Input From the Transportation Services

Questions for Improvement to Parking & Transportation Services at University of Colorado-Boulder:

   

      We looked into the Parking and Transportation Services at the University to get more input on what improvements they are trying to make on the Buff Bus. We had a conversation with the director, Bryan Flansburg, of the Parking and Transportation Services at CU-Boulder.

1)    1) After talking to some students who have lived or live in Willville and who use the Buff Bus as a means of transportation, a lot of them are having issues with the tardiness of the bus, is this something that the Buff bus is trying to make improvements on?

  Yes, we are definitely trying to improve the bus’s tardiness because a lot of students are having issues with getting to class on time. In fact, we have already made major improvements, such as, moving the bus stops to more convenient areas so that it does not delay traffic and having at least 2-3 buses running all day long, sometimes depending, even more.

2)     2) Do you think you will be working on a more fitting and concrete schedule for students to depend on in the near future?

Obviously, having a set to go schedule is very challenging, but we are trying to improve on arriving and departing the bus stops on time. Sometimes it is hard to help the students when the buses are waiting for later students to arrive at the bus stop, but improvements do need to be made. Hopefully, in the near future we will have a fit and set schedule rather than having the students assume that the bus will come every 10-15 minutes. 

RTD vs. the Buff Bus

The RTD is another form of public bus transportation around the Boulder region.  It  can be used by anyone, as well as CU students who are provided with an RTD pass  for free during their freshman year.  As for the rest of the public, they can pay for  bus fares through pass programs or directly on the bus. The RTD is a useful  contrast to the Buff Bus regarding bus schedules.  For instance, one of the RTD's  local week-day bus routes starts running as early as 3:50am and stops running as  late as 2:55am.  Conversely, the Buff Bus only runs from 6:48am to 12:00am during  the week.  On the weekends, the RTD's schedule hours stay mostly the same, while  the Buff Bus only runs from 10am to 12:00am.  The RTD also provides the public  with an "on-the-dot" schedule, where the bus arrives at an exact time.  The Buff  Bus, on the other hand, is supposed to arrive every 10-15 minutes, but usually  does not stay consistent. 

Handling the Buff Bus: Tips & Advice

Through out our blog, we have shown you the good, the bad, and the ugly when dealing with the Buff Bus.  You are now prepared to use CU's main transportation system.  Whether you like it or not, if you are living off campus especially, the Buff Bus is one of your only options.  It is best you understand how it works and learn a few tips that might help you get through the day without having a meltdown.

Here are a few tips and pointers from someone who has had a year of first-hand experience with the bus:

• It is always convenient to memorize the hours the Buff Bus runs on both the week days and weekends.  (This way those of you who are coming home at 3:00 AM on a Saturday night are not surprised when a bus still has not shown up after waiting a half hour).
• It is also convenient to memorize each location where the Buff Bus picks up, whether you are off campus or not.  There are times when the Buff Bus can get you down to the Engineering Center faster than your two feet can.
• Keep in mind that the Buff Bus "supposedly" arrives at a stop every 10-15 minutes.  However, this time range applies to the period during the day when there are the most Buff Busses running.  During nights, for example, the Buff Bus can take up to 30 minutes to arrive.
• Playing off of the tip above, it is smart to consider wearing enough layers during the winter season that will keep you warm while waiting longer for the bus to arrive.
• Know the two different Buff Bus routes, the Colorado loop and the Regent loop.  The Regent loop will take you up Colorado Ave and will turn left at Regent, passing the Engineering Center, Koebel, and the UMC.  The Colorado loop, on the other hand, will continue up Colorado Ave, passing Benson, Mathematics, the Recreational Center, Muenzinger and back up toward the UMC.  Depending on where your next class is, one loop could get you to your destination faster than the other.
• Last but not least, give yourself extra time to wait for the bus when leaving your dorm.  Accidents happen, and busses frequently get backed up.  You might be that lucky one to go to class on the one day where only two Buff Busses are running, and there is a crowd of 70 people waiting for the bus outside of your dorm.  Prepare ahead of time for this scenario to happen and give yourself at least 30 minutes to wait for the bus.  

Written By:  Kaitlin Johnson, a Sophomore, who lived in Williams Village during her Freshman year and rode the Buff Bus to CU's main campus daily.

Survey Results: Pie Chart

We graphed our results into three broad categories in order to get an idea of where each participant's perspective stands on the current Buff Bus transportation system.  We came to these conclusions based in particular on their answers to questions 1 and 6 from our survey.

The blue area of the pie chart represents those who believe that the Buff Bus is completely efficient as of now, with no complaints or need of improvement. The only person who thought that the Buff Bus was efficient was an actual Buff Bus driver.

