By Jesse Dolojan, Staff Writer

Starting Friday, Aug. 30, Xavier students will have access to a free 30-day Metro Bus pass and a free shuttle to Oakley Station running every Sunday between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The initiative was planned by the Student Government Association (SGA) with the goal of providing students who do not have vehicles a means to travel off campus.  

SGA worked with Metro to allow students free public transportation. SGA Vice President and junior Philosophy, Politics and the Public major Noelle Delumpa believes students may feel less trapped on campus if public transportation options are available. “We wanted to show people who don’t have access to cars that there are other options, and that you can experience more things off campus because some people feel like they’re stuck within the walls of this small campus that we have,” Delumpa said.   

Students will also be able to access a shuttle on Sundays outside Currito to travel to Oakley Station. To be taken back to campus, students can wait by the Kroger and Activate Cincinnati. Shuttles will carry a maximum of 10 people at once.    

Delumpa noted the potential for overflow with a 10-person shuttle. “I do think that’ll be interesting. It’s going to come down to how that works out when the time comes,” said Delumpa. “If there’s overflow, that could get messy. We might have to look into investing into another shuttle.” 

She also mentioned expanding the shuttle to include trips to Kenwood, Rookwood, Downtown and Over-The-Rhine to give students without a car even more opportunities to explore Cincinnati.  

Mia Gesell, a junior political science major, took the bus downtown last spring. “I had my internship at 8 a.m. twice a week so I had to walk to my bus stop, and it really wasn’t bad. It was just early, and it was kind of hard to navigate the first time,” said Gesell. “I think if you don’t have a car and you need access to an internship, I really think the bus is a good, eco-friendly way to get around.” 

Gesell believes she will use the Metro Bus pass in the future. “I think I definitely will, just because car troubles happen,” said Gesell. “It’s nice to have that in your back pocket just in case you have no one to get you where you need to go.” 

To access the 30-Day Bus Pass, students must download the Transit app and create an account using their Xavier email. Once an account is created, students can press the EZ Fare button, and then hit the “Create an Account” button. Next, press “Provide Access,” and students will be granted access to the 30-day free bus pass. 

To inform students about the 30-Day Metro Bus Pass and the Shuttle, SGA plans on tabling at Club Day, Aug. 28, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to inform students about their plans. 

“SGA is going to have flyers out with QR codes to either sign up for the bus pass or send you times that the shuttles will leave and come back,” Delumpa said. “We’re going to talk to students about the programs at Club Day and see what questions and concerns you have,” she said.