In its first three weekends of service, Duke's new bus route into Durham has experienced fluctuating ridership, but administrators and student leaders remain optimistic about the program's future success.
The bus route, which includes stops at Anderson Street, Cafe Parizade, Ninth Street, Alexander Street, Brightleaf Square and East Campus upon request, has seen 17 to 100 passengers per night during its first three weekends of service.
"I think it's going very well," said Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs. "It's not a function of the number of riders. I had really modest expectations, and I believe we have to give new ideas plenty of time to take hold."
DSG Vice President for Student Affairs Joshua Jean-Baptiste, who helped organize the service, said he thought it would become more popular over time.
"[In the] long term, once Duke students are used to it, this bus will be a very successful way of getting students off campus and back onto campus," he said.
Co-organizer Evan Davis, DSG chief of staff, said he thought more students would take the bus if it provided service Thursday nights.
"Most of the open events that are sponsored by groups are on Thursday nights," said Davis, also a senior sports associate editor of The Chronicle. But he said expanding the bus service to include Thursday nights was not on the immediate agenda.
Davis, a junior, also cited publicity as one of the major hindrances to increased ridership. The Division of Student Affairs offered free advertising in The Chronicle to all student groups hosting events off campus, but Davis said few groups have made use of the opportunity.
Sophomore Kimiknu Mentore agreed that more publicity was needed. "I think if people know about [the bus service] they'll definitely use it," she said.
The University tried a similar system three years ago, but bus attendance dwindled shortly after implementation. The current system was developed in response to the movement of Duke's social life off campus.
"The biggest difference is the social climate at Duke," Davis said. "So many more events are off-campus now than they were three years ago."
Davis and Jean-Baptiste said they hope the new service will help keep students safe and prevent drunk driving. "It has never been a safe situation to walk from Brightleaf to East Campus," Davis said.
Senior Ana Viego agreed that buses could help decrease the number of students walking from off-campus locations at night. "If there was a bus passing by, I think people would think twice before walking home," she said.
Phillip Brainos, manager of Mugshots, a bar located on Ninth street, reported that the establishment has not seen an increase in business, but said he was glad students have a safe option for transportation.
"I think there's room for lots of expansion," Moneta said, confirming that the Duke-Durham bus service will continue next fall. "This is going to be market-driven. If students are interested in having this service, we'll find ways to provide it."
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