When it comes to transportation, cooperation is key. So is understanding the interests of the people being transported.
The on-campus shuttle system originated as a parking shuttle for commuter students and freshmen who park at the stadium lots, the university's director of Facilities Business Services and Transportation said at Friday's Mayor's Commission for Ball State Student Relations meeting.
But times change. These days, it's a campus shuttle, not a parking shuttle.
Students use the shuttle system, even for short trips, including when:
n It's raining, snowing, windy or too hot.
n They're injured and it hurts to walk all the way across campus.
n Class starts in 10 minutes, they're at home in LaFollette Complex and need to get to the Burkhardt Building.
n They need to get home from the library and don't want to walk alone at night.
Non-commuters use the shuttle buses every day - and many of them use MITS as well.
Perhaps the university should reconsider the purpose of its shuttle bus system, to take a fresh look at how students are using it and how a partnership with MITS could benefit the student body.
Beyond that, if the university is concerned that few students would ride on the new bus route - based on a 2004 survey - administrators could conduct a new survey to decide if such a shuttle system would be useful. Or they could consider advertising the new route to increase student awareness and ridership of MITS overall.
Likewise, the Mayor's Commission could do its part to work with the university on such a survey or advertising campaign. The commission could also hold an open forum or set up an e-mail address for students to express their opinions on this and other issues. With student input and the voice of the student body behind its claims, the commission would have a much stronger argument for the university's cooperation.
If all perspectives in this debate - from the city to the university to each student walking or riding across this campus - can come together and seek mutually beneficial solutions, the commission might be able to find a widely acceptable option for an east-of-campus shuttle system.
But all parties must realize they're going to have to work together, with students in mind, to get any new system running.
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