Lack of riders force change in service
Low ridership, funding may shut down late-night bus service next semester
DJ Slater
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Campus News
"At this juncture and late date, there isn't enough opportunity for the university to provide that kind of funding," Thesing-Ritter said.
She added that the business hasn't fully been tested, that it's private and it's still new and needs more time to develop.
Klatt attributed the shuttle's low ridership to the price of the service. The biggest misconception, he said, is that students believe his service shouldn't have a cost because they can ride the city bus for free.
Klatt said students don't realize they are paying for city buses through their tuition costs, roughly $19.50 a student. If his service was paid for in the same manner, he said, each student would pay an extra $3 in tuition.
"No one anticipated the ridership to be so low," Klatt said.
In Student Senate's meeting Monday night, President Chad Wade brought the service up for discussion. What was supposed to be a five-minute discussion ended up lasting 30 minutes.
Senator Adam Pettke proposed a motion to move the topic to the Student Services commission, which will look deeper into the situation.
Wade said the shuttle provides a service to students and hopes it can continue next semester.
"It is a service that's beneficial to students, He said, "so it's something we should fight to keep."
She added that the business hasn't fully been tested, that it's private and it's still new and needs more time to develop.
Klatt attributed the shuttle's low ridership to the price of the service. The biggest misconception, he said, is that students believe his service shouldn't have a cost because they can ride the city bus for free.
Klatt said students don't realize they are paying for city buses through their tuition costs, roughly $19.50 a student. If his service was paid for in the same manner, he said, each student would pay an extra $3 in tuition.
"No one anticipated the ridership to be so low," Klatt said.
In Student Senate's meeting Monday night, President Chad Wade brought the service up for discussion. What was supposed to be a five-minute discussion ended up lasting 30 minutes.
Senator Adam Pettke proposed a motion to move the topic to the Student Services commission, which will look deeper into the situation.
Wade said the shuttle provides a service to students and hopes it can continue next semester.
"It is a service that's beneficial to students, He said, "so it's something we should fight to keep."
