Temperatures fell to a low of minus eight degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday night as hundreds of alumni flocked back to campus to see old friends and meet new Bonnies. The village was the center of nostalgia this weekend as students past and present crammed into the Burton, O.P. and Hickey Tavern to share drinks and memories with friends.
After 2 a.m. hit, however, Bonnies had to wait outside for the Bona Bus in dangerously cold temperatures. Some students who were unsure when or if the bus would even arrive may have called for a local taxi. Last weekend’s wait time for a taxi was up to 50 minutes around 1:30 a.m. according to students.
The university should invest in a tracking system so students can know where the Bona Bus is using their smart phones. This will keep Bonnies out of the bitter cold and out of trouble until the bus arrives to take them safely home. InSight Mobile Data is a company that provides bus riders the convenience of knowing when the bus will arrive using a simple smart phone app. The system, called StreetEagle Transit on the app store, is used by institutions of higher education such as the University of Richmond and the University at Buffalo. The product itself would cost $750 for a one-time installation on busses and a $120 per month fee for the service allowing students to download a free app and see the bus routes on the map. Of course, this specific product is one of many of its kind with varying prices.
With an app, students would be safer knowing where the Bona Bus is and when it will be arriving at all times. They will choose to stay out of the dangerous temperatures until they need to be outside. Last Friday, the Bona Bus was not running due to a broken window. Yet because there was no formal notice, some students waited outside in the frigid cold for a half hour. With an app, students would have known the bus wasn’t running and avoided unnecessary exposure to cold.
For car-less students who use the Bona Bus on weekdays for the Walmart loop, an app would make riding the bus much more appealing. Instead of students waiting outside Walmart’s doors at night for the bus, students could know when it will arrive and plan accordingly. This convenience would only attract more Bonnies to use the bus. Whether it’s a trip to the store on weekdays or a designated driver on the weekends, a GPS system and corresponding app is needed for the Bona Bus to keep students as safe as possible.
This editorial represents the opinion of The Bona Venture staff.
