2008 Woodie Awards
An Inside Look at the ISU Bus Transport System
Noah House
Issue date: 2/22/06 Section: Opinion
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The ISU Commuter Express system is a viable way that ISU provides for students and staff outside of the Pocatello area to commute to the main campus in Pocatello. For those who utilize the system, it can easily be described as a saving grace on those cold, blowing, and wet winter days.
The ISU Transportation Department has six buses that run daily. These are not your average school buses, either. These are the big, over-the-road, commercial coach buses. They are some of the same buses that transport the various ISU athletic teams to their events.
Currently, there are five buses that run daily from Idaho Falls, and one that comes all the way from Twin Falls. From Idaho Falls, the bus stops to pick up those in the Shelley and Blackfoot areas, as well. The bus from Twin Falls also picks up riders in Burley and American Falls. With all the routes that run during the week, there are hundreds of students and staff members who ride the bus at one point or another.
The necessity of the commuter bus system is obvious for many students and staff. So why is it that the ISU Transportation Department takes the role of the Commuter Express system so nonchalantly? I have been a bus driver during two different academic years, and here are some things that may be of interest:
All primary bus drivers are full-time students at ISU, as well.
The ISU Commuter Express system is supposedly a student-run organization; however, not even a majority of the current bus drivers know this.
The starting wage for a driver is $6.00/hour with a 25ยข raise every semester. The drivers normally get paid two hours per trip, to or from Idaho Falls/Pocatello, as this includes time needed for pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections, fueling, etc. In addition, drivers do not have to pay for a bus pass.
Not only do students utilize the bus system, but some faculty and staff members do, as well. This is a bit of a touchy subject, as there are students who complain that ISU staff members ride the bus when those seats should be reserved for student use. This complaint is especially prevalent at the start of a semester, when students attempt to buy a bus pass only to find that the available passes have already been sold.
The ISU Transportation Department has six buses that run daily. These are not your average school buses, either. These are the big, over-the-road, commercial coach buses. They are some of the same buses that transport the various ISU athletic teams to their events.
Currently, there are five buses that run daily from Idaho Falls, and one that comes all the way from Twin Falls. From Idaho Falls, the bus stops to pick up those in the Shelley and Blackfoot areas, as well. The bus from Twin Falls also picks up riders in Burley and American Falls. With all the routes that run during the week, there are hundreds of students and staff members who ride the bus at one point or another.
The necessity of the commuter bus system is obvious for many students and staff. So why is it that the ISU Transportation Department takes the role of the Commuter Express system so nonchalantly? I have been a bus driver during two different academic years, and here are some things that may be of interest:
All primary bus drivers are full-time students at ISU, as well.
The ISU Commuter Express system is supposedly a student-run organization; however, not even a majority of the current bus drivers know this.
The starting wage for a driver is $6.00/hour with a 25ยข raise every semester. The drivers normally get paid two hours per trip, to or from Idaho Falls/Pocatello, as this includes time needed for pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections, fueling, etc. In addition, drivers do not have to pay for a bus pass.
Not only do students utilize the bus system, but some faculty and staff members do, as well. This is a bit of a touchy subject, as there are students who complain that ISU staff members ride the bus when those seats should be reserved for student use. This complaint is especially prevalent at the start of a semester, when students attempt to buy a bus pass only to find that the available passes have already been sold.