Security revises shuttle policies
By Ben Kallman · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · November 10, 2005
In response to student complaints regarding the recent restructuring of the escort van service, on Saturday the Student Council and the Security Commission announced further revisions to the service.
Because of "a general sentiment of unhappiness about the new policy," which reduced van service, said President Atin Agarwal, members of Student Council and the Security Commission -- a group consisting of both students and faculty -- held talks with administrators in Campus Safety and Security.
"We met with the administration and discussed problems and possible solutions," Agarwal said. He also noted the administration's prompt response to their request for a meeting: "The security people were very helpful."
The previous cutbacks, announced at the beginning of last month, eliminated fixed route shuttle service after 10 p.m. on weekdays. That route had formerly provided service between campus and student residences until 2:30 a.m.
A Nov. 5 e-mail sent to students detailed both the changes and the existing van schedule. Most significant is the addition of a route shuttle -- effective Nov. 7 -- running daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on a loop covering several student residences, including the Homewood Apartments, Wolman and McCoy Halls, the AMRs and the Marylander Apartments.
Retail locations, most notably the Waverly Giant and the 25th Street Safeway, are also included in the route.
"After analysis of September and October escort service passenger information," said Captain George Kibler, "the Security Department contacted [Agarwal] for a meeting to discuss the results of the findings. At the meeting, [he] and other student representatives made recommendations based on the analysis, which Security agreed to implement."
The student recommendations led to the consolidation and expansion of two 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. fixed route vans that ran to Waverly and the south Charles Village area. Student residential areas from Charles Street to Guilford Avenue, the 200 block of W. University Parkway, the 300 block of E. University Parkway and the area around the intersection of 22nd Street and Maryland Avenue are included in the now-extended service.
Kibler said, "There will be two on-demand escort vans that will be available for other requests not on the fixed route ... until 2 a.m. to include residence to residence [trips]. These two vans will remain in service after 2 a.m. until 3 a.m. to handle any campus-to-residence and residence-to-campus transports. Escort services discontinue at 3 a.m."
However, Kibler emphasized that the 3 a.m. cut-off was not absolute. "Students alone and concerned for their safety can still contact security for travel assistance after 3 a.m. when the escort service is discontinued," he said.
In addition, traditional service to the Rotunda shopping center with intermediate stops at common student residences runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Weekend (Thursday to Saturday) on-demand service from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. is also available.
The e-mail also emphasized the need for extra drivers to fill positions on the new route shuttle. In order to attract interested students administrations have raised the drivers' salaries to $12 per hour.
Students have had mixed reactions to the addition of the new route shuttles. Some, like sophomore Scott Motejunas, senator of legislation, thought the added vans would help maximize the escort service. "The new routes are more efficient, which will statistically decrease the overall wait time for the student," he said.
Sophomore Kristen Viswa-nathan, however, felt frustrated by the rigidity of the escort van schedule and expressed concern that students may not always have a copy of the schedule on hand. "The route system where you have to look up times is incredibly inconvenient," she said, "especially late at night when you haven't really planned for whatever situation you are in."
Junior James Barker agreed. "I think that what made the shuttles effective when I was a freshman was their flexibility," he said. "Even if you add routes, you're only making it more difficult to memorize an already too-complicated system."
He did, however, note, "It'll make shopping more convenient for people along the route, I suppose."
"I don't really understand why the administration is so willing to make even the smallest cutbacks where our safety is at all concerned," added Viswanathan.
Others are even unclear as to the change itself. "I got the e-mail," said sophomore Sarah McKenney. "What I don't understand is if they changed the policy from last year, when vans were on call all the time."