UGM was conducting trial to operate UGM campus bus during the New Student Success Learners Training from 8-10 September 2011. The trial was conducted to facilitate transportation within the campus for new students class of 2011/2012.
"The trial is the first step towards the realization of the UGM campus bus as a means of transportation within the campus for the entire academic community of UGM. If there are no hurdles, hopefully, this year UGM campus bus would come into presence, "Head of Sub- Directorate for Work Health and Safety, Environmental Order and Parking Management, Directorate of Asset Management and Maintenance, Drs. Supriyanto, M.P.A, explained on Friday (9/9) during the trial.
In the trials, UGM employed two units of campus bus that operate from 6:00 to 6:00 p.m. hours. The bus route is divided into two, namely the west route and east routes. The west route goes through Jalan Kaliurang – Jalan Teknika Utara-Jalan Kesehatan- Jalan Denta-Jalan Yacaranda- Jalan Dr. Sardjito- Jalan Kaliurang. Meanwhile, the east route goes through Jalan Kaliurang-Jalan Sumpah Pemuda-Boulevard-Jalan Colombo-Jalan Prof. Notonegoro- Karangmalang- Jalan Agro-Jalan Kaliurang. "In the rush hours at the morning and afternoon, we set the bus departures every 20 minutes. While when it’s not so crowded, at daytime, bus departure is every 30 minutes. During these two days the number of new students who use the free facilities of campus bus is still considerably low. Their mobility is not so high because they are still participating in the New Student Success Learners Training,” said Supriyanto.
There are 14 bus stops, being 8 on the east route and 6 others on west route. Bus stops of the west route are located in the north of Faculty of Biology, east side of Faculty of Engineering, west side of the Faculty of Dentistry, west side of Vocational School, Asem Kranji, and east side of the Faculty of Pharmacy.
The east route’s bus stops are located in the north of Faculty of Forestry, west side of Library Unit I, west side of Kopma, Jalan Colombo, east side of the Campus’ Mosque, east side of the Faculty of Philosophy roundabout, Karangmalang, and north side of the Faculty of Animal Science. "We set the waiting time of campus bus departure at every point of bus stop in about 2-3 minutes. The certain time setting is expected to minimize delays of UGM campus bus travel time. Timeliness is a priority here," he explained.
The bus campus trial is involving students, lecturers, also transportation and the Center for Logistics Studies (Pustral) in determining the route, the point of bus stops, and time setting for the bus departure.