Students will be able to use a shuttle service to travel between the BYU campus and apartments starting the 2015 fall semester. The service is free with a student ID.
A private shuttle service began in the Winter Semester 2012 through the company The Ryde that picked up in two locations and cost $100 per semester.
“It was extremely successful and kept growing each semester,” said Jake Leukenga, who works with The Ryde.
The idea to expand campus-wide was popular but took some time.
“It’s a big change for the campus and the community.” Leukenga said. “We had to make sure the city was on board.”
This means parking will now be more strongly enforced both on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods. According to the university’s news release, parking passes will cost $60 each semester with the exception of only three lots.
Chiara Aliberti is a transfer student from Italy who has been in Utah since April 2015. Because she is from Italy, she is used to having public transportation as an option.
“Here, if you don’t have a car you’re often stuck,” Aliberti said. “It’s a way to also help with pollution and save money. I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
Campus parking is difficult during fall and winter semesters, and the shuttle service provides a good alternative.
“I think it’s a good way to work with parking because parking is ridiculous,” said Lauren King, a senior at BYU. “I’d just prefer more parking, but that’s not possible.”
Ben Peterson, a graduate student, agreed.
“It’s primarily a non-commuter school,” Peterson said. “It makes sense to have shuttles instead of parking.”
Leukenga knows students will get to class faster by the shuttle service than by driving.
“I believe it’s going to be successful,” Leukenga said. “You’ll get even quicker to the heart of campus than you could by parking farther away and walking.”
The farthest area from campus is the Branbury Route, which begins by Old Mill and Branbury. From that stop to campus will take seven to 11 minutes depending on traffic, Leukenga said.
The shortest routes are five to seven minutes total, and all routes drop off by the Museum of Art and by the Wilkinson Center.
The service will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday and until 6:00 p.m on Fridays.
“There will be at least one shuttle coming at least twice an hour all day long,” Leukenga said.
In popular areas, the shuttles will come more frequently to accommodate the students traveling to campus.
