We've heard the horror stories and remember the catastrophes that occur aboard the "Yellow Limos" of adolescence. Memories of nasty drivers screeching to sickening halts and gawking boys throwing bubble gum linger in the subconsciousness of most of us.

The Campus Loop and Town Loop buses offer an exciting alternative to the emotionally scarring busrides of youth.

But you have to be up for the experience.

It takes a certain frame of mind to enjoy a wild Loop ride on a Friday or Saturday night. Don't board the bus expecting to pass the time quietly contemplating life or reflecting on the situation in Latin America.

Instead, be primed for a rousing chorus of the true University song, "The 'Loop, the Loop, the Loop' is on Fire. We don't need no water let the mother fucker burn."

You also have to be ready to face one of the most thriving singles' scenes around. People seem to overflow with friendliness on Friday and Saturday nights. The chance to blow off stress and imbibe some "liquid courage" makes everyone nicer.

"The bottom line is, even though people are mildly intoxicated, it's a positive energy," said Bob Beck, CATA employee and driver of the nightly Town Loop.

And that positive energy gravitates to everyone on the bus, creating a unity seldom found at a large university like Penn State. In kind of a strange way, the Loop is a lot more than just a bus.

It's a symbol of togetherness.

And the people creating this spirit of togetherness can be a sight.

Many riders are boisterous and do some things they may regret in the morning.

Beck recalls a young woman who planted herself in the center of the Loop, stated her name and boldly screamed, "I rule this bus" as passengers streamed onto her "kingdom."

Some passengers are embarrassed enough to return to the Loop on Sunday or Monday and apologize for their behavior during the weekend, usually after a friend has informed them of what they did, Beck said.

Last Saturday a woman stumbled onto the bus, exclaimed -- "I'm so dizzy but I really wish I could go to a bar!" --and slumped down in her seat to dazedly await her stop.

A young man entered the bus with a paper bag, clinked his quarter in the receptacle, and called out, "Anyone wanna beer?"

His friends quickly counseled him that drinking on the bus would be "highly illegal, dude."

Other people are just along for the ride.

"A lot of people don't know where they're going when they board the Loop,"said Beck.

It proves there's some truth to the old saying "Half the fun is getting there."

The driver plays an integral role in the fun.

Beck never fails to shout "Have a good night," over the noisy din of the bus.

Sometimes people have so much fun they want a permanent record of their Loop experience.

On Saturday, a young woman requested a photo opportunity with Beck because "he'd been so nice." She sat on his lap while her friend snapped the picture.

Another man used his Loop ride to snap several pictures of people whom he didn't know.

But, for all the good times, things can get out of hand.

That's when Loop drivers turn to ZGOOP, a powder used to soak up the excess of an over-zealous drinker, said Beth Yodor, driver of the Campus Loop.

It's safe to say that someone has thrown up on the Loop every weekend this year, she said.

"The day after it really smells," she said.

Many passengers fear the person sharing their seat could be the next victim of drinking and riding.

Several passengers had a look of imprisonment on their faces, as if they wished the bus would drive in a straight line and stop lurching and turning all the time.

And the sound of dry heaves sometimes emanates from the back of the bus. A man stumbled from the bus Saturday with low roars flowing from his mouth. Beck just grinned and shook his head.

Some passengers believe Loop drivers are out to hit pedestrians and delight in making the ride as rough as possible to aggravate unsteady stomachs.

"One time as I was walking on campus I overheard a girl telling her friend that the Loop drivers will hit people on purpose if they walk out in front of the bus. She was really serious," said Yodor.

Beck agrees sometimes his job is challenging because people don't watch the traffic. The fear of an accident is never far from a driver's mind, he said.

But the advantages of the job outweigh the worries, Beck said.

The Loop has its faithful regulars, passengers who wait patiently in front of East Halls for the bus to take them to the fraternities or bars. Beck said he enjoys the chance to get to know people.

There's not much left in this world that you can buy for 25 cents. But here at Penn State for a quarter you can have it all -- action, laughs and a ride on the wild side.