As a result of increased student interest and immense growth over the past two years, ASUA SafeRide will continue operating this summer for the first time ever.
Funded by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, SafeRide provides evening transportation and educational safety programming to members of the UA community, according to a press release. Joshua Wright, director of ASUA SafeRide and a religious studies and psychology senior, said the service would undoubtedly be open through June 30.
Depending on the level of student use, Wright said he hopes SafeRide will be available through Aug. 10 as well.
Increasing SafeRide service was made possible after the program expanded, including an expected purchase of two minivans this month, and receiving additional student interest.
Wright said SafeRide expanded over the course of the academic year, initially serving between 250 and 275 students a night. Now, Wright said they average more than 300 riders a night.
Peter Reifsteck, a SafeRide supervisor and political science junior, said he was inspired to keep the service open during the summer as a result of conversations with graduate students who requested the prolonged service.
"I thought, 'Why not? Why can't we be open during the summer?'" Reifsteck said.
For some students, SafeRide has been an integral part of safety and security on campus.
"Considering the amount of students that stay on campus to take summer courses, I think it's a good idea because it will help reduce the amount of violent acts toward others," said Lily Marshall, an architecture freshman.
Christopher LePage, a pre-pharmacy freshman, said he felt using UA funds to support only summer-specific students was unfair, especially when considering the university's recent budget cuts.
"They should reallocate the money they're spending on SafeRide to better our school in a way that will affect all the students, not just the summer ones," LePage said.
Reifsteck said SafeRide's first summer would be an exciting and triumphant milestone for the service.
"I'm ecstatic that it's going to go through," Reifsteck said, "The fact that we're going to be open this summer speaks volumes about our service."
The service will not be open on May 30 or July 4 in observance of Memorial Day and Independence Day, according to a press release.