SATURDAY and Sunday last weekend, as part of the reading days, the University Transit Service put the brakes on the bus system?. UTS could have more aptly stood for "usefulness temporarily suspended." With the exception of CTS trolleys, no bus service was provided during the weekend, and students who opted to stay on Grounds were forced to find alternative modes of transportation. As usual during breaks, the lack of bus service frustrated and inconvenienced many students. During future breaks, partial bus service should be provided to all students who opt to stay on Grounds. ?.
The University and Charlottesville were hardly devoid of college students during Fall Break weekend. Many students were obligated to stay on Grounds to prepare for exams or practice and play with sports teams. Other students were unable to travel home. According to the University's 2006-07 enrollment numbers, the most recent available, 32 percent of the undergraduate student body hails from somewhere other than Virginia. Many of these out-of-state and international students, in addition to some of their in-state counterparts, decided to stay on Grounds during reading days. The students affected by a bus standstill were disproportionately first-years, as these students aren't allowed to have cars. Many of these stranded students, including myself, planned to run a few errands during the precious extra free time. But because of the lack of UTS service we were unable to efficiently travel to locations like Barracks Road.
The lack of bus service no doubt hurt University-related activities as well. The men's soccer team urged the student body and Charlottesville community to come out en masse for its Saturday night game against UNC Chapel Hill. Coach George Gelnovatch sent an e-mail to the entire student body encouraging all to come and support the team as it sought to defeat UNC and break the Klöckner Stadium attendance record.
Though the team won by a margin of one goal, the desired record turnout fell short of its goal. Some students staying on Grounds likely would have gone to the soccer game had the bus system been operational.
The lack of bus service is further inexplicable considering the availability of other basic services on Grounds during the weekend. Dining hall operations were curtailed, with most locations being closed. However, Observatory Hill was open and operational. Likewise, while inconvenient, the suspension of hot water to dormitories was not long lasting. Students were troubled much more by the lack of bus service than temporary suspension of hot water or reduction in dining locations.
Though the lack of service is unacceptable, UTS itself should not be thrown under the bus. Blaming the drivers and directors of UTS would be unfair. As UTS Operations Manager Juwhan Lee explains, bus shutdowns during University breaks are a long-established tradition. Cessation of services is such an old tradition, in fact, that Lee "does not know who initially authorized the shutdowns."
This tradition of service suspension is not well justified. Lee notes that UTS buses did not have to be pulled from their routes for maintenance reasons. Additionally, while money was saved Saturday and Sunday because of a stalled bus system, the benefits conferred by these savings do not outweigh the costs to students of no service. Finally, the argument that relatively few students are on Grounds, and therefore impacted by the lack of service, is flawed. The quality of student life is greatly sacrificed when no buses are running. Even if few students are affected, service should still be provided. ??
The bus system should at least provide partial service during reading days and spring breaks, as well as Thanksgiving Break. Otherwise, thousands of students will be stranded yet again.
During the Monday and Tuesday reading days, UTS ran on a Holiday Special route that, as described on the Parking and Transportation Services' Web site, "functions as a versatile 'utility route,' covering much of the University while the Blue and Orange Routes are not operating." This route included four bare-bones stops: the University Hospital, Stadium, University Hall, and the Chapel.
The practice of bringing bus service to a screeching halt during seasonal holidays must be eliminated. With administration backing, UTS and the Transportation and Parking Committee, which helps monitor bus operations, collectively have the ability to rectify this situation. In the interest of students, partial service, such as the holiday special routes, must be provided. ?
James Rogers is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer. He is a first-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences.
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