KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010 / NEWS
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KU on Wheels bus system offers cost-effective transportation option
A KU bus drives pass the Burge Union on Irving Hill Road, KU on Wheels underwent many changes last summer due to road construction and other conflicts, including the merging of several routes.
BY STEPHEN GRAY
sgray@kansan.com
Waking up early on a sweltering morning and walking up the hill to class can be a daunting task for anybody. For those students without access to a car, it might seem like a hopeless situation. With the KU on Wheels bus system, however, there is a convenient and cost-effective solution.
Because of a 2008 student agreement to eliminate bus passes, the University of Kansas' transit system is fare-free during the school year. Students need to only show their KUID while boarding to have access to the transit system. One-way dollar fares are also still accepted by KU on Wheels.
"Many off-campus students can use the transit system to get to and from campus in a timely and cost-saving manner," said Derek Meier, KU on Wheels transportation coordinator.
An additional agreement made in 2008 among the city and the University also allows easier access to both coordinated bus systems. Students, faculty and staff can ride the Lawrence Public Transit service, or the T, for free by showing a valid KUID. City residents who show a valid T bus pass or transfer slip can also ride the University buses for no fare.
"Overall, the relationship has been a success," Robert Nugent, Lawrence Public Transit administrator, said. "Ridership is up eight percent through the last year on city buses. Lawrence Transit has begun combining informational pieces to allow riders to take advantage of
the two systems."
Since the fare-free system was put into place, KU on Wheels has proven to be a more popular transportation option with students as well. Ridership doubled during the first year of fare-free, with another 20 percent increase last year.
"Coordination with the city, improved service on the street and the reciprocal fare agreement are the large drivers for last year's increase." Meier said.
Students still pay $78.50 in student fees per semester toward KU on Wheels. Danny Kaiser, assistant director of Parking and Transit,
said the fee money is used on operational costs, bus acquisition, maintenance and the free night-time transit services on campus — SafeBus and SafeRide — which help combat drunken driving.
Service and route changes were also implemented earlier this month to coincide with the start of the University's school year. The adjustments include improvements to the city's main 10 routes, and an alignment modification for the 25th and Melrose route to prevent overcrowding during peak demand. The changes are intended to enhance access to the city and
University, increase service frequency and make the best use of resources available.
In addition to being convenient and cheap for students, using alternative transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and benefits the environment.
"Why burn gas in your own vehicle when you can ride on the bus?" Kaiser said. "It helps the environment and it helps keep cash in students' pockets."
For more information on bus schedules, rules and maps, check http://kuonwheels.ku.edu/
—Edited by Tim Dwyer
Student Fee Allocation:
Student Use Allocation:
$21 Bus Acquisition and Maintenance
$10.35 SafeBus and SafeRide
$47.15 Operations
Bus Route Changes:
- Route 1 and Route 2 have been merged into a single router called Route 1. The route will serve East Lawrence from Downtown to 23rd Street and Haskell Indian Nations University.
- Route 2 will no longer exist
- Route 5 has been split into two routes, called Route 5 and Route 9. Route 5 will travel from South Iowa to the East Hills Business Park. Route 9 will travel from South Iowa to 6th and Wakarwa.
- Route 3 has been modified to include peak and off-peak alignments, and an off-peak Flex zone. During off-peak periods, the fixed route will end at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and riders may call and schedule to be picked up at any address in the Flex service area.
- Route 6 has been split into two routes called Route 6 and Route 10. Route 6 will travel from Downtown to 6th and Wakarusa, via 6th Street. Route 10 will travel from Downtown to 6th and Wakarusa via 9th and 15th Streets, and will return via the KU campus.
· Route 7 has been modified to create more frequency. There are no changes to the route alignment.
- Route 9 is a new route created by splitting Route 5 into two routes. it will travel from South Iowa to 6th and Wakarusa.
- Route 10 is a new route created by splitting Route 6 into two routes. It will travel from Downtown to 6th and Wakarusa via 9th and 15th Streets, and will return via the KU campus.
· Route 26 alignment has been modified to reduce overcrowd-
- Route 26 alignment has been modified to reduce overcrowding.
Downtown bus stops moved for construction:
Bus stops in the downtown area will be moved due to the construction of a seven-story multi-use building at the southwest corner of 9th and New Hampshire. Effective August 2, buses will no longer stop along 9th Street between Vermont and New Hampshire streets.
