NIGHTRIDER

NIGHTRIDER. Beginning in September, 2012 the Nightrider evening bus service looped past LORAS COLLEGE, CLARKE UNIVERSITY, and the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE from 6:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The route was planned to provide college students with weekend access to West End shopping and downtown nightspots. The program was funded for two years by an Iowa Clean Air Attainment grant and 20% paid by the colleges.

In November, 2012 a study of ridership indicated that the general public was using the Jule Transit bus more often than the students. Weekend usage from September 28th through November 10th showed that 543 students rode the bus while 895 residents used the service.

In 2013 Jule Transit system sought city council approval for a third round of grant funding to operate the program. By October, 2013 the program had provided 12,440 rides with 41% being college students and the rest being the general public. Police officials attributed the program to a reduction in alcohol-related offenses.

The program was still in operation in 2019.

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Source:

1. Piper, Andy, "Nightrider Attracting More Than Students," Telegraph Herald, November 21, 2012, p. 1

2. Jacobson, Ben, "Funds for Nightrider Student Buses Sought," Telegraph Herald, October 5, 2013, p. 3A