Being in Norman without your own transportation isn’t easy. Unless you are one of the few living and working right off campus, getting a ride anywhere around town can be quite challenging.
Calling a taxi can take up to an hour, which hardly works for people on a busy schedule. Riding a bike is always a great option, that is, until you have to go grocery shopping, and horses are quickly going out of style.
While most cities have public transportation to help those who do not have their own car, Norman’s public transportation system rarely provides customers with adequate options.
Cleveland Area Rapid Transit, or CART, is in charge of the bus system in the Norman area. CART has five bus routes in Norman, three running in the Norman area, and two going to Oklahoma City and Moore. Each of the Norman routes takes about an hour for the bus to run the full route. Apartment complexes across the city also provide shuttles to and from campus.
CART runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The hours may seem to fit in a lot of people’s schedules, but many students in night classes can be left without a ride.
Last semester, I had a class that got out at 9:30 p.m., which meant I either had to find another mode of transportation home, or forget about taking the CART system altogether. I was lucky to have my own vehicle, but many college students are not.
Public transportation does not just have to be for those who do not have another way of getting around. It provides customers with many advantages, you can save on gas money, keep unnecessary miles off your car so that your ’92 Corolla will keep running for another year, or my own personal favorite, use the bus ride to finish that homework you forgot to do before class. Expanding public transportation in Norman would also help clear up congestion on the streets. We have all seen Lindsey Street back up for miles, and parking on campus might actually become a reasonable option for students if there is less cars taking up spots.
Running a few more bus routes and expanding hours would have huge benefits across Norman. Instead of simply taking the bus to and from campus, people could be able to take the bus to run their everyday errands, without worrying about if they would be able to get home or take two hours to pick up trash bags from Wal-Mart. Plus students should never have to be left on campus without the University providing some option to get them home.
-Dara Mirzaie is an economics senior.
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Gene 2 years, 11 months ago
CART has developed long term plans for expanded service with routes going straight down major streets so you don't have to go out of your way on a long loop route. They would love to make these improvements, but it costs money. If we want better transit in Norman, we need to make it clear to city leaders that this is important and it will be used.
A great way to show your support is coming up June 18. On the second annual Dump the Pump Day in Norman, you'll be able to ride all city buses for free, and musicians, comedians, and dancers will be performing on the buses and at stops. That evening there will be a mass transit rally in Andrews Park with a concert by Resident Funk.
If we can increase bus ridership for Dump the Pump Day and afterward, and if we continue letting our mayor and city council know about the need for better mass transit, then it will happen. But for them to agree that it's worth spending more city funds, we have to show the demand.