Elon BioBus
The Elon Bio Bus program is part of an initiative by Elon University in North Carolina to offer more environmentally sustainable transportation to the community. There are currently seven bio-buses in operation . The number has been steadily growing since the Bio Bus program began in January 2007. The Elon Bio Bus provides a source of public transportation to students, faculty and staff at Elon University was well was the town of Elon and areas of the Burlington, North Carolina community . The Bio Bus has four routes to off-campus locations including the West Inner and Outer Loops and the East Routes to local apartment complexes . The University Drive Line stops at local entertainment venues and shopping centers. The Bio Bus routes begin and end at the hub behind the McMichael Science Center on Elon’s campus . The buses refuel at Elon University’s refueling station . NextBus, a GPS tracking system, provides students and other riders with exact bus locations and arrival times .
How it works
At Elon, there are seven bio-buses that run on an alternative fuel made of 20% bio-fuel and 80% ultra low sulfur diesel. The bio-fuel is cleaner than the regular diesel the buses originally ran on making them more environmentally friendly. The fuel is made of alternative organic fat substances and contains fewer petroleum- based particles and sulfur. The project for the Bio-Bus was made possible through a $1 million dollar grant and the help of Representative Howard Coble, a Republican from North Carolina.
Pros
The buses are very useful during inclement weather. Students needing to travel around campus or to any of the stops along the bus routes can do so without being affected by the weather conditions. In addition, students living off-campus can travel to and from their apartments using the bus system. This saves money that would otherwise be spent on gas, protects a finite natural resource and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The busses run from 7:00 am to 2:00 am, giving students access to public transportation almost constantly.
Cons
The bio-bus does not always run on time. Recently, an online tracking system, NextBus, was created to allow students to pinpoint the buses’ location. However, the system can be misleading and is not always accurate. If a bus is later or earlier than expected, students may not arrive at their destination on time and may miss class or another obligation. The Bio-Bus runs on a regular schedule, usually makes a whole route in 15 to 20 minutes, so riders must plan their schedule around when the buses are to arrive and depart.