Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - University of Arizona students are using a free shuttle service called SafeRide to get around campus and the surrounding neighborhoods.

It is a service encouraged by police to avoid walking alone in dark areas. There were 3 robberies on campus in the past month.

UA student, Alexandria Partida, called for a ride to the grocery store Thursday night.

"It's definitely out of convenience but more for safety," she said. "There have been times where I'm at the library and I prefer to take SafeRide rather than use my bike or walk home."

She feels safe at school but does not have the same security off campus at night.

"I definitely have my head on a swivel," she said, "I don't have any headphones in. I like to observe my surroundings."

Chris Nelson is a paid student employee who has driven for SafeRide the past 2 semesters.

"It's a fantastic job. I really enjoy it, and I like helping people," he said. "It comes from student fees, so you might as well get your money's worth and use it."

The Associated Students of the University of Arizona pay for the fleet of about a dozen vehicles and 45 employees.

They serve more than 90,000 passengers a year.

The boundaries go from Broadway Boulevard to Grant Road and Country Club to Stone Avenue. They do not go Downtown.

They operate from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays. It is not supposed to be used as a designated driver service so they do not run Saturday nights.

Their phone number is (520)621-7233.