2008 Woodie Awards
Inebriated Students Chose Dave's Ride
"Designated Dave" takes his job seriously and cares about the students
Bree Lippencott
Issue date: 3/14/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
The latter is a much more accurate description of the free transportation that many UVM students stumble upon between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on the weekends.
The Late-Night bus began its route in the fall of 2003. The goal was to provide "safe and secure transportation to UVM students who might be traveling back and forth from downtown, the North End of Burlington, and the UVM Campus late on weekend nights," Michael Altman, UVM's Transportation Manager, told The Cynic. Altman estimates that Thursday night usage is around 100 and Friday and Saturday night the bus serves as many as 150 passengers a night.
Is the "Drunk Bus" the most effective means of keeping students safe and off the streets? Rutgers University in New Jersey has what one could call a true Drunk Bus. This is an on-call, individualized service available to students who need a ride back to their dorm room (or other nearby location) after the regular bus service is finished for the night.
When asked why UVM has no such program, Altman said that several years ago, UVM experimented with a similar program called Safe Ride, an on-demand program staffed by students. "Safe Ride" was first administered by the Student Government Association and later by Police Services. The program, however, suffered from a lack of patronage and undependable staffing.
"Our current Late Night service was brought in as both a substitute for this program and as a way to cooperate with the city's desire to reduce the noise levels and vandalism that was being blamed on UVM students late at night in the city," said Altman.
Altman added that use of the current Late Night bus far exceeds that of the Safe Ride Program, "this fixed route system better fills the needs of the majority of UVM students."
The driver of the bus, Dave, agreed, saying that frequently "students irritate the neighbors and sometimes they even catch the attention of the police. I do my best to stop that."
"Designated Dave," who has been driving the UVM Late-Night bus since last January, is from Enosburg, Vermont: population 2,788. Enosburg is about 45 miles Northeast of Burlington.