NextBus is Key Sustainability Component at U of S. Carolina

Filed Under Best Practices, Feature Stories, Sustainability, University Transit

NextBus technology powers 50% increase in student ridership

The University of South Carolina takes sustainability seriously. They apply the concept of sustainability broadly throughout the campus in everything from green buildings to student transportation. NextBus has been able to play an important role in developing a more sustainable transportation environment.

In fact, the University thought highly enough of the NextBus system to feature it in their award application to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Here’s how they put it in their application:

Several years ago, USC began implementing a transportation/parking plan calling for the elimination of core campus parking coupled with improvements to public transit. USC’s shuttle busses have been outfitted with GPS “NextBus” technology to enable passengers to know precisely when the next bus is due, credited with increasing ridership from 3,000 to about 4,500 per day over the course of a year.

That 50% increase in daily ridership stems from student confidence that they know when the next bus will arrive. Once they have that certainty they are much more willing to reduce their reliance on private automobile transportation.

As one university students said, “You no longer have to wonder how long you’re going to have to wait.” And, if there is one things students don’t want to do, it’s to wait around for an eternity for the next bus to arrive.

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