Editor,
I am writing in response to the issue of irresponsibility of the shuttle bus drivers at Weber State University. Drivers are neglecting the health and needs of their passengers by paying more attention to themselves than others.
Here at WSU, one of the ways for students to get to campus is to take the shuttle bus. Whether it’s to avoid the parking issues we have, or we because we don’t have a car to get from University Village to the campus, the shuttle provides an easy way to get there.
The problem is, the drivers aren’t mindful of their passengers’ needs or safety. Many drivers sit in the parking lot after they arrive, staying there even past when other shuttles arrive. Instead, they choose to sit on their phones, or even smoke right next to the shuttle doors. Not only does this make passengers riding in that shuttle possibly late to their classes, but it prevents the shuttle behind them from leaving as well. What’s the point of riding in the shuttle if it takes them as long to leave as it would to walk to or from campus?
Not only do they stay unnecessarily long in the drop off zones, but when they do leave, they don’t pay attention to the road. I’ve seen drivers eat, drink, talk or text on their phone, and simply not pay attention while driving. Some have even had to swerve in order to not hit curbs. These drivers are doing exactly what we teach teenagers in drivers education not to do.
Even though the shuttle system is a convenient way to go back and forth between campus and University Village, I think that something really needs to be done about this problem, preferably before somebody gets hurt.
Ashlee Jones Ogden
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