Shuttle Service Slow to Start Up This Semester
By:Diego Galindo
Although Loyola University of Maryland has an alluring essence, sometimes students need a break from walking across the scenic campus, especially during the colder fall and winter months. The shuttle system proves to be one of the more convenient ways to travel, but recent changes have caused some students to prefer otherwise. From long wait times to a limited number of shuttles, the reliability of this transportation service has recently come into question.
Four years ago at every shuttle stop, there was a digital clock that gave students an estimated time of arrival in minutes. Nowadays, new administration has changed policies and hired a multitude of new staff members. Students now have access to an app called Double Map that shows where the shuttle is through GPS mapping.
Michael Dayao, a senior at Loyola University, gave his thoughts on the new system. He expressed his disapproval by stating, “Theres no regulated time, its just comes on a circular route. When I finally catch one it gets me where I need to go, but thats if and when they come.” Double map has even shown multiple shuttles on the same side of the campus next to the same bus stop.
I find myself walking from one side of campus to the other and not seeing a single shuttle. I decided to interview one of the drivers, in order to gain some insight on the organization of the transportation system. Warren is a shuttle driver at Loyola and has been working at the university for two years. When asked about the timing of the service, he said, “Normally if we have a full staff, every shuttle should be at least ten minutes apart. We have a full staff in the morning, but sometimes we are about two drivers short during the night.”
This could be one of the reasons why despite the advancement in technology, this shuttle service is still having some trouble with efficiency. Students deserve to enjoy a ride without being kept waiting all the time, and I am hopeful that in the near future the organization will do an even better job than they are now.
To find out more information on the shuttle service, click here.
Loyola Gazette - Fall 2016 