Students will be able to take free Saturday BruinBus shuttles to one of three Los Angeles shopping districts beginning this weekend, UCLA officials said.
The shuttles will take students to the Grove on Fairfax Avenue, downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue on a rotating basis beginning Saturday. Three shuttles will leave from De Neve Turnaround about every hour beginning 11 a.m.
On-campus housing fees cover the cost of running the buses, said Karen Hedges, an associate director for UCLA Residential Life. She added the On-Campus Housing Council worked with Hedges to choose culturally and historically valuable locations.
“We want students to know all that is Los Angeles,” she said.
UCLA Residential Life offered a Sunday shuttle to Santa Monica last quarter as part of a pilot program with UCLA Transportation, Hedges said. She added they plan to offer different destinations every quarter.
Some students said they think the program makes it easier for on-campus students to experience different parts of the city.
Ted Kim, a first-year biochemistry student, said he used the Santa Monica shuttle several times last quarter with his friends. He added he thinks he will use it again this quarter to go to downtown Los Angeles.
James Marquez, a second-year Spanish and French student, said he thinks this program will allow out-of-state students who don’t have cars to explore the city and understand its significance.
“This city is diverse, and I think this will give students a new view of it,” Marquez said.
The regular grocery shuttle, which takes students to and from Ralphs, will run on Sundays instead of Saturdays.
Hedges said UCLA Transportation has guaranteed shuttles to sustain the program throughout the year.
Compiled by Roberto Luna Jr., Bruin senior staff.