Monday, August 25, 2008
Students can ride buses on and off campus for free this semester by using their KUID. In addition to the new free system, KU on Wheels has eliminated and combined different routes to increase efficiency.
Ride for free
Students, faculty and staff can take a KU bus and city bus for free this semester.
KU buses are free for anyone at on-campus stops. Passengers off campus are able to ride the bus with their KUID.
In the spring, students voted to eliminate bus passes, which cost $140 per year. The new fare-free system required all students to pay $20 more per semester through student fees.
Derek Meier, Independence, Kan., sophomore and transportation coordinator, said the free fare would reduce parking congestion on campus.
“The more students who leave their cars at home and ride the bus, the more parking stalls available for those who do not live on bus routes,” Meier said.
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New service and changes of bus system this semester — KU buses and city buses are free for students, faculty and staff with their KUID — The Oliver and Naismith and 23rd and Louisiana routes were merged into Stewart and Louisiana — Southbound routes entering campus stop at Spencer Museum instead of the main entrance of the Kansas Union — The Night Campus Express is no longer available — KU on Wheel changed the names of some routes: — 25th and Melrose replaced 24th and Ridge Court — Bob Billings and Kasold replaced 15th and Crestline — 6th via Emery replaced 6th and Crestline
New route maps and schedules are available on campus and online: http://www.kuonwheels.ku.edu/
The Lawrence Public Transit, or the “T”, is also free for students, faculty and staff with KUID but they will need the new, redesigned KUID after October 1. Students can exchange their old KUIDs for new ones for free at the KU Card Center in the Kansas Union.
The University’s Transit Commission and the Lawrence City Commission agreed on the new policy this summer. City residents with a “T” bus pass also have free access to the KU buses.
Cliff Galante, public transit administrator of Lawrence, said the city buses allowed students to participate in the community and events offered on and off campus.
“Not every student who comes to KU can afford an automobile,” Galante said. “It provides more mobility options to everybody.”
Xiaosen Zhou, Chengdu, China, senior, said she sold her car last year because she couldn’t afford high gas prices. She said she would use her KUID to ride the T to go grocery shopping and downtown.
“If a city bus is free, why not use it?” Zhou said.
Passengers without a KUID pay $1 to ride the “T” or a KU bus at off-campus stops.
Changing routes
KU on Wheels routes and schedules changed this semester to increase efficiency of the KU buses and avoid construction zones around campus.
The adjustments include a merger of two routes, three new route names, the southbound route stop change and elimination of the Night Campus Express.
The Naismith and Oliver route and 23rd and Louisiana route merged into Stewart and Louisiana. The route stops at the same places as the previous two, but now one bus covers them all. The buses are scheduled to come every half hour.
The construction of the Oread Inn at 12th Street and Oread Avenue means that instead of stopping in front of the Kansas Union’s entrance, buses now stop at Spencer Museum of Art on Mississippi Street, which is behind the Kansas Union.
The Night Campus Express is no longer available this year. Meier said students who lived on Daisy Hill could take the Park and Ride buses. The Student Recreation Fitness Center and JRP Hall circulator also serve main campus until 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
— - Edited by Ramsey Cox
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Students get a free ride
News tip: I am not 100% but I believe the first park and ride bus today was at 8am. The 745am bus never showed and at least 2 bus loads of people waited around 30 minutes to get to campus and most of these people were late for class/work. There are always strugges at the beginning of the semseter with adjusting to higher bus use but what happened this morning?
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