This morning, I received an email, as I?m sure the rest of you did, from Transportation
Services notifying me there were changes to the bus routes I use the most. Starting
last month. 

Not only are they modifying where the 80 picks up (and, by the way, no map
to help you understand where these new pick-ups might be), the 81 will come 15
minutes less frequently, and the 85 is nixed altogether.
Said Student Services Finance Committee Rep. David Vines: “I know we are really
getting played by the city, and they are trying to make us cover a significant
portion of the budget we did not originally approve.” 

Do you realize we still have
to pay the same amount of student segregated fees for a much poorer quality of service? In
fact, SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker pointed out we are actually
paying more of our money for Associated Students of Madison bus passes. So overall,
we are getting less transportation, but it’s costing us more. In addition, we are also still paying for SAFEcab, even though it was unwisely scrapped in
favor of … nothing.

Fortunately, everyone’s favorite, Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, has our
back on that one. The Herald reported earlier this week that Resnick proposed the idea of a flat-rate,
SAFEcab alternative. But our alder shouldn’t have to be stepping in like this. 

The premise of cutting the services is even more ridiculous because they have no viable
alternative. If you wanted a SAFEcab, Transportation Services recommends you have
SAFEwalk walk you to the edge of their boundaries. But then you’re on your own. Oh,
and it isn’t very fast. We’re cutting your buses, says UW, but don’t worry, you can get
your bicycle valet parked when you go to a football game! The tone of the email
demonstrates how little regard the city has for students. The end of the email reads,
“NEW! University Bicycle Resource Center” and “More transportation stuff you might
like to know!”

In this sense, they’re like parents trying to distract a little child with a
lollipop so we won’t notice the tetanus shot we’re about to get.
Fortunately, SSFC is up in arms about this whole debacle, and if they can take it upon
themselves to accomplish something this year, their outrage may win us our beloved 85
route. In fact, right now they are about the only ones who can help us get our
transportation back: With budget cuts, it’s up to ASM to help us
bridge the gap in services the state can’t afford to pay. Vines and SSFC Vice Chair Joe Vanden Avond
seem ticked off enough to do something, and we have to hope transportation
issues don’t get lost in the shuffle of ASM infighting that has plagued the group for the
past year.

So right now, it’s up to us. Pressure your leaders in SSFC to follow through, and help
support Resnick’s initiative to replace SAFEcab. Or, y’know. You can always wait in the
bitter Wisconsin winter at the wrong bus station for a route that’s been cut. That’s
always fun. 

Taylor Nye ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in biology, archaeology and Latin American studies.