The Braves Shopping Shuttle continues to run on campus every week to take students to their shopping destinations. Students were concerned that the service had been shut down because they did not see the white buses for an extended time, but the service schedule has merely been modified.
Braves Shopping Shuttle operates on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and transports students from campus, to the local Wal-Mart and Food Lion. Pickup is at various locations on campus. A full schedule can be found on the UNCP Student Affairs website.
Students can register at the University Center Info Station for free with a valid ID.
The Braves Shuttle program had been downsized, according to a program representative. In the past, the buses ran on weekdays and made pickup and drop-off stops all over campus and in Pembroke and Lumberton.
Changes were made to shorten the routes after student participation numbers did not support the longer trips. The program was renamed the Braves Shopping Shuttle to reflect the change.
The program’s low participation rate has been linked to students’ lack of knowledge about if and how the shuttle system works. Carpooling and other forms of transportation on campus affect participation, as well.
One student, who does not have a car and does not ride the buses, said they are glad that the shuttle still runs.
“It’s a lot easier to find a friend with a car and that’s what I do, but it’s nice to know the buses still run so that I have the [option].”
The Braves Shopping Shuttle is expected to remain at UNCP for the foreseeable future.
Despite the shortened schedule, students continue using the buses to shop for groceries, particularly on Fridays to stock up on items for the weekends.
“Parents are always calling and checking on this program,” the program representative said. “It’s usually the first thing they ask about at orientation. They are concerned about how our students without cars will have transportation to get the things they need.”
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