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‘SafeRide’ offers Miami students a way home

By Abigail Kelly, Senior Staff Writer

Miami and Butler County offer students a safe way to get home, but the option isn't available to all students.

Between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. during the week, students can call Butler County Regional Transit Authority's (BCRTA) SafeRide service if they feel unsafe walking home at night.

However, many who live off campus and outside the bus route do not benefit as much from the service.

SafeRide is a well-utilized service at the university for on-campus students and those who live in a designated area off-campus, said Connor Briggs, operations manager of Fixed Route Services for BCRTA.

"SafeRide is a very popular service for students," he said. "On standard weeknights, the service is popular for getting to and from King Library and other late-night academic locations in a safe manner."

Students can call SafeRide's number and tell the dispatcher their location. When the service is busy, students who are alone and who are not near a bus route are prioritized. Briggs said SafeRide has given 2,000 rides in 2015 - an increase from 1,700 rides in 2014.

However, even though Briggs considers the service popular, and there are students who utilize it, plenty of students do not use it.

For example, junior Guy Holloway, who lives off campus, said he does not feel the need to use SafeRide.

"I like walking and I have my phone with me, so if I feel unsafe, I have that to call for help if need be," Holloway said.

SafeRide is not available to off-campus students who live north of Church Street and west of Locust Street in order to prevent long wait times. The route was extended from its original boundaries this fall when BCRTA worked with Miami University to extend to off-campus student housing.

Senior Courtney Katzmeyer has considered using SafeRide while on campus late at night, but her house is outside the bus route.

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"I don't think it's fair," Katzmeyer said. "Realistically, the students who would be in the most danger from walking home alone, especially at night, are the off-campus students."

According to Briggs, SafeRide is mainly meant to serve on-campus students' needs since Miami - not the county or the city -- primarily funds the service.

But Katzmeyer said she thinks Miami needs to do more to protect its own.

"Off-campus students pay tuition, too, and we should have access to a safe way home," she said.

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