Sparse Crowd at Shuttle Bus Forum

Not even a busload of shuttle bus riders were on hand last night in the Hilles Library Cinema to discuss the quality of the University Shuttle Service with administrators.

Though a security guard had to pull students off of over-packed shuttles yesterday morning, nary a line formed to enter Hilles Cinema, as only about 15 students attended the forum.

But that didn't stop those who attended the forum from proposing improvements to shuttle the system into an era of increased efficiency and availability.

Suggestions for improvements included providing more bus service from the Quad before morning classes, adding service on weekend afternoons, shifting the shuttle van call-in service to hours past 3 a.m. and asking phone operators to be more cordial.

The forum, which was organized by the Undergraduate Council, placed an emphasis on the transportation needs of students in the Quad. Last week a similar forum was held for River Houses.

"It wouldn't have been bad to have seen more people," said council President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99.

Already, Transportation Services has made significant changes this year, said Jeffrey Smith, former director of Transportation Services.

Since last May there have been 35 adjustments in shuttle bus scheduling, the addition of one more large Bluebird bus and the replacement of three of the five smaller buses with sleeker, handicapped-accessible shuttles, said Smith.

Yet while most students at the forum felt the service has improved, they were quick to offer their own bits of shuttle bus wisdom to increase efficiency and improve student safety, especially for women.

One council representative, Enmi Sung '98, proposed that buses should be put back-to-back during crowded time periods so nobody is left behind to wait in the cold.

"I'm from New York," said Sung. "I ride the subway system, and there's no possible way we can fit these kids in [the shuttles]," she said.

Another student living in the Quad said that since most of her friends live near the River, she is often forced to leave early on weekends to catch the last shuttle.

Council Vice President Mark A. Price '98, who lives in Pforzheimer House, joined her in calling for round-the-clock shuttle service.

An estimated 513,000 riders are expected to use Transportation Services in 1997 alone. Approximately 417,000 of those are expected to use the regular shuttle bus; 26,000 are expected to ride the evening shuttle; 9,000 are expected to use the handicapped-accessible daily shuttle, and 3,000 are expected to use the "Home Run" shuttle, which transports grad- uate students to Somerville.

Rawlins said she was optimistic that the ongoing conversation would produce tangible results for the thousands of undergraduates who ride the shuttles.

"Transportation Services has not been aware of these concerns but has now reached out to students to make some healthy changes," she said.

A council committee will join administrators from Transpiration Services this spring in order to draft more official proposals for improving service.

In the meantime, Transportation Services administrators said they would welcome as much student feedback as possible at their World Wide Web page, which can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.uos.harvard.edu/uos_ts.html

Rawlins said she was optimistic that the ongoing conversation would produce tangible results for the thousands of undergraduates who ride the shuttles.

"Transportation Services has not been aware of these concerns but has now reached out to students to make some healthy changes," she said.

A council committee will join administrators from Transpiration Services this spring in order to draft more official proposals for improving service.

In the meantime, Transportation Services administrators said they would welcome as much student feedback as possible at their World Wide Web page, which can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.uos.harvard.edu/uos_ts.html