Slightly over a year old, Tufts' free Boston Bus Shuttle has received positive and negative feedback from students who utilize the service. By and large, however, students seem to appreciate the service.
The shuttle, which runs hourly on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., was initiated by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate after students complained about a lack of activities on campus during the weekend.
After running for over a year, students have expressed a number of concerns about the shuttle service. Student IDs are no longer being checked upon boarding the shuttle as efficiently as they once were.
Although a Tufts ID is required to ride the bus, senior Diana Caba claims that drivers don't always adhere to this policy.
"I don't think IDs are being checked as rigorously as they used to be," Caba said. "Last year, you needed an ID every time you boarded the bus."
Caba recalled riding the shuttle two weeks ago when three non-Tufts men in their mid-twenties boarded the bus by knocking on its doors when it was stopped at a red light near the Common.
Later during the ride, according to Caba, the men realized that the bus was not going to the destination they had hoped and subsequently got off at Kenmore.
Caba, Association of Latin American Students Community Representative on the TCU Senate, brought her concerns to the Senate's Open Forum in the hopes that the issue would be addressed.
"I think... it's a service [exclusively] for Tufts students," she explained. Although it might be inconvenient if a Tufts student is traveling with a non-Tufts friend, "I think [checking IDs] is necessary to avoid situations like that one."
Students also frequently complained that the bus does not arrive on a timely basis. Sophomore Emily Locke, who has ridden the shuttle frequently throughout the past year, noted several instances when the shuttle failed to arrive on time.
"It seems that, more often than not, the shuttle is at least 15 minutes late, especially if you are waiting for it in Boston," Locke said.
Senate Treasurer and shuttle project head junior Jeff Katzin is aware of this concern, but explained that it is difficult for the bus to run perfectly on time.
"It is a very tight schedule, because [the shuttle] goes every hour," Katzin said.
Nevertheless, Katzin believes that the shuttle's tardiness is "inexcusable because its [punctuality] is in the contract."
Other students have also complained about the irregularity with which the bus stops at designated locations.
Freshman Rachel Smith remembered waiting with a friend at the Boylston stop when the bus stopped halfway up the street. "We thought it was just stuck in traffic, since it was a red light, but when the light changed it just kept going... we ended up having to take the T," Smith said.
Katzin has already spoken to a representative of Joseph's Limousine, the company that provides the shuttle service, about the problems addressed by students.
"The bus is only as effective as its timeliness ... if it's known to be irregular, then students won't use it," he said.
Katzin said that if these problems persist, he will continue fostering dialogue with Joseph's Limousine until they are rectified.
Such issues, however, will not deter Smith from using the shuttle service again. According to Smith, the shuttle is still a viable option because she interested in saving money.
The ability to save money on transportation is only one of many benifits both Katzin and Caba have heard from students. Both said that feedback on the shuttle has been primarily positive since it allows students to into Boston more frequently.
Sophomore Rachel Shatten said that the shuttle is a great option for those who like reaping the late-night benefits of Boston.
"Sometimes I go to clubs with my best friends which don't close until two or so. In that case, the shuttle is definitely a perk," Shatten said. "Cabs can be expensive!"
Shatten noted that, before the service began, cabs were "one of few" options because the T stops running at around 12:30 a.m.
The shuttle began running experimental trials last February and throughout the Spring 2004 semester, and was officially introduced on Sept. 24 last fall.
It runs on the hour at the Mayer Campus Center, stops at the Boylston T-stop at 25 past the hour, and at the Kenmore Square T-stop at 35 past the hour.
According to Katzin, the shuttle remains a popular mode of transportation for students. He said that the later-night runs of the shuttle are more popular.
Last week's 2:35 a.m. run back to Tufts had about 25 students on board, he said.
