Recently, students have been misinformed about the status of shuttle buses on campus, and many students believed the Bucshot was in danger of being phased out due to low ridership.
However, the opposite is actually true, said Johnson City Transit employee Teresa Oler.
ETSU presently has a two-year contract with JCT and recently renewed the contract to accommodate the 300-400 students a day the Bucshot transports. Ridership numbers are expected to increase with the winter season approaching.
The impressive number of riders Bucshot attracts has left JCT with a need for larger buses, especially for students with morning class schedules, and an opportunity to expand its services.
Students who need to go to the James H. Quillen College of Medicine and the new ETSU golf facility are also seeking the assistance of the Bucshot’s shuttle services.
This cost-effective service has had great results, according to current students and avid riders.
“It is very helpful getting to class and back from Buc Ridge,” said ETSU student Rebecca Surber.
The number of students on the buses varies with class schedules, but the buses stay particularly busy during the morning routes. The busiest pick-up spot on is Buccaneer Ridge apartments, located on the hill behind the new Sherrod Library.
Adriel Duncan, a sophomore at ETSU, takes advantage of the Bucshot’s convenient services riding to and from Buccaneer Ridge every morning.
The Bucshot’s buses are wheelchair accessible, including a lift. Bus drivers will assist the rider and his or her chair into the bus and make sure both are properly secured.
“We will work with any special needs,” Oler said. “We are there to help the students.”
The Bucshot buses also include seat belts in every seat, are air conditioned, and are free to all ETSU students, faculty and staff. Drivers also use two-way radios to communicate to other Bucshot drivers of pick-up and drop-off arrangements or missed riders.
With on and off campus routes, Bucshot services every inch of ETSU, providing students with a short ride to far destinations.
One of the shuttles travels down State of Franklin, catering to students who need to go to Kroger or the apartments nearby. The bus also provides 10 shuttle stops on campus.
“We have designated stops, but we stop for everyone,” said Sharon Hamby, a driver for JCT for 10 years.
As ETSU supplies an answer to the parking problem by providing the free shuttle service, Oler and other JCT employees want to provide friendly service to students and help keep up ridership numbers.
Rain, snow or sleet, the Bucshot is there to keep students out of the weather and to help give those tired legs a rest. “If you need a ride all you have to do is motion,” Hamby said.
For information or schedules for ETSU’s campus transportation, call 439-7900.

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