This is one of my ideas for EMU. This is how it would work.
- Have an old school bus that makes runs from 10 PM to 3 AM all around Ypsilanti on Friday and Saturday nights
- This is to increase people to stay on and around campus during the weekends. Although, you might think this promotes drinking. I agree that it does a little, but the fact is that most people that stay around campus, do drink. Many students also drive to other schools to drink because their parties are more accessible. If people are here on weekends, the local business will also benefit.
- Reduces drunk driving, which I believe is a problem for this university community, because campus is far away from the night life that Ypsilanti does provide.
- Provides a safe form of transportation. The bus would have a loop, and it would continue the loop for the whole time.
- I envisioned stops at
- · E Circle Dr & Ann St. (First Year Center)
· N Adams St & W Forest
· Market St & W Cross St. (Depot Town)
· W Cross St. & N Hamilton
· Pearl St & N Hamilton
· Pearl St. & N Normal
· N Normal & W Cross St.
· Mayhew & Oakwood (Village & Towers)
· N Huron St. & Leforge Rd. - Link to the map I made on Google maps:
- http://www.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=118010761578015748444.0004370ac9c815848f588&ll=42.249106,-83.620119&spn=0.015725,0.028925&z=15&om=1
- It would be a 3.63 miles for a loop.
It would take about 30 minutes to complete the loop.
That would be about ten loops per night.
The bus would go about 36 miles in one night.
If the bus gets 5 miles per gallon, then the bus would use about 8 gallons of gas. If a gallon of gas costs $3.00 then the total cost of actually running the bus would be $24.00. If you paid the bus driver around minimum wage, the bus driver would get about $40 a night. The total cost of running the bus with a driver would be about $64.00.
If you charged the students $2.00 to ride the bus then you would only need 32 students to ride every night. I do not think getting 32 students would be a problem. Many people have expressed a desire of a late night bus system. Finding Designated Drivers is sometimes hard to find. - This bus would allow students from on and off campus to get to places safely.
- While See-us does a great job on campus, they are not allowed to go off campus.
I live off campus, and have wanted to go to the Village at night. I do not feel comfortable walking by myself. So, I walked to campus, and then met up with See-us.
Further more, while Ypsilanti is trying to be a safer city. It is not the safest place to walk by yourself at night, or even in a small group.
I know that the people that are mentally challenged walking around Ypsilanti at night would never hurt a fly, their presence does not make a person feel calm. - Both the University of Missouri-Columbia and Rutgers University use a bus format like this. (I have heard these stories from friends)
- University of Missouri costs $2.00 to ride, and $3.00 cleaning fee if you make a mess. If you do not have the money after you make a mess, your name is written down and you are contacted by Judicial Services (I believe) and have to do 5 hours of community service.
Rutgers University has a bus that is free for all students.
I would see this as a great way to keep people on campus for the weekend. Plus, I think it would be great for business in Depot town and downtown Ypsilanti.
