Hoosier Bus service helps students get home

The roads will be jammed next week when students return home for Thanksgiving break.\nBut some IU students are trying to help. Hoosier Bus was created to lessen the chaotic traveling experience for IU students living in the Chicago area.\nThree years ago, University of Wisconsin-Madison junior Jeremy Schwach saw a need for a program that could help students travel home for the holidays. Schwach spread the idea to friends, including IU junior Gabe Pincus. \n"I started working on this program back in September," Pincus said. "Now my job is to basically get the word out about the program by putting fliers up and talking at the (Indiana Memorial) Union and things like that."\nBecause of its increasing success, Schwach said he felt the need to begin other services, including the Gopher Bus at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Hawkeye Lines at the University of Iowa.\nHe said this is the first year the service is running at IU. \n"I'm sure it will be done in the future even more, and if it really takes off, we'll look into going to more cities on even more holidays," Schwach said.\nOn average, Pincus said he spends about five to six hours a week doing work with the program, which includes taking calls from students who either take his fliers or attend his talks at the IMU. Among many of the benefits of the program, Schwach and Pincus said time and convenience are most prominent.\n"These buses are non-stop," Schwach said. "Usually everybody flies or takes a Greyhound bus (to Chicago); however, both of those just take so much more time and are more expensive."\nThe round-trip travel fee for the Hoosier Bus is $94; one-way costs $54. On average, the buses, which will travel to Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Ill., hold up to 53 students at a time. To keep students entertained during travel, the buses are equipped with movie screens which will play new release movie titles. \nAlso, an hour before the expected arrival time of the buses, parents will be able to call the program's hotline, which will update them on the status of the bus's arrival.\n"We just really saw a need for this kind of program," Schwach said. "This is all for the students."\nPincus said he enjoys the program.\n"It's great to be able to do something for students who can meet other students from their same area during the trip and even be able to meet new people," he said.\nAs of Saturday, about 50 student reservations had been made for the program, Pincus said. \nSophomore Samantha Brandfon said she looks forward to being around different students from IU other than her friends.\n"I really like that I will be able to talk to other kids and meet new people (on the bus)," Brandfon said. "I used to have to take a Greyhound bus or my dad would have to come all the way to pick me up. This is just so much more convenient and easier."\nAdditional buses are available if the need is there, Pincus said. The buses will depart at 3 p.m. from McNutt Quad or the IMU on both Nov. 24 or 25, with the return date set for Nov. 30.\n"A program resembling this existed (at IU) a long time ago," said Casey Cox, IU Student Association president. "Anytime you can help students and families out, it's a great thing. I don't think that a lot of students have heard about the program yet, but once it catches on, I think it will be very popular."\nTo make a reservation, visit the Hoosier Bus Web site at www.hoosierbus.com.\nFor more information, contact Hoosier Bus at ride@Hoosier Bus.com or call at (866) 723-RIDE.\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Mattuci at mmattucc@indiana.edu.