The doors of the F Route campus bus swung open at the stadium parking lot Friday morning, releasing a sharp burst of cold air into the crowded cabin.
Sophomore Jack Stamoulis stepped on quickly, eager to escape the wind blowing across the open lot before it crept further into his gloves and jacket.
“I wasn’t too cold,” Stamoulis said. “I live right across the street, so I was trying to get on the bus as fast as I could so I wouldn’t get cold. I feel like if I was waiting longer, I think I would be cold.”
Across campus on Friday, Jan. 23 in the morning, subzero wind chills compounded temperatures in the low teens.
Along many bus routes, students boarded and exited at various stops, with a heavy crowd forming at the stadium parking lot. Riders stood and sat shoulder to shoulder as the bus pulled away, the heating on and a noticeable breeze drifting through the aisle during sharp turns.
For Stamoulis, the ride replaced what would have been a long walk across campus.
“I have to go to the biology building, which is on the other side of campus,” Stamoulis said. “That would be like a 30- to 40-minute walk.”
Campus buses offered relief from the cold for many students, but winter conditions also made wait times difficult. Sophomore Allison Dobricky said she tried to plan her trips carefully to limit time waiting outside.
“I’m trying to time it out well, when I get out of the building, trying to see where they are and see what bus is on time, and then what bus can get me closest to the location I need,” Dobricky said.
Dobricky said riding the bus helped her avoid walking long distances in freezing temperatures, especially without consistent access to a car.
“Definitely it helps with walking,” Dobricky said. “You’re not fighting the wind and everything else, because even with a coat, it’s still freezing cold, and I don’t have access to my car at all times. So, it’s nice to have so many different places you can get to.”
Behind every ride are a series of real-time safety decisions made as weather conditions change across campus.
Campus Bus Service Director Justin VanLeeuwen said decisions during bad weather depend on what drivers are seeing on the road. Snow and ice can make steep hills, narrow campus roads and some bus stops unsafe.
Bus operators often relay safety concerns to supervisors throughout the day, he said. Supervisors can approve detours, while senior leadership can decide on broader delays or service changes when conditions become unsafe to keep buses on schedule.
“We rely on feedback from our bus operators, supervisors and other campus partners,” VanLeeuwen said. “Depending on the situation, an operational decision may be made proactively, but often the decisions are made in real time.”
VanLeeuwen said the Campus Bus Service rarely suspends service, but cancellations can occur when winter conditions escalate to unsafe levels. Those conditions were met Sunday, Jan. 25, when both campus and Bloomington transit services canceled operations amid a countywide travel warning.
Limited bus service continued Monday, as some routes resumed service while others remained suspended due to unplowed roads and parking lots, according to Campus Bus Service transportation supervisor Brady Hargrove.
VanLeeuwen said campus transit prioritizes safety and moves quickly when precautions are necessary, updating the bus tracking app ETA SPOT and the IU Mobile app within minutes.
“We ensure all of our bus operators are aware of the issue prior to sending out the service announcement,” VanLeeuwen said.
That emphasis on safety continues behind the wheel, according to campus bus driver Christopher Hicks, who said he focuses on reducing how long students wait in the cold.
“I try to pull up in time so they won’t be cold,” Hicks said. “I have my heat on. I try to keep the door closed as much as I can, but there are a lot of people getting on and off.”
For riders, the cold underscored their appreciation for campus bus drivers.
“I appreciate their patience and kindness with everybody on the bus so we don’t have to walk in the freezing cold weather,” freshman Jenna Brewer said.
Stamoulis said he shared a similar gratitude.
“I just think all the bus drivers do a really good job,” Stamoulis said. “I think without them, you’d be screwed, and I’m just very thankful that they take this job very seriously.”
For Hicks, that appreciation carries him through long, freezing shifts.
“I’m going to keep a smile on my face,” Hicks said.
