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Volume CXXXII, Number 17 |
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Shuttle service proves successful
ANN SULLIVAN
ORIENT STAFF
Bowdoin students are riding in class, thanks to the sponsorship of the Bowdoin Student Government's trial-based transportation contract with the Classy Limo and Shuttle Service.
With this service, students can get off campus on the weekends, an important need believes Dean of Student Affairs Craig Bradley, who said it is important for students "to get outside the 'Bowdoin bubble' and learn what is happening around them."
Getting to this point in student transportation has been an evolution of ideas. Previously the transportation need had been filled by student drivers and sometimes members of facilities who would sign out the College's vans and do loops around the neighboring attractions, leaving the BSG to pick up the tab. This method's monthly bill of $1200 was too costly and forced termination of the service at the start of last year. The need for student transportation was obvious, but the most effective way to do it was less apparent, realized Tejus Ajmera '04, who is in charge of the operation.
Next in the quest for efficient transportation at a reasonable price was a relationship with Brunswick Taxi. The BSG was already working with the company regarding the night service available to students and a weekend service was looked at as an extension of the already existing affiliation. The idea of going to Portland would be too expensive for the taxi service, so negotiations to transport students on the weekend around the Brunswick area began during the start of this year.
Trial-based, the plan was cut short when it became apparent that it was not very beneficial for Brunswick Taxi and the BSG to put any more funding into the program.
Ajmera said, "Everything has been a trial right now because we are trying to figure what is most convenient and cost effective." With Classy Limo, the cost of weekend student transportation has dropped from the $1200 to $400.
On Saturday and Sunday there are two loops making stops at Cook's Corner, Freeport, Portland's Old Port, the Maine Mall, and back. The 15-passenger van picks up at 11:00 a.m. at Moulton Union to start the first loop, and arrives back on campus between 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The second one beings at 3:00 p.m., and returns between 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The contract for this trial period was for a month and ends this weekend. The BSG needs to evaluate the usage numbers and talk about whether the relationship was worthwhile to the Classy Limo service, the BSG, and if it is an affordable price.
So far, according to Ajmera, all feedback has been positive, except for one incident. A student, for reasons unknown, was left behind in Freeport and had to find alternate transportation back to Bowdoin.
Ajmera said, "We think it is a service that is necessary for students to have. We've got it cost-wise to a point that works for us right now. Whether we can maintain it, we will know at the end of the week when we meet with Classy Limo."
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