USF’s Bull Runner needs to pick up the pace

As grateful as I am for USF’s bus system, the Bull Runner is seriously lagging behind. ORACLE PHOTO/THOMAS MARRS

It was near dusk on a gloomy Tuesday, and I’d just finished up an afternoon of shopping at the University Mall.

I was waiting for the USF Bull Runner bus to take me back to my apartment when something unthinkable happened — the route disappeared.

In effect, I was stranded.

And this isn’t the only time the Bull Runner left students in the dust.

Deborah Melendez, a sophomore English major, said she was once waiting for a bus at the University Mall, only for it to “completely ignore” her.

Melendez was left standing in the blistering September heat until another bus arrived.

“Despite the convenience the bus presents, I don’t really think I’ll be putting much faith in it in the future,” Melendez said.

USF spokesperson Ryan Hughes said Bull Runner routes may temporarily disappear when there’s an event or activity on campus that requires a detour.

Alterations in service are unpreventable and understandable, but it would be nice for USF to communicate these to students – rather than leaving us in the dark as our afternoon plans are derailed.

The Bull Runner is USF’s public transportation system, containing seven bus routes that circle the campus and the surrounding area — with free access to those with a USF ID.

Popular destinations for the service include the University Mall, Busch Gardens and several off-campus apartments.

Real-time route tracking is provided on the Passio GO! mobile and web app.

But concerns regarding the service are apparently mirrored by many USF students, as the Bull Runner’s Google review has a measly 2.6 out of 5 stars — with many of the 64 reviews expressing immense disappointment.

I’m a big proponent of public transportation. I don’t have an on-campus car, so I often rely on the Bull Runner to get around.

But despite my appreciation of public transportation, it’s undeniable that the Bull Runner needs to pick up the pace.

As the main mode of transportation for many USF students, the Bull Runner has inconsistent routes and poor communication in regard to route scheduling, which are major hurdles in day-to-day campus life.

Hughes said the Parking and Transportation Services team, which runs the Bull Runner, is committed to providing a superior level of safe and effective service for students.

The team’s goal is respectable, but there are still some glaring cracks that need to be paved.

One of the biggest issues is the Bull Runner’s often inconsistent and seemingly impulsive routes.

I can recall far too many instances of a bus unexpectedly skipping several stops or disappearing from Passio GO! altogether — never, in any case, with advanced warning.

But this issue is simply a smaller symptom of a larger problem — insufficient communication.

Many of these seemingly erratic alterations appear to occur when a driver leaves their bus to begin their scheduled break.

I’ve experienced buses arriving according to schedule, only for the driver to tell us we’ll need to wait because they’re going on break.

While I fully agree that the hardworking drivers deserve a well-earned rest, the issue is that Passio GO! is not updated to inform students of these breaks.

Instead, the app simply lists the buses’ intended schedules and does not update until the driver departs from their post. The bus then vanishes from the app until its return.

There are many small scale adjustments that USF could make to smooth these bumps without raising costs.

One area for improvement is communication. Allowing drivers to enter their breaks into the PassioGO! app would reduce much of the confusion and frustration among students.

Another is for Bull Runner guests to simply provide their own feedback to USF.

By doing so, Hughes said students can help make the Bull Runner service more “robust.”

It’s clear that the Bull Runner — in its current state — is lagging behind.

Certain reforms, big or small, are sorely needed. If implemented, these changes would lead to a happier, more fulfilling atmosphere across USF.

After all, it’s hard to thrive in college when one can’t even get around.

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