It may not be in his job description to drive a shuttle van, but Frank Erle can remember what it was like as a student at The University of Western Ontario and sympathizes with those living farther off campus.
The Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre manager has been volunteering his time this week to drive a Western Community Van, transporting students, faculty and staff who live more than a 30-minute walk from campus.
So on Tuesday Western News went along on a ride with Erle.
“Hop in,” he says from the driver’s seat of one of 47 vans rented by Western as he picked up students at Sherwood Forest Mall Tuesday.
“I’ve been there as a student and I would appreciate any help,” he says. “It’s an easy way to help.”
Community vans are just one of several initiatives the university and University Students’ Council pressed into action to help minimize the disruption caused by a London Transit strike, which began Monday.
Many students walked, biked or made informal arrangements with friends to get to class.
While van riders appear happy so far, Western’s faculty union almost immediately called for the university to cease the operation, citing the position of striking bus drivers, machinists and dispatchers that the shuttle amounted to “strikebreaking.”
As Western News was going to print, a transit union official was meeting with members to discuss an information picket of campus to have the vans stopped.
The two largest unions on campus called for a halt to the service. UWOFA president Regna Darnell said there was no objection to individual ride sharing but called on the administration to “cease operating the Western Community Vans program.”
UWOSA president David Empey was quoted in local media referring to van drivers as “replacement workers” and seeking a halt to shuttles.
An anonymous note being distributed in downtown London called for withdrawal of the vans or “we will start disrupting the operations of this program.” It was signed: Concern Students and Workers of UWO.”
Before the strike, Western officials said the van proposal was taken to an ATU union official who gave his blessing. Then Western President Amit Chakma received an email Nov. 16 from ATU Local 741 President Pat Hunniford, accusing Western of “an attempt at strike breaking” and calling for a halt to the vans.
Chakma responded the same day, saying “what we are doing is precisely in keeping with what I understand was discussed and agreed to between yourself, Elgin Austen, our Director of Campus Police, and Emily Rowe, the President of our University Students’ Council a few days ago. It is my understanding that you have reviewed and support the services we are providing for student safety and which are outlined on our website.”
Chakma described the vans as a “last resort” option for students who cannot find any other way to get to campus and are coming from a distance.
Controversy aside, Erle picked up about a dozen people during the five round trips to the mall, dropping students off at Alumni Hall. He also drove the van on Monday evening and plans to continue volunteering his time.
“They are very appreciative when they get the rides,” he says.
Erle says it is “exceptional” that his employer would provide the van shuttle to help out faculty, students and staff during the transit strike; however he notes it is “a last resort” and the community should still try to find alternative transportation.
Passenger Shelly Pollard thought she could save some money this year by using the student bus pass and leaving her car at home in the Greater Toronto Area. Now that London Transit is on strike, she is rethinking her decision.
Pollard is first-year master’s student in Women’s Studies and Feminist Research and on Monday it took her 45 minutes to walk to the Western campus.
Not wanting to be late for her office hours as a teaching assistant, Pollard waited at her local drop-off location where she hopped aboard Earle’s van for a ride to campus.
“I want to make sure I am there for my office hours. I’m just happy there was something available,” she says, noting if the strike is prolonged, she is going to pick up her car.
In addition to campus initiatives, the entire community is pitching in to help students get to classes.
Roommates Juan Wang and Yanxiang Wu were given a lift on Monday by their landlord. On Tuesday, they boarded the Western Community Van.
“Friends gave me a ride home yesterday,” says Wu, a first-year master’s student in Comparative Literature.
Wang, a PhD student at the Richard Ivey School of Business, says she is fortunate not to have classes every day. As her first time on the shuttle, she says “it’s very convenient.”
Anne Sokoluik, a third-year nursing student, says it takes an hour by foot to get to campus.
“Normally I take the bus every day,” she says, adding the shuttle was “very helpful.”
Van-rider Alvin Chan, a second-year Music student, was initially concerned about how to tote his instruments to class, but the van solved that problem.
Coping with the transit strike
Community shuttle picks up and drops off faculty, staff and students living more than 30 minutes from campus from pre-set locations.
Expansion of King’s University College/Brescia University College campus shuttle
Mustangs are helping to “move Mustangs” with the Flag A Ride program. The campus community can tag vehicles or backpacks to be identified as a person willing to provide or receive a ride. Tags available at InfoSource in the UCC.
London drivers have been asked to steer clear of campus streets for through travel. Signs were posted at the Richmond Gates, Philip Aziz Drive and Lambton Drive.
A password-protected website helps students, faculty and staff arrange rides with other members of the campus community traveling to and from campus for the Share a Ride program.