Chances are you have had or will have at least one miserable transportation experience during your time at the University. From late buses to inadequate parking to parking tickets, students struggle to make sense of a transportation system that should be so efficient they don’t think about it. To learn what works and what doesn’t, the University Parking and Transportation Services has wisely initiated the Transportation and Parking Student Advisory Council, intended to update and regulate its transportation system with the help of those who use it most: the students.

Recently, the University introduced new changes to its transportation system — but apparently forgot to notify students. The University started a Diag-to-Diag bus route, and the Northwood Express route now runs five minutes earlier. While typically neither of these changes would be problematic, the issue is that neither of these changes were well—publicized, even at bus stops. In fact, the signs at bus stops are outdated if they even exist at all.

Such problems — in addition to unresolved issues like the challenges of parking near campus — have led PTS to establish this new committee. Composed of a few transportation officials and students from different schools and colleges at the University, the committee hopes to use the recommendations of the student body to strengthen the University's transportation system.

As it begins its investigations, the council and PTS should focus on the kinds of changes that will make public transportation on campus easy and efficient. Right now, some fundamental issues are holding back the bus system on campus, like tardiness, overcrowding and sparse weekend service. The first logical step is updating each bus stop sign and PTS's website to represent the changes to the University's routes. In this same vein, it should examine resources like the Magic Bus website. Though Magic Bus is designed to keep students informed about bus routes and the progress of buses, it isn't always accurate, which defeats the purpose of having it at all.

If you want a telling example of how bad the Magic Bus website, just read the caveat it offers on the site: “The Magic Bus system and this website are still under development. Bus riders are encouraged to use it. However, reliable and accurate service is not guaranteed.”
Luckily, the University has a good model for its system right here in the city: the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. Thanks to a small fee tacked onto students’ tuition, they can ride not only the University buses but also the city buses for free at any time just by showing their M-Card. This offers students access to the efficient, hybrid AATA buses, which tend to run on schedule. The University bus system should follow the AATA's lead and step up to its standards, ensuring that using the University system is at least as efficient as the AATA. In fact, merely focusing on the University bus system could alleviate many of the city's problems. After all, the stronger the public transportation system is throughout Ann Arbor, the more likely it is students will use it, which will also lessen the burden of parking in town.

But these problems will only be addressed if students participate, whether it's applying to join the council or coming to it with their concerns. Through the Transportation and Parking Student Advisory Council, the University is offering a rare opportunity for students to have a say in the system — but now they must take advantage of it.