Over the years, many students have expressed their concerns with the parking spaces available on campus. In response, Winston-Salem State University has introduced another alternative: the Ram Express. The shuttle bus allows faculty, staff, students and visitors to ride from one end of campus to another.
Recently, the two shuttles have been running; last year, there was only one shuttle in operation. Driven by James Hogue and Ray Famble, the shuttles circle the campus on a regular schedule. The Ram Express is available to anyone who comes on campus. Routes and maps are available at the police station on campus.
The shuttle’s route runs through the campus and Bowman Gray Stadium. Riders can catch it every 15 minutes from the designated stops between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Ram Express does not cater to off-campus students because it is designated for on-campus use. It does not operate on weekends.
According to Hogue, the shuttle offers a comfortable ride to anyone who uses the service. “It’s just like a limo: good music, air conditioning, and in the winter, [there is] heat,” he said.
A ride around campus on the shuttle is free for students and faculty.
“All you have to do is hop on,” Hogue stated.
The Ram Express route was designed for optimal convenience. Many people are taking advantage of the service by parking at the stadium and riding to class or offices.
“It helps a great deal because they can catch it off campus [at the stadium] and ride it to any parts of the campus,” Hogue said.
Initially, the shuttle was an unknown option. Once the shuttle became more publicized, students and faculty started to reap the benefits of the shuttle.
“Now that everybody knows about it, it’s easier to park without getting tickets,” said Eniola Funsho, a senior.
Since many students have expressed annoyance with on campus parking problems, the shuttle may begin ease the tension. Students seem generally happy with the presence of the shuttles on campus.
“It saves gas from trying to drive your car from one side of campus to the other,” said Nakia Peterson, a sophomore. “We do have nice drivers; they play good music and keep the air on.”