B-bus route “The Rocket” could use some revising

Like most greek students, words couldn’t describe how excited I was when the Campus Bus Service finally decided to modify the B-bus route. I wouldn’t wish last year’s B-bus route on anyone. Except Purdue. They can have those routes.

To earn a spot aboard last year’s B-bus, you must have: been that forceful prick that shoves everyone, somehow be blessed with lucky positioning or be the guy that cheats the system and slips on the back of the bus.

But these factors only applied when the buses even had capacity. More times than not, the B-bus would pass students with their “Sorry — full load” sign. Yeah, right. You’re not sorry.

If you couldn’t ride the bus, like most students, then you’d either have to wait another thirty minutes or take a nice one-to-two mile hike through the snow (you know, like your parents did. Uphill both ways). Point is, last year’s B-bus route was completely dysfunctional.

But credit must be given to the Campus Bus Service, which went back to the drawing board last summer. At the beginning of the 2011 fall semester, the Campus Bus Service unveiled “The Rocket,” which students prayed would resolve the transportation issues that have plagued the service in years past.

“The Rocket” is a simple route that just goes up and down North Jordan. I’ll give this to you, Campus Bus Service. It was a good idea. I see what you were trying to accomplish, but there are still many kinks to work out.

That’s because the route is still ineffective, and such a notion is scary with winter months approaching. The biggest issue with this route, and all bus routes for that matter, is the intersection of North Jordan and Seventh Street.

Look, the whole idea of having four stop signs clearly isn’t working. This intersection is IU’s most congested on campus, and it slows traffic to an excruciatingly slow pace. Let’s put some stoplights all up in this intersection. You know, to get some good ol’ traffic flow up in there. That will probably speed things up.

Secondly, there are only three on-campus bus stops for the new B-route. Unless you’re going to the TIS bookstore every day, then there are really only two useful
on-campus bus stops.

With stops at only the Wells Library and IU Auditorium, “The Rocket” is completely ignoring where students actually have class. Not having a stop at Jordan Hall is huge. That’s the epicenter of classes.

You’ve got Ballantine, Swain West and East, Jordan and all those buildings at one
convenient stop. Without that stop, a lot of students have to walk to class from much farther than they should. I know that’s a hard thought to digest — students walking to class and all. But come rainy and snowy days, people aren’t going to be happy.

The last major issue is one that still hasn’t been resolved from last year, and that is the amount of buses on the B-bus route. Students still have had to wait anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes for a bus. And buses haven’t even been operating at full capacity yet.

So here’s an idea: Either buy a couple more buses or take buses from the A route. They’re freshmen, anyway

— awcohn@indiana.edu