The SUS Shuttle is the campus shuttle bus service managed by the Student Union Society (SUS). The shuttle currently operates from Monday to Friday, September 13 – December 10 from 7:40 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. The schedule is subject to change from December 13 – 22 during the exam period.
A major change to the shuttle service this semester is that there is no longer service to Langley. According to SUS Vice-President Internal, Duncan Herd, this is due to students voting “no” in the 2020 SUS referendum to increase the Shuttle fee by $6.75 a semester. This lack of funding in addition to increased costs for providing the service under a new contract means the SUS Shuttle cannot continue to operate the Langley route as before.
Students taking public transportation from Langley are encouraged by Herd to take the 66 Fraser Valley Express. This bus will drop students off at McCallum Park and Ride (a five-minute walk from the Abbotsford campus).
While the U-PASS gives students free access to nearly all the Fraser Valley transit systems in Chilliwack and Abbotsford, at the moment, the 66 Fraser Valley Express is not covered by the U-PASS program. However, Duncan Herd said that SUS is “working with B.C. Transit to integrate the Fraser Valley Express into the U-PASS.”
Upcoming changes to the shuttle program include extending the evening service to 7:30 p.m. and being able to view the bus’ location in real-time via an app, as SUS is investing in GPS trackers and software.
“We are also addressing concerns about the lack of lighting at the shuttle stops and will be working with UFV Facilities to ensure students feel safe while waiting for the bus,” Herd said.
When accessing the SUS Shuttle bus, students must present a valid UFV student ID, current semester U-PASS, and a valid shuttle sticker, which students can get from the SUS office at S1109. UFV is ensuring safety for all individuals riding and driving the SUS Shuttle by requiring masks to be worn on board, regardless of one’s vaccination status.
Wheelchair accessibility is only available six times a day due to SUS entering into a contract with a new shuttle bus company that is in the process of acquiring additional buses with full accessibility.
“An additional, higher-capacity bus will be fitted with a lift so that we can offer more runs that are fully accessible,” said Herd.
Students using wheelchairs who are registered with UFV’s Centre for Accessibility Services (CAS) can contact their CAS advisor if they would like to register to book the same scheduled trip for the entire semester on the SUS Shuttle bus.
Students were able to opt out of the shuttle bus program until September 30 by completing a form on the SUS website.
“Our mission is to serve students, and we want to provide the best service we can within the financial parameters that we have. If students would like a further extended service, then we encourage them to vote ‘yes’ when the shuttle fee referendum takes place,” Herd said.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the SUS Shuttle bus, email info@ufvsus.ca. If you would like to give any feedback on the SUS Shuttle bus, email SUS President, Nikiel Lal, at president@ufvsus.ca or the Vice-President Internal, Duncan Herd, at vpinternal@ufvsus.ca. You can also visit the SUS info desk Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Building S on Abbotsford campus.
For the latest updates on the SUS Shuttle, including suspension of services due to highway closures or delays, follow @UFVSUS on Twitter.
Images: Valentina Betancourt/The Cascade
Valentina Betancourt is a third-year psychology major/political science minor who is the News Editor at The Cascade. Her dream is to become an immigration Lawyer as she immigrated from Bogota, Colombia.
