News
Sauced students now have a way to ride safely
Pointer Contributor
kbeck271@uwsp.edu
There’s something new in downtown Stevens Point this year. No, it’s not a new bar, more parking, a larger police presence or freshmen trying out their fake IDs. Let’s face it, some things never change. The new kid on the block is the late night bus.
Beginning Sept. 3, a late night bus began running from 10:15 p.m. to 3:15 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The bus has two routes that make stops at main locations including Shopko, Partner’s Pub, the YMCA, campus, the Evergreen Apartments and Fourth Avenue.
During its first week, the late night bus only transported 170 riders. Since then, the numbers have continued to increase, averaging about 350 riders per week. During Homecoming, the late night bus transported a whopping 882 people.
Rich Harding, a University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point student, has some personal experience with the late night bus. According to Harding, the bus was very helpful when a few of his friends “were a little too ‘sauced up’ and walking was…a problem.”
According to Harding, he will definitely ride the late night bus again now that colder weather has arrived.
Several institutions were essential in helping make the late night bus a reality, including the university, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Student Government Association, the Stevens Point Transit Department and the Stevens Point Police Department.
Susan Lemke, Stevens Point transit manager, said the main reason for the creation of the new bus line was general safety. Curbing vandalism (occurring between downtown and major student housing areas) was another concern. According to Lemke, one former victim of vandalism has already reported a “significant difference” since the implementation of the late night bus routes.
According to Matt Guidry, SGA student life issues director, the late night bus offers several benefits.
First, it allows students and community members to move to and from downtown after the regular buses have stopped running.
Secondly, mass transit in general can help the environment because it keeps individual vehicles off the road. In addition, the late night bus may help cut down the crowds that hang out downtown after bar close. Having free and reliable transportation nearby also has the potential to reduce the number of drunk drivers.
“If we can get people out of their cars if they’ve been drinking, and onto the bus and home safely we’re accomplishing a lot,” said Lemke.
Another great feature of the bus is that it is free. Well, kind of. In reality, the late night bus system will cost $86,337 for the 2009-2010 academic year. Of this, $53,952 is funded by the state and federal governments. This leaves a total tab of $41,386 for UWSP students, which averages to about $2.44 per student per semester.
The university’s contract with the city for the bussing is renewed annually, so student and community usage, cost and logistics will all be considered in spring when the involved parties meet to discuss the program’s future, said Guidry.
Regarding the continuation of the bus program, Guidry said, “I feel so far…that it’s looking pretty good.”
The best advice for students that want to see the wheels on the late night bus go round and round next year: vote with your feet. According to Guidry, usage will be one of the biggest factors in keeping the late night bus alive.
SGA is also looking for feedback from students who have taken the late night bus. Comments, questions, praise and complaints can be e-mailed to SGA (sga@uwsp.edu).
