April 17, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - The number of people riding shuttle buses at Western Kentucky University has jumped more than 40 percent this year while the number of riders from WKU riding city buses has also increased.
The number of riders for all WKU shuttle services is up 43 percent, Alonda Massey, transit general manager, said, while ridership of the Shopping Shuttle, which takes students to various shopping areas, is up almost 40 percent.
Officials with both WKU Parking and Transportation and GO bg transit, which is operated for the City of Bowling Green by Community Action of Southern Kentucky, cite changes in routes as key factors in the increase in riders.
Massey said WKU went from three routes to two, making the wait between buses shorter. WKU now operates a route from South Campus/Campbell Lane and in the inner loop.
Gail Wolgast, public transit coordinator with Community Action, said GO bg transit adjusted a route in 2006 so that it makes stops at Jones-Jaggers Hall, Mass Media and Technology Hall and Hardin Planetarium before traveling to downtown and the Medical Center at Bowling Green. While tickets for the GO BG shuttle are normally $2, WKU’s Transportation Office sells books of 25 rides at a discounted price of $25.
“WKU really supports GO bg transit,” Massey said.
Wolgast added that riders can transfer to the service’s other three routes, which make stops at the South Campus, Kentucky Building and several apartment complexes that house students. GO bg transit also serves major shopping areas, all three libraries, the new skate park and locations throughout the city limits.
Massey said the goal of both services is to reduce parking problems by offering convenient routes that get people where they need to go.
WKU shuttle buses on April 13 began using a 5 percent biodiesel fuel to help lessen harmful emissions, Massey said. “We’ve gone green,” she said.
Wolgast added that GO bg transit will offer free rides on April 27 to support the GreenToppers celebration of Earth Day.
More information on the WKU Shuttle can be found at http://www.wku.edu/transportation/index.php?page=home and information on GO bg transit is available at http://www.casoky.org/main.shtml.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For more information, contact Alonda Massey at (270) 745-2375 or Gail Wolgast at (270) 782-3162.
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