Transportation Services’ New 14-Passenger Bus Moves Students More Efficiently

Wesleyan’s Transportation Services Department announces the addition of a new 14-passenger bus to the Wesleyan RIDE system fleet. The RIDE is a free shuttle service with 17 stops around campus. The department also provides a free off-campus grocery shuttle service to Price Chopper and Aldi on Sunday afternoons.

“Adding this bus to the RIDE program will allow us to move more people, more efficiently, and more comfortably,” said Joe Martocci, transportation services manager.

The RIDE shuttles are available seven nights a week, and Martocci says volume picks up on the weekends.

“We move over 500 students every weekend. The idea to add another vehicle was to make it more enjoyable for students to use the shuttles,” he explained. On the weekends, there are now three vehicles in rotation to meet the high demand of students who need a safe way to get around campus at night. All are equipped with GPS units so students can see their location from a mobile app.

Martocci, who has worked at Wesleyan for 11 years, says the changes to the RIDE come from listening to the students and seeking advice from Public Safety Director Scott Rohde.

“We have changed some of the stops. Adding a larger vehicle and modifying the routes will be an experiment, but historically when students suggest ideas, we listen.”

Moreover, Martocci and his crew have added new shuttle stops signs around campus. The new signs are reflective and more identifiable for students on the RIDE.

Martocci notes that the bus provides comfort as well as safety features. Well-lighted on both the inside and outside, with rows of comfortable leather seats, it is also spacious, with enough room for students to enter and exit the bus quickly. Additionally, four video cameras provide an extra layer of security for all who are riding the bus.

To learn more about RIDE and the other services offered by the Transportation department, click here. Students can download the mobile app—Wes Shuttle (iTunes and Android)—and see where the shuttle is in real-time. Persons with disabilities can access special shuttle services by calling 860-982-8031 (day) or 860-685-3788 (evenings).