Letters to the editor
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Opinion
UA transit system should make students priority
Over the past two days, I have ridden on two different bus routes four times that have had to leave students due to overcrowding. Perhaps it is time for the university's transit department to make some changes.
I understand that anyone may ride the university's transit buses, not only students, faculty and employees. Is it not the students that through our "fees" pay for the transit system? Perhaps the transit system should consider allowing only students to ride the buses or, to gain additional revenue, require a monthly pass to be purchased by non-university persons.
I am actually in favor of the latter of those two suggestions for two reasons. I realize that these are tough times and that many people cannot afford to own a vehicle or to insure it.
I also believe in public transportation for those who do not wish to purchase a vehicle. It is the "green" thing to do.
That said, I also am concerned about the safety of bus riding. Having to attend some evening classes, I am frequently concerned about those non-students that ride the buses. On several occasions, I have detected a heavy odor of alcohol or suspect drug usage from others on the buses. My calculated guess would suggest that these are not university students.
Additionally, the terminal is inundated with non-students who disregard the university's policy of a smoke-free institution and adolescents who are of high-school age and younger. They are often noisy, disrespectful, and fail to clean up after themselves.
Perhaps you might consider limiting bus ridership during peak hours to only university students. Thank you.
Marti Suchsland
Senior
Education
Over the past two days, I have ridden on two different bus routes four times that have had to leave students due to overcrowding. Perhaps it is time for the university's transit department to make some changes.
I understand that anyone may ride the university's transit buses, not only students, faculty and employees. Is it not the students that through our "fees" pay for the transit system? Perhaps the transit system should consider allowing only students to ride the buses or, to gain additional revenue, require a monthly pass to be purchased by non-university persons.
I am actually in favor of the latter of those two suggestions for two reasons. I realize that these are tough times and that many people cannot afford to own a vehicle or to insure it.
I also believe in public transportation for those who do not wish to purchase a vehicle. It is the "green" thing to do.
That said, I also am concerned about the safety of bus riding. Having to attend some evening classes, I am frequently concerned about those non-students that ride the buses. On several occasions, I have detected a heavy odor of alcohol or suspect drug usage from others on the buses. My calculated guess would suggest that these are not university students.
Additionally, the terminal is inundated with non-students who disregard the university's policy of a smoke-free institution and adolescents who are of high-school age and younger. They are often noisy, disrespectful, and fail to clean up after themselves.
Perhaps you might consider limiting bus ridership during peak hours to only university students. Thank you.
Marti Suchsland
Senior
Education
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Justin Snopko
posted 1/26/09 @ 2:14 AM CST
Razorback transit is funded in part by student fees. Yes, I said in part because the city and the federal government chip in. So looking for more revenue is what has happened and, because of that it is required that there be no charge (Though I do think there should be donation boxes in the buses, but that is a different topic). (Continued…)
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