A shuttle is welcomed

LBCC students who commute by city bus may soon sigh with relief when plans are implemented to provide a shuttle service for LBCC students in Spring 2009.A shuttle service could mean not having to spend $31 on monthly bus passes. The shuttle also can eliminate what seems like a decade-long wait when taking a city bus.

Even if a student follows the bus schedules, the buses still could be late.

And, if students use the shuttle, they can save on gas and won't have to wrestle other students for a rare parking spot.

The long awaited shuttle won't just help with transportation expenses. At times, students with the lack of transportation are frustrated at the imbalance of classes between both campuses and the service may help alleviate some of that frustration.

Graphic design majors for example, can find it very irritating that their required classes are mainly at the campus that is farther away. If a shuttle was available to them, they can take as many faraway classes with no worries.

Many other city colleges, like Pasedena City College, provide a shuttle service for their students. If LBCC follows their example, perhaps three shuttles can be provided.

The shuttle system even could get away with using two shuttles. A non-stop drive from one campus to the other does not take long.

The wait for the LBCC shuttle won't be anywhere near as long as it would be for the Transit. Students wouldn't even have to ask other students if a shuttle came by, as they would with certain buses, because another shuttle would arrive in no time.

There can be two shuttle stops at the PCC and three stops at the larger LAC. As far as pricing goes, the service should be free. The free service is one way to give back to students after ripping students off at the Food Court and vending machines for all these years.

From the looks of it, having a shuttle could be expensive even if the college will benefit.

With the above problems being curbed, there is no doubt that more people will enroll at the college. The amount of classes taken will rise, too. More students and more classes equal more money for LBCC. In the end, a shuttle pays off for everyone.