Proposed end to BruinGo! program elicits rally for action

By Anna Luisa G. Paningbatan
Daily Bruin Contributor

Over 50 students gathered in Meyerhoff Park Tuesday to support
the continuation of the BruinGo! program, which allows students to
ride the Big Blue Bus for free with a swipe of their Bruin
Card.

Flyers were handed out outlining the facts about UCLA
Transportation Services and stating why the BruinGo! program needs
to be saved and expanded at the event, which was co-sponsored by
the Graduate Student Association and the Undergraduate Student
Association Council.

“This is one piece of the whole campaign to get the word
out and tell people what they need to do in a personal
level,” Harless said. “GSA and USAC speak on behalf of
35,000 students and we hope that the administration will consider
our views and needs.”

Director of Transportation Services Mark Stocki said a decision
will be made by the Chancellor within one month.

Many students at the rally said they are also concerned with the
increase in bus fares from 50 to 75 cents, if the program is
discontinued.

USAC financial supports commissioner Elizabeth Trang said the
increase will cost each student $405 per academic year.

Many graduate and undergraduate students said a lot of students
use the bus because they can’t afford the high cost of living
in Westwood.

According to an evaluation conducted by chair of Urban Planning
Donald Shoup, BruinGo! serves 68,000 people with a monthly cost of
$1.49 per person.

Some also said BruinGo! not only benefits the students but also
UCLA and Westwood at large.

Allende Palma-Saracho, a second-year American literature and
culture student, said the program also aides the workers at
UCLA.

“It is irresponsible to expect workers who are already
low-paid to pay $8 for parking everyday,” he said. “The
BruinGo! program helps provide workers their livelihood.”

GSA internal vice president Dorothy Kim said the bottom line for
the administration is money.

“The administration has questioned the value of BruinGo!
since it is costing the university $810,000 a year,” Kim
said. “The construction of the Intramural field parking
facility has left the budget $47 million in debt and there is no
money allocated for the program.”

Stocki said he understands the popularity of the program, adding
that the construction of the IM field has no relation to the
issue.

“An independent company will be doing an analysis, and a
set of recommendations will be presented to the Chancellor,”
he said.