UC Irvine U-pass program to end June 2009?
UC Irvine may end their successful U-pass program, which allows UC Irvine students to ride OCTA buses for free. I tried to get my pass renewed at UCItems today, where they normally renew OCTA passes. Their manager said the buzz on the street is that the U-pass program normally costs $60,000, but this coming year may cost UC Irvine about $300,000 "due to abuse" by non-students. UC Irvine's Parking and Transportation website says to "stay tuned," so there's no official word quite yet.
I got a similar vibe that something to the U-pass program would happen. I attended a customer roundtable earlier this year, with OCTA staff saying that since the U-pass is used so much that students may have to bear more costs.
If the U-pass program does end, all UC Irvine student passes would expire at the end of this month, June 2009. Cal State Fullerton passes would expire on August this year.
The U-pass program began in 2003 at Cal State Fullerton and in 2004 at UC Irvine.
Comments
How do they know that
How do they know that non-students are abusing it?
She said that folks were abusing the OCTA U-pass
...but I'm not sure how they came to that conclusion. Maybe students were "losing" their ID cards and got new ones? If you think about it, a student ID card would be worth $660.00 ($55 per regular OCTA 30-day pass, multipled by 12 months).
Or maybe they thought someone (like me) was riding too much around Orange, Santa Ana, and Long Beach, and not around Irvine? Whenever I slide my card, OCTA's farebox recognizes my farecard as "UCI."
Preserving the UPASS
That's really unfortunate to hear. I know I hear nothing but positive remarks from my peers a UCI and CSUF about riding the OCTA buses for free. I sadly don't ride for free, but I do ride LBT for free, which is saving my ass from the Route 60 cut, so at least I can still make it to downtown. I know CSULB just introduced the UPASS for LBT this year, but I hope we keep for a while.
It is interesting to compare the two agencies though. (LBT & OCTA) With both investing in hybrid buses (Although LBT seems to be leading), yet one making "draconian" cuts, it's an interesting comparison. I also noticed that LBT just recently adopted the magnetic stripe cards that OCTA has been using for the buss passes. As much as I love OCTA, I do have to give major kudos to LBT for their marketing and advertising department. They beat OCTA by miles. LBT can convince anyone to ride those buses!
Good luck to saving the UPASS!
Concerns over abuse...
Here in Riverside, we have a U-Pass agreement with the local community college. Let me tell you, that thing is abused to all hell. I saw a family of four, two adults, two (elementary-aged) children board my local bus- all with their own Riverside Community College ID's. I see plenty of people using them that don't look like they've seen the inside of a classroom in quite a long time.
However, UCI is a touch harder to get in to than RCC, and I'm assuming that your ID cards carry photographs. You can solve the problem of students "losing" their pass by simply checking the photo on them. Anyone who manages to get admitted and enrolled at UCI and then drops out with their bus pass... they deserve it.
(UCR, by the way, also has U-Pass. No concerns over abuse have been cited.)
UCI update on the OCTA U-pass
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the U-passes at your universities! At UCI, we already have our photographs on our ID cards. Bus operators don't check them, though.
I received this e-mail from UCI Parking, confirming that negotiations are at least taking place. I have no idea what they're talking about excluding UCI Medical Center since I'm a student anyways.
I have tried this week in
I have tried this week in getting my ID card renewed for the U-Pass and was also shot down by the manager by telling me it seems like it is discontinued. I sort of find it wrong in how students were informed so late of such change. I'm somewhat glad I made better decisions as for housing, however I feel for all those living in Parkwest and taking the bus how much $50/month or even $50/quarter will do. It will guarantee for much more crowded school shuttles and force people to consider bringing even more cars to campus. I'm going to try asking Parking and Transportation directly if possible about the status of this program, as no website points me to such program ending.
Hi Steve, I was Googling info
Hi Steve,
I was Googling info on the passes and came across this. I am the Opinion editor at the New University and I was wondering if you would be interested in contributing a piece on this for the August issue.
Let me know. My email is newuopinion@gmail.com.
Thanks.