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A lack of awareness has contributed to a decrease in students using the campus’ shuttle service.The free shuttle service stop, located in parking lot 7, is usually filled with students looking for a ride to the Community Education Center, the Allen Avenue Goldline Station, or from either location to PCC. But this week has seen a low outcome of passengers even with the campus’ advertisement of the program.

“We have advertising on two spots – the pasadena.edu website, which has been down all week, and the spring catalog on page 235,” said Peter Benson, transportation coordinator.

A shuttle driver has also noticed a significant drop in passengers even though the school is usually crowded during the first week.

“I guess it’s the new [students] that don’t know about the service that we have because I have been approached by a few [students] that see us sitting there and they’re like, ‘Where do you go?’ and they start asking questions,” said Anna Martinez, shuttle driver.

Martinez became a driver for the shuttle services in 2001. She left for a year-and-a-half in 2006, but came back last fall and has noticed a decrease in passengers.

“I noticed a big drop,” said Martinez. “Like I said, I’ve been here for a long time, and I know for the spring semester we’re usually swamped, we can’t keep up with the flow.”

Martinez attributes the sudden drop in passengers to the lack of campus awareness regarding the service.

“Apparently, there’s no memos or fliers being sent out to let them know that we have [this] service. Something needs to be done with that, I’m sure,” said Martinez.

Angel Fierro, 22, kinesiology, was fully aware of the service but did not know where it was located or what route it takes.

“It would be beneficial to people who don’t have a car or for people who can’t afford the bus,” he said.

For those who are aware of the service, they are happy with the service the campus provides.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Kristin Olivarez, 20, sociology, who has a car but began taken the shuttle last fall due to the difficulty in finding parking.

“I’d spend like an hour in the mornings going up and down the parking structure,” said Olivarez.

The shuttle services are handicap-accessible, as there is a shuttle capable of holding a couple of wheelchairs on board.

Martinez felt the first day of campus was fairly easy for her throughout her route.

“I was even driving the big shuttle that we have, the big bus, and I wasn’t even filling that half way,” said Martinez.

The service has decreased the amount of drivers in route each day in order to accommodate for current economic problems.

“We are trying to cut back on the amount of drivers due to the budget problems,” said Benson. “We are definitely not running as many [vans] as we used to as we also have some issues with the cost of fuel.”

For the days the shuttles do get full, Benson and his team use two-way radios to make sure every passenger gets a ride to their desired destination.

“When they get a full van, they’ll call another driver to stop by to avoid people being left behind,” said Benson, who also has a Class B driver’s license and has been known to supplement shifts during those busy days.

“This week, we’ve had it under control. We haven’t received any complaints that anyone got left behind,” he said.

There are two sized shuttles that drive in circulation throughout the day. The big shuttle, which drivers have nicknamed “The Big Bus,” can carry 25 passengers and the small shuttle can carry up to 12 passengers.

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