Opinion

Passing on the bus pass

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This week, the Associated Students of Madison website carried an urgent warning that some Madison Metro bus routes may be cut.

We wish they could instead cut the bus pass.

Whenever ASM attempts to justify its existence and list the benefits ASM provide students, the bus pass is always at the top. But the reality is that for most students, the bus pass is big waste of money.

Last school year students paid $1,298,900.00 for the bus pass ? $31.51 per student. But of the 41,219 students at UW-Madison (according to the website), last fall only 24,597 — 60 percent — picked up a pass. Each pass cost $52.81!

So exactly what could a UW student do with the $31.51 they pay for the bus pass? Well, they could ride the bus 33 times (assuming they bought three ten-ride booklets and three individual rides). Until they reach that magic number, they are losing money.

Or, more realistically, students could pay for individual bus rides when they really need them and use the rest of the money as they please.

We understand that some people depend on the bus for getting to and from classes. But we also know that the majority of bus pass picker-uppers merely use the pass because it was there — if they had to pay on the spot they would walk. It is unfair that these students, along with non-picker-uppers, subsidize the transportation costs of a select few (especially since those few are probably benefiting from the lower rent costs found outside of downtown).

A different story is the L and LN buses. This year, students pay $84,100 more per year for the bus pass with the added benefit that the L line is free. This is the one part of the bus pass that is worthwhile. The L bus is a necessity for students who live downtown and have a class on the far west side of campus. More importantly, all students can take advantage of it. The L line is a welcome addition and one that should be preserved.

As for the other 70 or so routes, ASM is locked into a three-year contract. In the meantime, we encourage ASM and UW to conduct a study to determine the number of students who regularly use the bus pass and for what sort of commutes.

We are certain the number of students who have to use the bus pass more than 33 times will be a tiny percentage, and we hope ASM will stop abusing the rest of the student body’s money to give them a handout.