice indoor area for people to wait when it is finished.
Loading ...
All Articles