Sunday, September 18, 2011
Every day, bus drivers provide an instrumental service to students and the community as they travel routes to and from campus.
Unlike other public transit systems, KU on Wheels finds itself carrying more passengers. This is due a great deal to the University going fare-free for the last three years. Students now pay a flat fee as a part of their student fees.
Students get on the bus at the stop in front of the Kansas Union Wednesday afternoon. The bus drivers develop connections with students while maintaining a high responsibility for the safety of the students and making their routes in a timely fashion.
This led to KU on Wheels, in association with the City of Lawrence, winning the 2010 Federal Transit Association Ridership Award. The award was based on ridership increasing 138 percent in the first year of implementation, according to the Kansas Public Transit Association.
As a result of the increased ridership, the busing system helps traffic flow and makes campus greener.
Although the KU on Wheels bus drivers who make this system possible are not allowed to speak to news media, Danny Kaiser, Assistant Director of Parking and Transit, provided insight into the duties of the drivers.
“Buses keep cars off the road,” said Kaiser. “Because of how full we run the buses, it helps with traffic congestion and is more environmentally friendly.”
Dealing with a different type of population than most public transit workers are used to – young college students – drivers enjoy the change of pace.
“Students are a livelier group,” said Kaiser. “The energy is infectious, and they are a more enjoyable group to work with.”
Students also enjoy the energy that some bus drivers show while making their routes. This makes for a more enjoyable riding experience.
“Some drivers are more outgoing, and students pick up on that,” said Kaiser.
Besides ensuring the safety of passengers and maintaining a schedule, drivers also face the challenge of educating new KU students on how the transit works.
“Sometimes the only experience on a transit system students have is on a yellow school bus,” said Kaiser of the University’s freshmen.
While providing a safe, convenient way to campus, bus drivers also take much pride and enjoyment in their jobs.
Charity Workman drives a route between The Grove Apartments and the Lawrence Campus during the week and enjoys the variety of work included in her job; although navigating an enormous vehicle through Lawrence every day isn’t without some challenges.
Driving on campus is the most difficult part of the job, she said.
“You have to be super aware,” Workman said, “There’s students and traffic everywhere. Your situation changes constantly.”
As a bus driver, Workman has to have a great deal of patience to balance between the safety of her passengers and maintaining the bus route schedule.
“You have to have good judgment, because if you make one mistake, you’re going to hit someone or something,” she said.
Workman also appreciates the connections she has been able to make with others.
“The friendships are rewarding, not just with the students, but with the other bus drivers,” said Workman. “I have a lot of fun.”
Although she is not affiliated with KU on Wheels, Workman still cooperates with the other bus drivers on campus.
“Even though we work for different companies, we’ve become a team,” said Workman. “If you don’t work together, the bus system would fall apart.”
— Edited by Josh Kantor
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