It’s late; you’re drunk and need to get home.
Ferris State University has a free service to help students get home safely. Many Ferris students are unaware of Safe Ride, which is a shuttle service that offers free transportation to anywhere in Big Rapids.
The purpose of the initiative is to give people an option to get home safely. The bus runs Thursday through Saturday from 11:59 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. during the fall semester.
Ferris radiology sophomore Lindsey Scott said she was unaware of the free service.
“I know a lot of people don’t want to pay for taxis, so they unsafely drive home themselves,” Scott said. “Having an alternative option is a great opportunity.”
Made available through the Big Rapids Dial-A-Ride (DART) Bus service, the service provides a ride from local establishments such as bars to any destination in town.
Ferris has helped develop a free mobile application, which shows the current location of the vehicle. The app is available on Apple and Android devices. It can be found through iTunes or Play Store, respectively. This app will show your current proximity to the bus; however, it will not share your location.
“The amount of drunk driving this cut down on is incalculable,” Ferris sophomore pre-optometry major Travis Van’tVoort said. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that the university and the city cares enough to set up programs like this. Services like these save lives.”
Ferris’ CLACS office, Student Affairs, Birkam Health Center and Birkam Counseling Center sponsor the service. The Ferris Volunteer Center also contributes to the safe transportation system.
“Unfortunately, you can’t always count on your friends to help you get home,” Scott said. “Knowing that there is a safe way to get home on the weekends is a relief.”
To contact the bus, the phone number is (231) 591-2140.