Currently, MSU provides a free bus system to students and citizens of Starkville. This transit system allows transportation for those who do not own a car and it is a manageable way to travel within city limits. This operates Monday-Friday (Saturday in some cases) and campus bus times are from 7am-6pm while city buses go from 7am-8pm. Understandably, these buses do not operate during holidays or during hazardous weather conditions.
Here is a storytime of my experience when I rode these buses.
One week last semester, I went without a car because of car problems. So one day, my friend, who doesn't own a car, and I decide to ride the buses and take a look around to see the stores. At 1 pm on a Wednesday, we met up at the bus station and took a city bus to the shopping area by Regions Bank.
When we realized we took the wrong bus that went close by the area but wasn't close enough to walk to, we decided to stay on the bus on its way back to campus. At the last stop, we were told to get off and wait at a gas station for the next bus to arrive because the driver was going on a break. Understandably, we got off the bus and waited around 5 minutes in the parking lot to board the new bus.
On our way back, we decided to go later to a consignment store where there is a bus stop close by. However, we didn't know what long day ahead of us we had made when we decided to board those buses. Later that day, we meet back up and take the correct bus this time to the consignment store.
On our way there, we are told once again to get off the bus because the driver was going on break. This time though, the only two buses on the route were stopped and on break. We end up spending 45 minutes wandering a supermarket while waiting for them to get off break.
We had checked the bus route app and these buses were still considered running, which is not good for those who need to get to places and rely on the buses. Once we board the bus, we ride to the last stop where we are supposed to get off. After we get off the bus, we are told to have rides available to pick us up because they were going off work.
his took place at 5 pm and the buses were supposed to continue running until 8 pm. We then get stranded at the store because it took us a while to find someone willing to pick us up. So for the whole time we took our second ride on the buses, it took us 3 hours to return to campus. As two girls, we believed it was somewhat dangerous too.
Another time I had trouble with these buses was when I wanted to go to the Greek row. The buses around 5 would say they are running, yet the buses themselves aren't going anywhere. I would wait for a bus to go eat and eventually have to walk due to the fact that these buses would take indefinite breaks.
Now, what exactly is the problem?
1. The break period was too long for those who wanted to get to places.
2. Scheduled routines should have been practiced in order to avoid the same break times.
3. There should have been a time when we are told that the bus drivers are going on break before we board the bus.
4. There is an app that lets us know where the buses are at. It should let us know that the buses aren't functioning during that time.
5. The times should be correct to what the bus drivers do and vice versa.
6. There should be a better and safer driving system if the bus drivers take a break.
So please MSU, consider the fact that students are on limited time. We do use it because it's free but it can be dangerous or not useful when it's supposed to be considered a great transit system.
