Editor’s note: In an Instagram comment, Scott Law said that damages incapacitated the Safe Ride bus two weeks ago. Law is instilling a program where calls to Safe Ride will be forwarded to the dispatcher if it happens again.
Multiple Drake students have reported that Safe Ride isn’t returning their calls, bringing into question how operational the bus has been this semester.
Safe Ride is a free service that students can use between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, or until 2:30 a.m. every Thursday through Saturday. The bus operates between 24th and 34th Street from Cottage Grove Avenue to College Avenue.
Sophomore Torsten Buschhaus, who has utilized the Safe Ride program many times, said when he last called, the door was experiencing issues throughout the night and was soon unable to be closed at all.
“This is a service students rely on … and the alternative is exceptionally dangerous,” Buschhaus said in an email interview.
When the Safe Ride bus isn’t operational, Drake students have to walk back in the dark.
“If I’m walking from somewhere and Safe Ride’s not up. Then what? Now I’m a liability,” said sophomore Tay’Shaun Lewis, who uses Safe Ride frequently.
Many students, including Lewis, believe that the University isn’t doing nearly as much as it could to support the program.
“If you want people to be safe so bad and maintain campus safety, then maybe y’all need to take that initiative and step to invest into another vehicle,” Lewis said. “ISo if you have two vans maneuvering around the entire campus, taking people left and right, there’ll be less breakdowns and more people will be able to get picked up in less of a hassle.”
It isn’t common for many universities the size of Drake to have a dedicated program like Safe Ride; those services are typically reserved for much larger schools such as Iowa State University or the University of Iowa.
“I feel like Safe Ride was probably the best invention that they could come up with at this University,” said Lewis. “They make sure you’re safe, make sure you’re dropped off at the correct place and they’re not going to make you walk.”
John Lahvic, who’s been driving for Safe Ride since its creation a little over a decade ago, understands the frustration but is firmly dedicated to giving students the safest experience possible.
“Drake Public Safety is taking all necessary measures to ensure the vehicle is safe for both drivers and passengers,” Lahvic said in an email. “While it’s never ideal for the bus to be out of service, student safety remains the top priority, and ensuring the vehicle is safe to operate is essential.”
Lahvic is also aware that not every call is guaranteed to get a response.
“There can be a variety of reasons a call may go unanswered,” Lahvic said. “At times, the driver may be fueling the vehicle, assisting a full bus, momentarily unable to hear the phone or taking a brief break.”
Students can also call Drake Public Safety at 515-271-2222 if they can’t get in contact with Safe Ride. Drake Public Safety provides 24/7 campus security and can readily dispatch an officer to a student’s location, making it the next best choice for Drake students in an uncomfortable or unsafe environment.
