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APARTMENT GUIDE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN KANSAN.COM
Ironwood Court Apartments Park West Gardens Apartments Park West Town Homes
Buses provide convenient transportation for students
BY YEN PHAN
yphan@kansan.com
Riding the bus is a convenient way to get to class, and the University offers a number of bus routes to get to campus and around town.
However, students should consider whether they live near a popular route or whether they're near one at all when choosing to live off campus.
Maruel Unrein, a senior from Aiea, Hawaii, used to ride the route 26 bus to Melrose when he lived at Park-25 apartment complex, 2401 W.25th St.
"The Melrose bus was convenient to go on because it wasn't crowded as much as the other buses like Daisy Hill," Unrein said. However, the bus routes don't stop at his new apartment complex, the Grove, 4301 W. 24th Place. Unrein went from riding the bus everyday to school to now riding it only when he gets to campus to get to the Union, to go to work or classes.
Stefani Rahardja, a senior from De Soto, lives at Meadowbrook Apartments, at Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive. She said it was her first year taking the bus and her first impression was that it was too crowded.
"it's not always on time and I didn't make
it to class or that the bus would not come for a long period of time so I would have to wait for a long time. I think they should have more buses going and better schedule for the routes." Rahardia said.
To students who think the same, there is a solution. Derek Meier, the transit coordinator for Student Senate and a junior from Independence, Kan., said students can lobby to their student senator for an increase in buses on their route, which would allow more buses at peak times to handle the loading demands.
Still, there are some advantages to riding the bus. Meier said that using AAA cost-per-mile data, students can save up to $1,000 a year on transportation if they ride the buses. They can also spend the time they would otherwise spend driving or walking up the hill by working on homework or reading.
"It's a more productive commute;" Meier said.
And for the students who don't want to bother with lobbying, Meier offered another solution.
"Take the earlier bus."
— Edited by Melissa Johnson
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