YSU panel hopes to drive students to consider all forms of commuting

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

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A committee at Youngs-town State University is looking for ways to reduce the number of students driving to campus.

“What we’re trying to do is inform and educate,” said Paul Kobulnicky, chairman of YSU’s Alternative Transportation Advisory Committee.

The committee formed several years ago when gas prices started to creep up — and may be seeing some positive results.

“There are more bikes showing up in racks outside my windows now than before,” Kobulnicky said. “If you come to YSU during first week of the term and look at parking in the parking lots and decks and especially Wick Avenue, it’s packed. A couple weeks after that, there are spaces. That tells us that people are figuring out how to hook up and ride together.”

The committee considers all forms of alternative transportation including walking, biking and taking a bus.

“We’ve been able to convince some units on campus to spend some of their budget money to upgrade bike racks on campus,” he said.

The new Williamson College of Business Administration, which opened last fall, includes bike racks outside, part of the building’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

The group also has had meetings with Western Reserve Transit Authority representatives, talking about service for students.

A planned route between Youngstown State University and Eastern Gateway Community College in Warren was placed on hold, though, after the Ohio Department of Transportation rescinded transit grants. The change was part of the state’s attempt to close a budget gap.

The committee has plans for a campaign called Stay the Day, urging students to remain on campus between classes.

“Some students come for class, go home, and come back for class,” Kobulnicky said.

If they instead come in the morning and stay the day and go home at night, “lots of good things can happen in addition to saving money on transportation,” he said.

They would have time to study, to form study groups or work out at the recreation center. It also gets students in the practice of getting to work at 8 a.m. and staying until 5 p.m.

“That’s what they’ll do in the real world,” Kobulnicky said.