Members of the University community scrambled to find alternative means of transportation Tuesday, as the Lane Transit District strike rolled into its second day.
Bus drivers voted to strike Sunday following 10 contentious months of contract negotiations between Amalgamated Transit Union District 757, which represents the drivers, and LTD. The strike has completely suspended bus services in Lane County.
LTD surveys indicate that more than 10 percent of University students ride the bus on a daily basis.
The ASUO and Department of Public Safety worked to provide transportation options, and is offering free parking at Autzen Stadium. The University also accepted an offer from PeaceHealth to allow students, faculty and staff to ride a private shuttle from Lane County Fairgrounds to Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Beyond those two alternatives, DPS encouraged biking or walking to campus, options which were further supported by Monday and Tuesday’s fair weather.
“Weather impacts transportation even under normal times,” said Rand Stamm, DPS parking and transportation manager.
DPS has received no complaints of specific incidents or clashes between University members and picketers, Stamm said. Students are, most likely, driving and parking near campus, then walking the rest of the way.
“You’re probably seeing a lot more vehicles parking out into the neighborhood,” he said.
Stamm added that there aren’t many options for transportation.
“We have to be creative,” he said.
The ASUO hasn’t taken a position on the strike; ASUO officers indicated that the student government wanted to avoid the appearance of strike breaking.
ASUO President Adam Petkun said the ASUO will try to stay
above the fray. Petkun defined “strike-breaking” as “a large-scale effort to provide an alternative and equivalent source of transportation,” something the ASUO cannot afford. “We’re trying to educate students on what is available,” said Nathan Strauss, the ASUO public relations director. Strauss added that the Assault Prevention Shuttle is a transportation option as well. APS runs from 6 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to
2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Transportation alternatives
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Strauss added that the ASUO incurred no costs in connection with the strike other than printing costs for fliers.
Some members of the campus community simply need the buses. Angee Langenberg, who works at the University Bookstore Duck Stop coffee shop, said she lives about 40 minutes away from the University.
“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do, to be honest, if it goes on for a long time,” said Langenberg, who added that she’s been bribing her family for rides home in the evening.
“(My brother) had to drive all the way across town; it really sucked.”
Carpooling makes no sense for her because she lives so far away from campus and doesn’t have a car.
Langenberg said she flip-flops on which side of the conflict between LTD management and the bus drivers she supports.
“There are about 10 bus drivers that come in every day that talk about it,” she said. “A couple are pretty adamant about it.”
“It’s a tough situation. I hope they figure it out,” Langenberg added.
Stamm said he has found getting to campus challenging as well.
“I personally ride the bus most days from Cottage Grove, and that’s not an option right now,” he said. “The last couple of days, I’ve been driving in, parking away from campus and walking in.”
