UC Nighttime Shuttle Service Takes A New Direction

A student-driven nighttime safety program is getting a new name and is under new direction, but students will remain at the wheel. NightRide, a free, nighttime shuttle service for the Uptown Campus and the Academic Health Center, will now have paid, trained student drivers under the direction of UC Campus Safety.

NightRide begins fall semester as the latest evolution in the former student volunteer-driven NightWalk program. “NightRide will still be a student-centric service and will be more reliable and more robust under UCPD direction,” says UC Student Body President Lane Hart. “We feel this is the best option for students to get consistent, reliable and safe service.”

UC Public Safety Officer Lance Long is leading Campus Safety coordination in hiring and training up to two-dozen student employees to drive the two NightRide shuttles. NightRide is offered to the UC community for safe and reliable late-night transportation within a one-mile radius around the Uptown Campus and Academic Health Center.

UC Student Government worked with Campus Safety in providing funding to hire the student drivers. The annual funding comes from the Student Advisory Committee on the University Budget (SACUB), the representative student committee that participates in the planning of the university budget.

“NightRide is the result of campus feedback for better late-night transportation service,” Long says. “As a result, the NightRide drivers will be on a paid, working schedule under the coordination of Campus Safety. They’ll undergo background checks and take a training class, as we put into place better guidelines to improve the service,” says Long.

Beginning on Aug. 20, NightRide will be running from 8 p.m. through 12 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday, and from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m., Thursday through Saturday.  “We’ll be revisiting the schedule based on calls and feedback we get from the service,” Long says.

NightRide’s number is 513-556-RIDE (7433).

Long adds that Campus Safety will continue to provide its two security trucks at pickup points (Langsam Library and Edwards Three) during overnight hours. The security trucks respond to calls from campus “Help” phones or from the Campus Safety non-emergency number, 556-1111.