By Rafal Rogoza—
The new loop shuttle service has fallen short of accommodating students as many claim the shuttle is unreliable.
The new shuttle route, introduced by the Public Safety Department during the fall semester, is supposed to provide students with convenient transportation to the visual arts building, athletic center, parking lots and light rail. But long wait times and confusing pick up and drop off points has many students frustrated.
“I don’t like their services at all. If you ask them to make a stop at the art building they’ll give you an attitude,” said Saira Anum, 22, fine arts major from Jersey City, who has to carry her art supplies and portoflio to class.
Anum said she doesn’t use the shuttle any more after a driver gave her a hard time when she asked to get dropped off by the art building.
“I carry a lot of supplies and often I’m late for class,” said Natalia Montalvo, 21, arts major from Jersey City. Montalvo said art students end up walking to the visual arts building because the shuttle usually stops by the athletic center.
When asked why the shuttle skips the art building, parking transportation coordinator Loreen Hanna said it is because of cars parked infront of the building.
“If there is a car parked there and a shuttle stops, any vehicles that are behind are going to go around. We want to avoid any accidents because than we are going to be liable for it,” said Hanna.
According to Hanna, the shuttle can’t stop infront of the art building between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The shuttle provides direct service to the art building from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM, hours when the street is mostly clear of cars because of residential parking rules.
“I appreciate this service that the University is providing that is free to the campus community,” said Winifred McNeil, professor and coordinator of the art teacher certification program.
According to Winifred, it’s student safety that is her main concern after an art student was assaulted walking to the westside parking lot in the fall semester.
Winifred said that the service could improve by providing a schedule and by putting signs near pick up and drop off areas because the loop shuttle is beneficial to students that carry large bags.
“We’re student athletes we do enough running at practice. We rather not walk down to the gym, but it takes so long to get here. It would probably be easier to walk down,” said Ashley Obeirne, 20, psychology major from Woodridge, as she waited for the loop shuttle by the professional studies building.
“I take the shuttle mostly because I park on westside. In the morning it’s not bad but at night it takes a while,” said Taylor Setar, 18, accounting major from Carteret. Setar has ridden the loop shuttle to the athletics center since the fall semester.
“I haven’t taken it this semester,” said Harshal Shah, 22, digital design and illustration major from Jersey City. “Last semester they were pretty good at it, but this semester it’s not running as frequently as possible.”
According to Hanna there is no set schedule for the shuttle, “It’s difficult to schedule the loop shuttle with class schedules because it continuously runs on it’s route,”
If the bus takes a while to arrive at a stop it is commonly due to congestion on the road.
“Sometimes it takes seven minutes or sometimes more depending on the traffic flow,” said Hanna.
According to Hanna, the Public Safety Department is experimenting with the service and researching ways to improve it.
Questions and comments about the loop shuttle can be directed to Loreen Hanna at 201-200-2290 or by email at [email protected].