One of the make-believe advantages of living on campus is easy access to class. However, if you live in the Ellicott Complex, you know that commuters are not the only ones who have problems getting to class on time. The UB bus system transports approximately 2.5 million riders each year, according to Christopher Austin, adjudication and transportation coordinator.
With that many riders, there is a good chance you might just have been one. There is one route in particular that has been getting a lot of criticism lately from students.
Every weekday morning, when students walk to the bus stop from their dorm rooms in Ellicott, they wait to turn the corner and see UB's version of Penn Station right in the Ellicott tunnel. Anyone who has been in a busy train station knows that as soon as a train pulls in and the departure board flicks to the platform number, watch out! The difference being it is not a train that pulls into Ellicott, it is one bus.
"I think that they need to add a few more buses. In the morning, students are always waiting, and the buses are always running late," said Stacey Goldschmidt, a psychology major.
Five buses are used to transport students from the Ellicott tunnel to the Lee Loop. They are supposed to be spread throughout the route, but then I ask myself why I am waiting for a bus for 15 minutes. Or even more, if two or three buses go by and I am not able to get on one because of the huge crowd.
"I feel that during high usage hours like in the morning and on days with bad weather, they could be more frequent and possibly double bus, but other than that I'm pretty happy with them," said Paul Neenos, a sophomore history major.
The bus system is meant to be a convenient and helpful service that the school supplies. Then again, with 3,250 Ellicott residents, plus students and faculty using the buses to get to the classes in Fillmore, are five buses enough for the large masses of people?
The large demand for buses, and the lack of them, leaves students late for class or walking to class in the bitter Buffalo cold on the long windy strip between Ellicott and the Student Union.
According to Austin, the fifth bus was added on the third day of the spring semester, Jan. 15. The additional bus runs during peak hours, 7:15 a.m. to noon.
"The bus has proven to be very helpful and useful," Austin said.
But students like Ashley Antolini, a sophomore psychology and health and human services double major, and Brad Goldstein, a sophomore political science major, feel differently.
"It is ridiculous that they think that five buses, which all don't have two functioning doors, can transport 3,000-plus students as well as the number of students who take classes in Fillmore," said Antolini. "You have to allow yourself an extra half hour before you normally leave for class than if you were walking, which only takes 10 minutes."
"Normally I factor in an extra five minutes for class, but lately even with that I'm still constantly late because it is such an inconstant schedule," said Goldstein.
The office is aware of the buildup of students during the peak times, according to Austin.
"We have advised drivers to drive continuously, to 'pick up and go,' as they see need be," said Austin. He also recommends students to give themselves at least 15 minutes and, if necessary, to wait for possibly three buses to go by, without getting on one.
"As a frequent user of the bus system, I find it to be inconvenient when there is a large crowd waiting for the bus. I would rather be able to go to the bus stop and get on right away than have people pushing their way through," said Allison Reis, a sophomore communication major. "It is unnecessary and quite ridiculous for people to be pushy when there should be enough buses so that this circumstance does not occur."
Despite the office's awareness of the problem and attempts to solve it, the problem persists. So I think, why don't they change the direction of the Ellicott tunnel? If anyone looked at a map of UB's roads, one can clearly see that time would be saved if the tunnel was in the opposite direction.
When a bus leaves the tunnel bound for Lee Loop, the bus has to travel all the way around the dorm, and then zig-zag its way to Lee Loop. It is the same thing going back from Lee Loop to Ellicott. The routes of the buses are not a direct one, and the zig-zag route of the buses, which eats up time, can easily be avoided. It's an easy fix without spending extra money.
Others, like Jonathan Liebling, a sophomore history and political science major, have other ideas.
"There should be two stops, one by the Elli and one by Wilkeson and Spaulding," he said. "Also, the buses are too crowded, and the back doors don't work anymore."
In the meantime, if students are still having trouble getting a bus to Lee
Loop, there is a blue line shuttle that picks up in the Ellicott Tunnel and drops off behind Alumni Area. This is the ideal bus for students going to the Center for the Arts or Alumni Arena. Students also use the blue line shuttle just to get a little closer to the Spine and then walk from the shuttle stop to the Student Union.
The office of Campus Parking and Transportation wants to hear what students have to say about the bus system. They can be reached by e-mail at ub-bussing@acsu.buffalo.edu or by phone at 645-7329.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
