Students using the Big Blue Bus can breathe a sigh of relief:
The BruinGo! program is here to stay for the 2003-2004 academic
year.
However, students may be surprised to learn of the changes made
to the program.
In the past, the program provided UCLA students, faculty and
staff with free fares on the Big Blue Bus. To control the costs of
the projected $1.4 million program, several changes have been
made.
Students who now enjoy the free ride provided by BruinGo! will
be required to pay 25 cents each time they ride the Big Blue Bus,
in addition to swiping their BruinCard.Â
According to UCLA Transportation Services, the co-payment system
will cover 36 percent of the costs of the program, with 64 percent
being subsidized by parking fees charged to UCLA permit
holders.
The second modification made to the BruinGo! program is the
elimination of free weekend and holiday fares for BruinCard
holders. Because most trips on weekends and holidays are not
UCLA commuter trips, Transportation Services cut the subsidizations
to reduce program costs.
The elimination of the free rides on the Big Blue Bus seems to
be a concern for students who don’t have another means of
transportation, even though they will still enjoy reduced
fares.
“I really like taking the bus because I don’t have a
car,” said Maria Weitz, a first-year undeclared
student. Weitz said she frequently takes the Big Blue Bus to
Santa Monica with her friends and says the free fare is more
convenient than paying for the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority buses.Â
Weitz said even though the amount is minimal, the cost will add
up for students who commute every day.
“Even if it’s 25 cents, they should keep it free
because in the end, it’s really going to add up,” Weitz
said.
Another concern students have with the modified program is the
issue of carrying an exact amount of change when riding the
bus. Bus-riding students will have to carry exactly 25 cents,
or else must pay $1.
Previously, Jose Barba, a customer representative for the Big
Blue Bus said because robberies in the 1970s had imperiled bus
drivers, they no longer make change for riders.
Vanessa Fontaine of the Undergraduate Students Association
Council’s Student Welfare Commission said, “I think
they should allow students to have an easy pay system (rather) than
having a quarter because on the bus, they won’t give you any
change.”
According to Transportation Services, officials are currently
working with Santa Monica to develop a system where students can
ride the bus without paying cash on the spot.
Arlene Hadi, a fifth-year math and accounting student said
though free is better, carrying cash around isn’t as big an
issue as students may think.
“If there’s someone who doesn’t have exactly a
quarter, they can find three other students who do, and just pay
the dollar for their portion,” Hadi said.
In a recent letter addressed to the UCLA community, the Director
for UCLA Transportation Services, Renee A. Fortier, said, “It
is a difficult balancing act to optimize funding for all
alternative transportation modes, while still maintaining parking
permit fee increases at moderate levels in this difficult budgetary
climate.”
In order to fund BruinGo!, Transportation Services said it has
made a number of expense reductions in other operational areas.
The parking kiosks at Lot 32 have been eliminated and replaced
with self-service payment systems. Stack-parking in Lots 4 and
8 will also experience a reduction in expenses to provide funding
for BruinGo!
The BruinGo! program will also receive funding from several
other sources.
All new parking debts will be extended to a 30-year term which
will reduce the annual debt payments. Those who receive parking
citations will also notice a $2 increase in the fine. This
increase will also be used to fund BruinGo!.
Some students who don’t use the bus say they understand
why bus riders would be upset at the increase.
“It may only be 25 cents, but I understand that it would
add up because I pay $7 dollars for parking on campus
everyday,” said Greg Johnson, a fourth-year English student.
Johnson said when parking was increased by $1 this year, he noticed
how much it added up. “Free is always better.”