The green area of the pie chart represents those who believe that essentially an efficient method of transportation, but could use improvement. Their main issues with the current Buff Bus included tardiness, lack of buses, and that the Buff Bus does not run early or late enough. These participants included: 1 males and 3 females including 1 freshman, 1 sophomore and 2 seniors.

The red area of the pie chart represents those who believe that the Buff Bus is completely inefficient, and needs serious improvements. This consisted of one male sophomore. These complaints included: lack of a consistent time schedule, over-crowding, technical problems, and lack of buses.

Survey Questions:

These are the questions that we asked our survey participants:


Buff Bus Transportation Survey Questions:

1. Is the Buff Bus an overall efficient method of transportation?

2. Is it stressful to drive/ride on at times?

3. Does it get delayed often or does it successfully follow a timely schedule?

4. Are there ever technical problems with the bus?

5. Is the bus more efficient during certain times of the year as well as certain times of the day? If so, when?

6. Are there any specific issues that need improvement/changes you think should be made or are you content with this current method of transportation?

Works Cited

Works Cited

"Parking & Transportation Services." University of Colorado at Boulder. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://www.colorado.edu/parking/commuting/bus/buffbus.html>.

Pearson, Danielle. "Student Voice: Hey, CU: Please Fix the Buff Bus - Colorado Daily." Boulder and CU News and Information Boulder, CO - Colorado Daily. 07 Apr. 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2010. <http://www.coloradodaily.com/rant-rave/ci_14837668#axzz1718VGUmJ>.

RTD Regional Transportation District.  <http://www.rtd-denver.com/index.shtml>.

"University of Colorado at Boulder." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Dec. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder>.

Article on the Buff Bus from the Colorado Daily

In the Colorado Daily, Danielle Pearson, a current student at CU, expresses her concern for the inefficiency of the Buff Bus and asks students to raise awareness.

http://www.coloradodaily.com/rant-rave/ci_14837668#axzz1718VGUmJ

Buff Bus Photos

Buff Bus Route

Background Information on the Buff Bus

HISTORY/BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

-The Buff Bus shuttle connects students who live in Williams Village/Bear Creek with the Main Campus. The Buff Bus also shuttles residents of College Inn to Main Campus dining facilities at meal times. The Buff Bus operates each day and night throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session.

-The Buff Bus is a student shuttle that runs between off-campus housing and the main campus. The buses serve students with two routes through campus. The route from The Williams Village Residence Halls and Bear Creek Apartments runs all day and brings passengers to campus from the remote residence halls and the apartment complex. The College Inn route runs for two hours in the morning and again in the evening and circulates through campus to and from that dormitory.

            - It is a primary mode of transportation by many students living in off-campus housing. Many Buff Bus drivers are students, with a few exceptions.

            - The fleet includes buses manufactured by NovaBus, Gillig, Neoplan, Thomas Built Buses, Navistar International Corporation, and Blue Bird Corporation. Some of the buses in the fleet are powered by biodiesel manufactured from fryer grease. The idea started as a class project for CU Environmental Engineering student, Andrew Azman and four other students, after hearing a talk from biodiesel pioneer, Joshua Tickell. The conversion of the Buff Buses to biodiesel was supported by a student referendum. Used fryer grease from the dining halls around campus is now processed into fuel for the Buff buses, leading some to comment that the bus exhaust smells like french fries.

 - The Buff Bus shuttle is sponsored by CU-Boulder's Housing Department, and administered by PTS.

Rules of the Buff Bus

-No alcohol, smoking, drugs, or illegal activity are allowed

-No pets, bicycles, or flammables

-Do not ask driver to stop at unauthorized locations

-For your safety, do not chase after the bus

-Be courteous – it’s simple!

-Listen to the driver

-Stay behind the white line

-Allow passengers to unload before loading

-Use trash receptacles 

(Hours indicate first and last departure of the day from Williams Village.)
Monday-Friday 06:48 a.m. – midnight
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – midnight
 
Buses run most frequently between 7:19 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. Buses run less 
frequently when there are fewer riders, typically before 7:19 a.m. and after 8:07 
p.m. Detailed information on bus headways and estimated departure times will be 
posted soon. 

Project Overview

For our story, we chose to report on the Buff Bus as a method of transportation at the University of Colorado, and its impact on the students that use it.
We composed a list of survey questions and  interviewed six subjects, ranging from CU Freshman students to Buff Bus drivers.  We also rode a full loop of the bus around campus in order to interview the drivers and feel the experience.
We compiled our answers into a chart, demonstrating the different responses to the Buff Bus's current transportation system.
Finally, we completed background research on the Buff Bus and have attached an opinion piece written by a current CU student from the Colorado Daily.  We also wrote a separate short article listing helpful tips for those who use the Buff Bus regularly.