Gamecock Express is Jacksonville State University's transit system. It serves around the campus and between the campus and Walmart. Certainly, this is something we needed because there was no other way to get around the city of Jacksonville than car and possible long walk.
I have once actually walked from the campus, which is northern part of the city, to Walmart, near southern city limit. It took one hour just to get to Walmart.
So, we got an alternative to reach the other end of the city. But, from what I heard, it's so slow... I've never used it because by the time they introduced the transit system, I got a car. In day time, I see some passengers in those buses, but when people moves on campus, between classes or lunch, cars are on the move too. Some people just drive into the campus for the first class of the day, and some leave the campus after the last class. Walking may be the fastest way to get to the class.
And when they are in class, bus is nearly empty but still runs... That is just wasteful of fuel!
It seems to me that unsuccessful bus system has only one hub stop. Birmingham MAX has only one at Central Station. Gamecock Express at JSU has only one hub behind cafeteria, which is a kind of center of the campus. It forces students to transfer after driving around Trustee Circle. They should put hubs by Stone Center, which is north end of campus, Stadium Residence, which is south end of campus, and Coliseum. Hubs at Stone Center and Coliseum helps commuters to park and ride to wherever they wanna go on campus. One at Stadium helps trips from one end of campus to the other.
Plus those systems try to make stops as close as possible to each "building," like Gamecock Express get into parking lot of Winn Dixie and Walmart. It takes extra time to get in and get out. If it stops at Winn Dixie on the way to Walmart, they can just stop by the entrance of the parking lot and go on. It's not like public taxi services.
They don't have to enter deep into center block of campus like Trustee Circle. That just takes too much time just go through such a narrow road with speed bumbs. I think they just need a few routes stopping by Bibb Graves and Ayers Hall and Mason Hall.
When you go to Times Square in NYC, there are subway stations one to three blocks away from the place, but not "at" Times Square because not all people go to Times Square. Some may have office three blocks south of the station, and some may be going to a theater two blocks east from the station.
That's how public transportation works. It may not fulfill all the usefulness of driving personal vehicles, but it serves the general public fairly. You may have to walk a few blocks, but you don't have to drive in congested traffic and spend hours to find parking spots.
Better Gamecock Express for me is like this:
One runs on the roads separating campus and residential area, 11th Street, Church Avenue, Mountain Street, Park Avenue NW and Highway 204. Buses runs clockwise and the other counterclockwise. Possible stops are Stone Center, Rowe Hall, Alumni House, TMB, Stadium Residence, Struts, UPD, Mason Hall, Tennis Court/Coliseum, Patterson Hall, Logan Hall, Brewer Hall, Merrill Hall, then back to Stone Center.
One connecting Stone Center and Stadium Residence mainly on Highway 21 with stops by Merrill Hall, Brewer Hall, International House, Library, Bibb Graves, TMB, and Colonial Apartment.
One between Coliseum and Stone Center via Dixon Hall, Sparkman Hall/Ayers Hall, International House, Martin Hall/Wallace Hall (Nursing) and Rowe building.
One route between campus and Walmart, near city limit to the south. a southbound bus departs Coliseum, and stops by Grove/Reserve complex, Patterson Hall, Logan Hall, International House, Bibb Graves/TMB/Stephenson Hall, Mountain Street (by Waffle House/Quiznos), Square, Food Outlet, Winn Dixie, CVS, Baja Grill, Walmart and Jacksonville Medical Center. A northbound bus leaves the medical center and stops by Rocket's, Advanced Auto Parts, Save-a-Lot, Food Outlet, Square, Post Office, Alumni House, Library/International House, across Logan Hall and Patterson Hall, Grove/Reserve complex, and Coliseum.
Current Gamecock Express Routes. By making stops by every single building, buses have to run longer distance than necessary.
My idea of bus routes. Boxes filled with lines represent residential buildings. Routes should be as straight as possible unless there is an absolute need of stops. Two routes stop by Bibb Graves and TMB for access to on-campus dinning. All three routes depart from Stone Center since most students are required to take basic courses here such as English and History.
Route between JSU (north) and Walmart/Medical Center (South). It runs only on Highway 204 and 21.
Each route goes both direction; clock/counter-clock wise, north/south. east/west.
Depending on where you are, you might have to walk 5 minutes or so, but come on. We used to have to walk 15 minutes to class.
You may notice that no route runs through Trustee Circle on my plan. Well, that one-way circle is not a good road for a transit to run. Every time bus comes back to the central station behind the cafeteria, it takes a few minutes to make over a half of circle before reach to the station. University Circle in front of Bibb Graves would serve much better as a central station; the circle is small, Highway is closer. But, I'm sure the staffs of that administraton building won't give up that nearby parking space.
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