Come along and take a ride on the Bucshot – a convenient way for students to save money on gas and get around campus without wearing themselves out walking around campus throughout the day.One great thing about the Bucshot is that it is a free service for students and faculty, and the staff is very kind and caring.
“What a privilege it is to have a ride back to your room, especially when it rains,” says Laura Schnieber, a Buc Village rider.
Mrs. Coral, the day shift Gold route driver said, “I enjoy working here with the students. They keep me young.”
Coral said she has been working for the Johnson City bus system at ETSU for three academic years (four calendars.) Her husband is the person that motivated her to start driving as a career. He has driven a school bus for 16 years.
Coral said she loves helping students get to classes. In fact, her daughter attends ETSU and her son will be attending in the summer. Coral said she feels good about working with students.
According to Coral, the biggest change has been the amount of riders.
“The last three to four years we have gone from 40 students to 400-500,” said Coral.
Some of her interests include regularly attending church and reading. Coral loves her family, her career and she is always motivated to do the best job she can.
Her words of advice are to, “Come early, so you aren’t late to class. That way we don’t get caught in school traffic. More people ride at those peak times.”
The students agree it is an efficient and effective way to get to classes or the library on campus.
La-trice Mackey said, “I have been riding the Bucshot for two years and really like it.”
Bill Pearce, the afternoon gold route driver, said, “It’s real nice working with the students. I really enjoy talking to them.”
Pearce said he has worked for ETSU through the Johnson City transit system for the last three years, part-time. He began his driving career at Pepsi and has driven for them for 20 years, and later drove a truck.
Pearce enjoys working here, he said. He lives in Johnson City, where he can be close to his family. The Bucshot also has Red and Blue routes.
The drivers serve on-campus and off-campus routes.
The Bucshot is available throughout the spring and fall semesters.
The Bucshot Gold and Blue routes have 15-minute route times. The Gold route serves the east side of campus, while the Blue route serves the west side. They run from 7:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
The Red route makes a 15-minute loop between the center of campus and the two major outlying ETSU parking lots.
The Red route operates from 7:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
The Bucshot evening route service hours operate on a fixed schedule from 5 p.m. until 10:45 p.m. Mon.-Fri., with Safe-Voyage trips available from 8 p.m. until midnight by calling (423) 914-5940.
For more information, visit www.johnsoncitytransit.org/campus.html.
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