Friday, February 20, 1998
Better buses bring bigger lines
CROWDING: Vehicles leave air cleaner, but hold fewer
passengers
By Scot Sargeant
Daily Bruin Contributor
Although UCLA’s new campus buses benefit the environment, they
have caused new problems for students.
UCLA’s new environmentally friendly buses, which were introduced
in January, hold fewer students than previous buses.
These buses, which run on natural gas rather than diesel fuel,
contain 33 seats, instead of the previous buses’ 36-seat capacity.
Students are finding themselves waiting in increasingly longer
lines.
"Ever since they started using these new buses, I’ve been late
to classes several times. I have to get to the stop a half-hour
early sometimes," said one student who wished to remain
anonymous.
This concern appears to be shared by students who have expressed
frustration over the longer wait.
"If you aren’t one of the first people to run onto the bus, you
will be left standing," said Angela Lang, a third-year sociology
student.
While the change in the number of seats may seem minimal,
seating is not the only thing that affects capacity.
"The standing capacity is where we really see the difference,"
said Sherry Lewis, general manager for UCLA Fleet and Transit
Services.
The total capacity in the new buses, including seats and
standing room, is approximately 45 people. The old buses, by
contrast, could hold about 55 students.
Transit officials acknowledge receiving complaints from
students, but no clear solution appears to exist.
"I’m not sure how many people have called transit, but I have
received some complaints. Most of the complaints I have received
have dealt with the morning traffic," Lewis said.
"There are so many students there that want a ride, and the
buses are so full when they come by, that they can’t even stop,"
she continued.
Officials of UCLA Fleet and Transit Services are aware of the
problem and are investigating methods to ease the waiting time for
students.
"We are also looking into some other alternatives … such as
using some of the older buses, or redesigning the routes," she
continued.
According to Lewis, UCLA has a supply of 11 new buses, but only
eight are normally used.
Six of these buses are designated to the Campus Express route,
which constitutes the core route around campus, while two buses
cover the Ackerman route. Occasionally, a ninth bus is utilized to
alleviate student traffic.
"There have been several times where we have put an additional
bus on to minimize the impact to students," Lewis said.
"It’s my understanding that there is a lot of overcrowding now.
What we’re trying to measure right now is how many people are being
left behind because of the buses being full," Lewis said.
Students are also complaining about the cramped seating these
buses provide.
"While they are more comfortable than the older buses, they hold
fewer people and when it gets crowded, they are more
uncomfortable," said Khalisha Banks, a third-year political science
student.
Despite these complaints, UCLA Transportation Services has
received compliments for the lessened environmental impact of these
buses.
"We have received very positive, environmental-type comments. I
have heard a lot of comments in reference to the clean-burning
fuel, in that there is no longer a diesel smell," said Lewis.
Among the benefits these buses provide are low emissions caused
by clean- burning fuel and reduced operating costs.
While no statistics are available to determine the reduction in
emissions, comparable bus lines state that a fleet this size
reduces pollutant emission by approximately 1,500 pounds per
year.
"We’re very proud to have a fleet of environmentally friendly
and clean- burning vehicles here," Lewis said.
"We feel that’s our contribution to UCLA, this is our
environment and our community, and we feel it’s our responsibility
to do that," she said.
DAVID HILL
Students wait to take the bus at the Ackerman turnaround. The
new buses hold fewer passengers.