DSG proposes Safe Rides expansion

Apparently, Safe Rides is not making people feel that safe.

Duke Student Government sent a proposal to Auxiliary Services officials in favor of expanding the program by adding vans and extending pick-up service to its entire service area, bounded by Club Boulevard, Duke Street, Chapel Hill Street, Anderson Street, Chapel Hill Road, Cornwallis Road, 15-501 Bypass and Hillsborough Road.

For years, students have complained that Safe Rides does not adequately serve student needs, mostly because it involves long waits.

Most recently, two students were mugged March 20, 1999 while they were waiting for a van at the Towerview Drive speed bump across from Cameron Indoor Stadium. Two other students waiting for a ride Oct. 24 were robbed at gunpoint at the West Campus bus stop.

"A lot of students have voiced concerns about there being a high wait time and not enough actual Safe Rides vans," said junior Mandrill Taylor, DSG's director of student services and the plan's author. "It's not meeting the students' needs adequately.... Safety is one of the most important issues that shouldn't be an issue."

Associate Vice President for Auxiliary Services Joe Pietrantoni, who had not yet seen the proposal, said the University already plans to add one van to the two already in service this year.

"We had so many calls on the use of it," said Pietrantoni, who added that graduate students' concerns prompted the increase. "It wasn't overloaded but it was very heavily used, very busy."

Pietrantoni said his plan is designed "to keep the process going at a good, steady pace."

Off-campus expansion bears significant financial implications beyond Pietrantoni's current plans.

DSG's proposal would require adding several more vehicles, each at an annual cost of $67,000 per year, according to Pietrantoni, for the van, driver and fuel. DSG's plan did not analyze costs, but it reads, "Recognizing the inherent expense of expanding any University-wide service, DSG is willing to help devise various funding strategies should the need arise."

Taylor said that if he had to choose between adding vans and expanding pick-up locations, he would lean toward the former. Currently, Safe Rides will pick students up from the Duke Manor, Chapel Tower, or Duke Villa Apartments and any University building.

Among students, though, a move toward expanded service seems to have mixed support

"Because of the potential for social events to move off campus... if they could expand their services to accommodate student life, it would be beneficial to the University and the students," junior Lisa Rauenzahn said. "I don't think that's unreasonable."

But others expressed concern that the off-campus expansion would turn Safe Rides into a taxi service.

"I think the people who need these things should pay for a taxi instead of having tuition subsidize it," said junior John Campbell.

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