Talk of a universal bus pass has driven its way into Lethbridge College.
Many post-secondary institutions, like the University of Victoria and University of Western Ontario have implemented a U-Pass.The University of Lethbridge held its first referendum in 2006 and are revisiting the idea with another in late October.
This is something many of the students at Lethbridge College don’t seem to want. A U-Pass will add about $75 to tuition fees a semester but will allow students to travel city-wide on public transit.
“We’re trying to encourage students to take the bus instead of driving every day,” says LCSA president Alex Kulas. “We’re trying towards going a bit more green.”
Having already conducted a survey of 200 people, the LCSA received a favourable response of 80 per cent but not everyone feels the same.
“Personally, I think they should add gym memberships to tuition before a bus pass,” says Nick Baller, second-year exercise science student.
First-year business student Kira Thomas is concerned about those who don’t need the bus. “I don’t think it’s fair to make everyone pay for it when most, or a lot, of people won’t use it.”
An opt-out option is available but only for those with proof of out of town residence. Kulas recognizes this as a potential setback and is working on making it easier for those who will still want to drive to school.
“We’re trying to work with facilities so that we could decrease the [price of] parking passes,” says Kulas. “So you’re still paying the same amount you were for parking but your bus pass would be included with that.”
The U-Pass will serve as more than just transportation to and from school.
“What we really want to push for is late night service,” explains Kulas. “Right now buses run until 10 p.m., which doesn’t really do much for students.”
Allowing for late night service would give students a cheap and safe alternative for nights out at the bar.
“We want students to be able to take the bus home. You pay for four cab rides to and from a club and your bus pass is basically already paid for.”
Though talk of the U-Pass has begun it’s still an ongoing project.
“It’s totally up to the students,” says Kulas. “If it’s something that they want then I will work towards getting it for them.”
Future referendums will be held to allow students to voice their opinions and if the bus pass program comes into affect it won’t be until 2013.