348-RIDE is a free service shuttle van that will transport you between locations on campus or between nearby residences and campus. 348-RIDE is available to students between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekday nights and 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends. The service area includes campus and neighborhoods between Greensboro Avenue to the west, 15th Street to the south, Helen Keller Boulevard to the east, and Jack Warner Parkway to the north and they are still adding locations due to the construction of newer apartment complexes. 348-RIDE is intended as a support service for academic purposes and does not service establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold. Only during an emergency, will 348-Ride provide a service past the limits in which the University has set.
Even though all calls are dispatched as soon as possible, high demand sometimes leads to a delayed response. This has caused many students to take a second look at the service. The Student Government Association gave an initiative to create the newest division of 348-RIDE, called 348-RIDE Express. The Express launched September 10, 2009 and has provided safe, convenient, and quick traveling on campus. In doing so, the service has increased demand and the students have recognized that the 348-RIDE is becoming more and more convenient, especially due to the fact that enrollment has increased and there are more and more students in need of this type of service. This program has been designed to ease up the current 348-Ride’s capacity, which will in turn provide lower wait times for 348-Ride on and off campus. The express is less of a hassle to use, and is more reliable than the original 348-RIDE for on campus travel with a wait time of five to eight minutes. Instead of having to call 348-RIDE and wait on the van to pick you up at your location, you simply go to one of the 348-RIDE bus stops, which are indicated by flags and signs. 348-RIDE Express has two CrimsonRide buses that make a constant loop around campus on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. The six bus stop locations go as follows: Bryce Lawn Drive stop (Fraternity Row #1, Publix, The Strip, New Hall, and Friedman Hall), Library stop (Gorgus and Rodgers Library), Lakeside stop (Lakeside, Ridgecrest, Rose, Riverside, The Highlands, Palmer, Paty, and Blount Hall), 4th Street/ 12th Avenue stop (Fraternity Row #2, Bryant dorms, Bryce lawn), Tutwiler stop (Tutwiler hall, New hall, Blunt hall, and all sorority houses), and Burke stop (Burke hall and Parham hall). “James Fowler, SGA vice president of external affairs, said the research helped him and his team figure out which locations were in high demand and which days the most calls came in to 348-RIDE” (Shelton). Like CrimsonRide, you can log onto http://ua.transloc.com/ to track 348-RIDE Express buses from the convenience of your computer or cell phone.
No matter what your reasons are for using 348-RIDE, whether it is because you don’t have a car or are unable to drive it, the university is always willing to serve you to help maintain your busy schedule, and most importantly your safety. The next time you and your friends are looking for a safe ride to a party, or if you simply just need a ride to the library, don’t hesitate to walk towards one of the nearest stops or dial 348-RIDE.
Works Cited
"348-RIDE (7433)." Auxiliary Services. (2007). The University of Alabama, Web. 18 Sep 2009.
"348-RIDE Express." Student Government Association. (2007). The University of Alabama, Web. 18 Sep 2009.
Shelton, Lindsey. "SGA to launch 348-RIDE Express." Crimson White (2009): n. pag. Web. 18 Sep 2009.
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