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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1979)
J Wednesday, december 12, 1979 daily nebraskan page 3 By Patti GaUagher The white line is the limit for the bus lines running be tween City and East campuses. It is legal to fill the buses with passengers up to a white line behind the bus driver, but some students riding the buses have said overcrowding has caused more then an in convenience. According to UNL freshman Karen Watson, "people have gotten closed in the doors," riders have been forced to stand in stairwells when seats and aisle space was full and the view of the driver has been obstructed frequently by standing passengers. ' Watson said the 12:30 pjn. bus to East Campus. is especially crowded. Representatives of the Lincoln Transportation System, which rents the campus buses to the UNL Auto Pool, said although capacity laws do not limit the number of students on the buses, the situation described by Watson would be illegal. , Jerry Olsen, general manager for LTS, specifically said the occupation of stairwells and obstruction of drivers' vision are not allowed. . Olsen said, however, that it is a LTS policy for drivers to inform their superiors if the operating conditions of their buses are unsafe. So far, he said, LTS has not re ceived such a notice. THE PRIMARY CONCERN of LTS, Olsen said, is the safe operation of buses. The primary concern of the auto pool, however, is getting students to classes on time, according to Joe Pospichal, director of support services for the auto pool. Pospichal said the buses may be filled legitimately up to the white line in the aisle directly behind the driver. He said that no law for a capacity number is imposed on the buses. The auto pool rents three buses from LTS at $14j00 per hour per day. The buses travel between City and East Campus approximately 1 1 times daily, according to Alicia Law, assistant manager of auto pool. The first run of the day is at 7 ajn.; the last run ends at 6:05 p.m. daily, she said. , - - The buses can' hold 60 people, seated two per regular seat, Watson said. The bus drivers submit weekly "load reports" to LTS that approximate the number of riders each day. (fe)0 o ;.. Editor in chief: Amy Lenzen; Managing editor: Margaret Staf ford; News editor: Randy Essex; Associate news editors: Br en da Moskovits, Rocky Strunk; Night news editor: Frank Hassler; Assis tant night news editor: Karen Keller; Features editor:'Jill Denning; Layout editor: Deb Shanahan; Entertainment editor: Kim Wilt: Sports editor: Rick Huls; Photography chief: Mark Billingsley; Art director:- Rick Hemphill; . Magazine editor: Mary Fastenau; Magazine managing editor: Gail Stork; Ombudsman: Michael Zangari; East Campus bureau chief: Kevin Field. Copy editors: Liz Austin, Julie Bird, Barb Bierman, Alice Hrnicek, Barb Richardson, Bob Lannin.Kris Hansen, Paula Bauer, Sandi George, Denise LeMunyan. Business manager: Anne Shank; Production manager: Kitty Policy; Advertising manager: Denise Jordan; Assistant advertising manager: Art Small. The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL Publications Board Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, except during vacation. Address: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraskan Union, 14th and R streets, Lincoln, Neb 68588. Telephone: 472-2588. Material my be reprinted without permission if attributted to the Daily Nebraskan, except material covered by a copyright. , Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb., 68510. COUPON" IS YOUR HAIR READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS? 0 D 0 ' IP Bring this cd in and receive: $2 OFF Haircut & Style $1 OFF Regular Cut or $5 OFF Perm & Style Thru December 21st N-NAMG Hair Salon Lower Level Douglas III Bldg. 13th &P 474-4900 (Call for en appointment) JUST 2 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS a a bCOUPON a a a a a n o o D 0 D D 0 D D D 0 D I 1 0 D 0 0 D D 0 D st. Q 0 called- overcrowded THE LOAD REPORTS, which Pospichal said are 80-85 percent accurate, have shown that the average heavy load has been 80 persons. The peak-load hit 125, within the last five to six years, he said. Both bus riders and officials agreed that the problem of crowding is only apparent during the after-lunch routes, leaving city campus around 12:30 pjn. ' . Pospichal said the crowded buses have been more "an inconvenience" than a danger, and that the busline's safety record has been good. However, Watson said, "I don't see how they can be called safe." She said that sudden stops land people in each others' laps, and said if a bus were to crash, "the people standing up would probably go through the windows." Watson said that frequently three rows of students have been forced to stand in the aisles, and a student riding the bus this fall counted 1 25 occupants. Another student bus rider, Linda Brooks, termed the busline, especially the 12:35 pjn. route to East Campus, "hazardous," but said she'd' rather take the packed bus then be late for class. Brooks said the drivers also put this consideration first, and will stop for everyone no matter how "sardine pack ed" the, bus may be. Pospichal said the auto pool has not received any complaints about crowding of the buses this semester, and said his employees frequently ride the buses themselves to analyze the situation. If the employees spot a serious problem, the solution would be to rent another bus from LTS, Pospichal said. There are, however, "very few dollars available' for another bus, he added. . . Pospichal encouraged students with gripes about bus space to contact the auto pool. Blood is life ICOG Oil jD It II Save on Your Favorite Levi's at Locv-Clharice-BoCore-FiraslG SRI today thru Saturday only SPECIAL! Levi's Corduroy Flares reg. $17 (5 n (P)(P) ' NaVV Grey L. Blue V U U oVV .Tan Black Wheat ... L Rust Brown Green Sizes 25-42 waist Also Levi's Recycled J eans . . $ fy.fyfy Bells, Big bells, St. legs, Cords : Kennington Sweaters reg. to $25 Top brands Women's Velour tops 015-010 reg. to $30 t Underneath Douglas III 13th & P 'It Pays to go Underground for Values" 4 I V . -V' S 'A. 'I :0 -i i i 1 1 i '4 i It ! i