As the first month of the White Loop extension comes to a close, ridership data shows consistent use of the buses in the early morning hours. Extended weekend White Loop hours -- running until 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights -- were approved by the University Park Undergraduate Association on Jan.13 and went into effect two days later.
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) has been monitoring the number of riders during the past month, and officials are pleased with the results.
"It's too early to say if this should be permanent," service development manager Eric Bernier said. "But we think the early results are encouraging."
The number of students using the extended hours has remained consistent during the first four weeks, averaging 1,281 riders per weekend, according to a CATA report. In fact, the only time the number of riders dropped below 1,000 was the second week -- a canning weekend.
UPUA President Gavin Keirans thinks warmer weather will bring even more riders. "I think we're going to see a major uptake in numbers in the second half of the semester," he said.
UPUA continues to employ ambassadors to monitor these extended hours -- including some non-UPUA ambassadors and members from greek and other student organizations.
"I hate to be cheesy, but I would call it a success," UPUA Student Life and Diversity Chairman Christian Ragland said.
Ragland (junior-political science) said he initially thought being an ambassador would be boring, but the ambassadors found ways to keep up morale -- including meeting a diverse cast of students and bus drivers.
