Ball State Transportation and Student Government Association worked together to bring the Blue Loop to students east of campus this year. The loop was supposed to run from Jan. 8 to March 2 but was extended to the end of this week. The extension is due to good student response to the loop, John Boone, SGA treasurer, said.
Students made the Blue Loop a success and rode it enough to warrant this extension. But now is the time for the university to determine the feasibility of a seasonally permanent solution.
Ball State provides shuttles to help students get where they need to be on campus quickly and efficiently. All students benefit from the campus shuttle service in poor weather. Riding a bus in subzero temperatures or rain is much better than walking. But the shuttles are a service some might take for granted.
Running shuttle buses does not come without financial investment, from keeping the buses fueled and running to paying drivers to get the buses where they need to be.
The university will only continue loops as long as students show their support by utilizing the service. Without passengers to serve, there is no reason to continue any loop, let alone a route that runs in the winter.
With the recent extension of the Blue Loop, the university has proved its willingness to listen to students and continue to provide transportation students need. The university would be justified, however, if it decided to cancel a particular loop due to low or sporadic ridership.
Students living east of campus have been given a valuable extension to the Blue Loop, but it is only an extension at this point. The university is willing to listen to student needs, and every student who benefits from the Blue Loop needs to make it known to the university by riding the loop on a regular basis.
We encourage students to show support not only through ridership, but through verbal and written support. We welcome your letters of support.
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