By J. Douglas Stevens
Staff Writer
Need a Ride? Want one more glimpse of that great sunset first?
No problem.
Waves shuttles will now be making two additional trips around downtown Seaver at 6:05 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. for all book-toting pedestrians who would otherwise have to walk.
“Extending shuttle hours has been a topic of discussion for several months, but the decision was officially made last week,” Transit Service Manager Bob Fortenberry said.
As of Monday, the short white bus was in service from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., departing from main campus, making stops at Firestone Fieldhouse, Rho parking lot and the School of Law (all other stops available upon request).
“It’s definitely a good thing,” staff driver Shawn Damoude said.“I know students appreciate it, and I don’t mind working the extra half hour.”
An experienced shuttle operator, Damoude carefully maneuvers busloads of students down John Tyler Drive, across Banowsky Boulevard, and up the notorious Seaver Drive for several hours every day.
“Quite a few students and faculty members do not finish what they are doing until six o’clock, and no one wants to walk up this steep hill after a long day,” Damoude said.
Residents of the George Page apartments are pleased to hear about the newly extended hours, benefiting most from Pepperdine’s shuttle service.
“Last semester I had class until 5:50, the same time (the shuttle) made its final trip, so I would end up walking up the stairs most of the time,” said Emily Touloukian, a senior living in George Page Apartments.
Building a university on the side of a mountain provides an incredible view, but it also creates plenty of nasty hills.
Thanks to the shuttle’s new hours, more legs will be spared a significant hike.
The Waves shuttle has been running since 1990, and provides a variety of services to those in need of transportation.
“When I first started working for Pepperdine in 1992, we only had one shuttle,” Director of Printing and Transit Services Bill Martinez said. “The second shuttle was not added until 1999.”
For the past five years, the library shuttle has been running Sunday– Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Just last year, the Malibu shopping shuttle was introduced, running Monday –Thursday, four times a day.
Many students recall fond memories of the Waves shuttle, whether it’s falling asleep and waking up to realize a new driver was behind the wheel or making new friends on the way back to the dorms.
“I met the Mowry twins while riding the shuttle!” Kart Neuharth said enthusiastically.
Sophomore Chris Tiruri was overcome with joy upon discovering the shuttle’s extended hours.
“Thank God! Some of my best times at Pepperdine were on that bus,” he said.
Others, however, would like to see the hours extended further than they are, for reasons of their own.
Alan Senh, sophomore and teacher’s aide for an evening biology class, wishes the hours were extended even further than they have been.
“I’m so glad the shuttle runs until 6:20,” Senh said. “Now it can take me to my dorm when my class ends at nine.”
The new hours are experimental, meaning that they are subject to change depending on the number of students that take advantage of the extended service.
February 07, 2002