Bus System Map:
http://www.lawrencetransit.org/pdf/2010-system-map.pdf
Links:
KU on Wheels website: http://www.kuonwheels.ku.edu/
Lawrence Transit website: http://www.lawrentcisetrit.org/
Route information: http://www.lawrentcisetrit/routes/
Go on and kiss the girl
Sophia Cinl and Oscar Mendez, left, Erin Calabrese and Stella Sensel, center, and Julia Maksimova Tai Odunsi watch a ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of VJ Day prior to the kiss in, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 in New York's Times Square.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
Mental illnesses on rise among students
LOS ANGELES — The number of college students who are afflicted with a serious mental illness is rising, according to data presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.
The findings came from an analysis of 3,265 college students who used campus counseling services between September 1997 and August 2009. The students were screened for mental disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior.
In 1998, 93 percent of the students seeking counseling were diagnosed with one mental disorder, compared to 96 percent of students in 2009. The percentage of students with moderate to severe depression rose from 34 percent to 41 percent while the number of students on psychiatric medications increased from 11 percent to 24 percent.
However, the number of students who said they had thought about suicide within two weeks of counseling fell from 26 percent in 1998 to 11 percent in 2009 — a figure that could reflect improvements in suicide prevention and counseling outreach on college campuses.
Efforts have been made in recent years to improve the lives of college students who have mental illnesses.
"Our findings may suggest that students with severe emotional stress are getting better education, outreach and support during childhood that makes them more likely to attend college than in the past," the lead author of the study, John Guthman of Hofstra University, said in a news release.
Several programs are available to assist students with mental illness, including Half of Us (halifofus.com), Active Minds (activeminds.org) and the Jed Foundation (jedfoundation.org).
LOCAL
Late-night dining options popular around University
BY JUSTINE PATTON jpatton@kansan.com
with friends,
many college
students need
late-night hunger
relief.
Several restaurants in Lawrence stay open past midnight to provide for students' growling stomachs. Andrew Schmidt, a senior from Pratt, often stops at McDonald's for a sausage burrito and hash browns when he is out late with his friends.
Whether they're working late into the night cramming for a physics test or having a few drinks
"I want to stay in shape, and eating late at night doesn't really help me do that."
really hits the spot."
Schmidt isn't alone in his love for greasy food in the wee hours of the morning. The cars waiting in line at McDonald's often interfere with 23rd Street traffic on any Thursday
"I don't normally eat greasy food," Schmidt said. "But after a couple of beers with my friends, it
NATHANIEL VIGIL Senior from Lansing
or Friday night.
Matt Dickey,
a junior from
Wichita, recalls
a particularly
memorable
Taco Bell
moment he had
or Friday night.
Across the street, the line for Taco Bell gets equally out of control.
with his roommate a couple years ago.
"My roommate wanted it two years ago on New Years Eve, and I wouldn't stop, because I saw that they were closed," Dickey said. "But drunks were still waiting in
line yelling at the box. The sign wasn't even lit."
Healthy or not, it's safe to say late night dining will continue in Lawrence as new and returning customers flood the town at the new school year.
However, not every KU student shares a love for midnight food binging. Nathaniel Vigil, a senior from Lansing, doesn't like eating late because of the extra calories that go with it.
"I want to stay in shape, and eating late at night doesn't really help me do that." Vigil said.
Edited by Sean Tokarz
REFER TO:
To view a list of restaurants that stay open late visit guide.kansan.com
ODD NEWS
Famous Scottish pub on the market
EDINBURGH, Scotland Drinkers uninterested in designated drivers should consider the new offering on Scotland's real estate market — the Old Forge.
The local is Scotland's most remote pub — with no roads in or out. Located on the Knoydart Peninsula in the West Highlands, the thirsty must hike about 18 miles (29 kilometers) from the nearest road or travel seven miles (11 kilometers) across the sea loch from the town of Mallaig.
Owners Ian and Jackie Robertson are retiring and seeking offers starting at 790,000 pounds (US$1.2 million).
Jackie Robertson said Thursday she enjoyed the pub, which she describes as ideally situated for those who want to get away from it all.
But she says it's time "to stop pouring pints and start drinking them."
The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says a passer-by noticed
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Jamie Billy of Tuba City is charged with one count of willfully and maliciously setting fire to the Navajo Nation Fire Department station.
Ex-volunteer sets fire station ablaze
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A former volunteer with an Arizona fire department is accused of setting fire to a station while firefighters were on a call.
Billy is scheduled to appear in U.S. Magistrate Court Thursday to determine whether he should be released from custody until his trial.
The fire started in the station truck bay and caused damage to a fire truck and to the station.
Associated Press
the station on fire in the early morning hours of Aug. 5.
The crew was not in the station because of a call.
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