Students of Skyline College who ride SamTrans to get to school are often annoyed or even angered by overcrowding or the infrequent arrival of buses. Though the 121, 123 and 140 run a well-timed and punctual operation, their availability is anything but convenient. This problem could greatly affect the performance of a student. College-level subjects and complicated schedules are more than enough to fill the minds of students, so the simple commute to school should be the least of worries.
A student usually has to wait thirty to forty minutes for another bus if he or she experiences the misfortune of missing a trip. Specifically, the 140 would probably be an hour wait before for the next bus comes. A student may spend hours per day just waiting.
This is simply unacceptable. Be outraged that large amounts of time are effectively extinguished by utter nothingness. It is true that patience is a virtue, but for a college student, time management is essential for academic survival. Time spent waiting for a bus does not count towards an AA degree, nor does it qualify as an excuse for missing a math final. The embarrassment of entering a classroom twenty minutes late because of infrequent bus arrivals should be used as a catalyst by students for change. Do not be complacent with the routes that are in place, for we have the ability to influence SamTrans.
The First Amendment guarantees an American citizen the freedom of self expression and the right to criticize, Skyline College students should capitalize on this. SamTrans is a glaring example of something that needs improvement. Students fed up with this precarious ordeal should focus their rage into constructive criticism. Do not blame a rude passenger that constantly hits you with his elbow because of an overcrowded bus; instead, blame the bottleneck of people caused by the everything but efficient SamTrans’ bus schedule.
According to Jonah Weinberg, a representative of SamTrans, it only takes one well-researched and thought out letter to stimulate change; a single letter to influence a monolith of public transportation. Increased bus circulation is as easy as writing an essay, doing a survey and sending it to the Director of SamTrans Operations at 1250 San Carlo Ave. PO Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070. The power to choose between being late to a major exam or arriving with fifteen minutes to review before class is within reach. Prove that the pen truly is superior to the sword. Take it upon yourself to change what needs to be changed.
