Transit Service May be in the Works for UPEI

_ By Tara STEWART-STANLEY

Trius Tours Ltd., a local bus tour business, is interested in starting a bus service here on campus to help both students and the environment, possibly as early as next semester.

Student Union President Chris Power is all for the idea.

"We're the only capital city in Canada without a transit system," Power says.

Power explains the Student Union executive meets with UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan, usually on a monthly basis, to discuss any aris- ing issues. At the meeting in August, Power explains, Gary Bradshaw, VP of Finance, brought up the issue of a bus service. He told them he'd been con- tacted by Trius Tours Ltd., who had expressed an interest in possibly doing a bus service to the university.

"We (the Student Union) total- ly jumped on board then and offered our support, because obviously," Power explains, "a) it's environmental- ly friendly, b) it would cut down on parking issues on campus."

Power says it would be great for people who don't have a car and live in the city. It would cut down on traffic congestion and help the envi- ronment immensely.

Power and Bradshaw met last week with George Brookins, owner of Trius Tours Ltd., and briefly talked about what to do next.

"It was left off that I would go and do a survey and kind of get some student feedback on it," Power says, "and find out if the interest is there and what routes would be."

Power would like to find out what areas in the city are most trav- elled and what times of the day would be appropriate. He hopes to do this sometime over the next couple of weeks.

"The city's been trying for years to do this and I don't know what the problem is, but I think that if we were to start something like this here, it could kind of show that UPEI is a

leader in the community," Power states. "Charlottetown has been trying for years and years to make this transit service. If UPEI could establish it, and we had 3000 people right here and we start it, and it's huge, then that's kind of pushing the city a little bit more to move and expand city wide."

Power says Trius Tours Ltd. is currently running a local service for seniors throughout the city, so they already have the means to do this. He also says Brookins feels it's important for the city to have a service, whether it's his business running it or not.

Power explains that something like this would probably have to be funded by the city eventually.

"T don't think we're talking large sums of money, because obvious- ly, the users are going to pay," he says. "If it's just going on the campus scale, my understanding is that it might just be self-funded, like whoever rides the bus pays for it. I know for sure that the University's not forking over any money, you don't expect that at all. The Student Union certainly isn't because we don't have any to give to them," Power smiles.

He says the Student Union will help in whatever way they can. Whether it's selling bus passes in the kiosk or raising money in other ways, they'll do what they can. Power says he knows this isn't something that's going to happen overnight, he's hoping that maybe they can work something out for next semester. He's been asking around and the response has been posi- tive. Residents of Brown's Court, for example, have expressed an interest in being able to take a bus downtown for the afternoon and know they have a way home.

"It's very early in the stages and you know we're not 100 per cent sure this is going to go much further than a couple of meetings," he says, "but certainly we'll keep optimistic that it will and I think it would be excit-

ing.

Student Health Plan

How do | enrol?

All full-time students at UPEI are automatically enrolled in this health insurance plan when they register for classes. The fee for the health plan is included in your registration fees.

What if | am already covered?

If you are already covered under an extended health plan you may choose to opt out of this plan and receive a refund of the health plan fees you have paid.

You must provide proof of your other health insurance company and policy number to the Student Union Office.

How to opt-out?

You must provide proof of your other health insurance plan to the Student Union Office in the form of the following: :

= A copy of your current insurance plan card, or a letter from your insurance company clearly indicating the insurance company and policy number ‘ (Note: Handwritten information is not valid)

> 2 o

4

Proof of full time student status

Deadline to opt-out?

Opt outs are processed on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays ~ ONLY. The deadline to present proof of your other insurance plan to the Student Union Office is

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4", 2002

-NO EXCEPTIONS-

For further information contact the Student Health Plan Administrator at 566-0530, email studentu@upei.ca, or drop into the Student Union Office, 2* floor of the Student Centre

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(£5]