Students and businesses need to take action to keep the Muncie Indiana Transit System's Late Loop trolley rolling now that it is back in action, but? Regardless of your opinion on drinking alcohol, college students will imbibe occasionally (or frequently). Not surprisingly, this often happens at bars.
Student Government Association is taking $720 of student money to kick-start the Late Loop's comeback this weekend. That's great for students who want to go to the Village or downtown to meet friends, hit the bars, grab a bite or visit stores that are open late. Although the trolley has been nicknamed the "Tipsy Trolley," it doesn't have to be simply for people who have a few too many drinks.
The Artist Within, a downtown art store, tried to use the trolley's popularity to attract students to a discounted night of pottery painting. Unfortunately for the business, the discount night was the same night the trolley stopped running because of lack of money. More businesses other than bars downtown, in the Village, and along the trolley route need to cater to the trolley crowd by offering activities and later hours for the riders. It will help keep the trolley from being a cheap ride for inebriated people.
SGA needs to push for this change as well. As the organization is sponsoring it and finding sponsors its name is connected with it, so this can't be only a Tipsy Trolley. It's a great service for people so they have alternatives to driving after drinking or walking around late at night alone, but it can be much more.
This trolley can help close the divide between Muncie and Ball State. It brings people from both communities together into one, at least for a couple hours late Thursday through Sunday nights.
And students have to buck up and pay $1 to ride the Late Loop around town and go to businesses along the route. If you don't help financially support the trolley, it's not going to exist. Sponsors simply either are not able or willing to pay for you to ride the trolley for free, because you won't give them business.
SGA supports the trolley because students wanted it. Now you have to support it as well.
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