By: Madeline Lowe

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — As Safe Ride approaches what its supervisor calls its busiest weekend of the year, students’ decisions after requesting a ride could affect how long others wait to get home.

The University of Arkansas service offers free transportation when other plans fall through, but students who find another ride without canceling their original request can leave drivers making unnecessary stops while others remain in line.

Safe Ride’s citywide service operates Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. 

It picks up students within Fayetteville city limits, and takes them to their official residence listed in Workday. 

Riders should also have their pickup location, student ID number, and destination ready before calling.

For university junior Jace Ramos, Safe Ride has been a resource since her freshman year, when an older sorority member introduced her to it. 

She said Uber and Lyft can become expensive on busy nights, making the free alternative useful.

“I still use it to this day,” Ramos said.

Ramos contiuned to describe the service as reliable, and said she planned to use it during Halloween weekend.

She even also mentioned using it just last night before her interview.

Although pickups can require waiting, Ramos said she still considers the wait worthwhile.

She recognizes that the vans serve multiple students rather than providing the same experience as an individual rideshare trip.

Keeping those vans moving becomes especially important during Halloween, which Nathaniel Laningham, Safe Ride supervisor for Razorback Transit, identified as the service’s busiest weekend each year.

“Safe Ride operates three vans with a combined maximum capacity of 26 passengers,” Laningham said. 

While drivers handle requests in the order calls are received, demand is only part of the challenge.

Drivers wait five minutes after arriving at each pickup location, even when a student has already left without notifying the service.

“If there’s then four or five consecutive missed pickups, it can delay the next rider by approximately 30 minutes,” Laningham said.

He contiuned to emphasize that there is no penalty for canceling, as the time spent responding to these unused requests just contiunes to add to the wait for students who may actually still need transportation.

“We understand if you don’t want the ride anymore because the wait’s too long,” Laningham said. “Just call us and let us know. That way, the next person in line doesn’t have an even longer wait because we’re waiting to pick you up.”

While students contiune making plans for Halloween, finding another ride should also mean making another call.

As canceling an unused reuqest keeps this resource availble for everyone.