Octoberfest Detours

^{Main St. between 6th and 11th streets will be closed Saturday, October 3rd for Octoberfest. Trolleys and buses will need to detour around the event. Buses will detour as follows:}

• 1A Market Square, evening inbound route, use Ferry St. instead of Main.
• 3A Lafayette Square, use Columbia instead of Main.
• Wabash Trolley, follow 11th to left on Ferry, left on 3rd, resume route at Main.
• 18 NightRider will turn left at 6th St. from South St. and resume route at Main.

Free tuition is urban legend

Walk under the bell tower and you won’t graduate in four years. Mischievous students robbing John Purdue’s grave. The lion fountain which roars when a virgin walks past.

These are harmless urban legends about Purdue University. But there is one story spreading around campus that isn’t so harmless; the rumor that if you’re hit by a bus you’ll get free tuition.

Of course, that’s not true, says John Metzinger, CityBus Manager of Development. “Worse, it’s a dangerous rumor that we worry might increase fraudulent liability claims,” he says.

Fraudulent claims are made by people who lie or, worse, intentionally injure themselves to receive money from insurance companies.

While safety of riders and the public is its primary concern, CityBus has installed security cameras on most of its buses to combat fraud.

“We’ve had cases when we suspect that claims are fraudulent, and have successfully fought those cases,” Metzinger said. “The cameras don’t lie. They protect the safety of the public as well as our interests.”

“Placing yourself in harm’s way is never a good idea,” says Metzinger. CityBus reminds passengers to use care when boarding or exiting a bus, and to never step in front of a bus even if it is stopped. If you need to cross the street after exiting a bus, he advises crossing behind rather than in front of a bus. “Or better yet, wait until the bus departs before crossing. That way you can see all oncoming traffic—and drivers in cars can see you.”

As to the free tuition rumor? While the story is spreading on campus, it’s nothing more than another urban legend.

CityBus awarded grant for wind energy

CityBus has been awarded $2.18 million in economic stimulus funds to invest in renewable wind energy for its garage and maintenance facilities in Lafayette.

General Manager Martin Sennett said CityBus will install roof-mounted wind turbine units to generate most of the electrical energy used by CityBus. The system will produce approximately 720,000 kilowatt hours each year, saving CityBus about $61,000 in energy costs annually.

Sennett said Purdue University student Raymond Mui prepared the grant application. Mui is a junior majoring in civil engineering with an emphasis in transportation and works part time as an intern for the bus company.

“I’m very proud of Raymond for writing a grant that successfully competed with 200 transit systems around the country,” said Sennett. “We look forward to reducing our carbon footprint.”

“The project is unique,” said Mui. “To my knowledge CityBus will be the only Indiana transit system relying on renewable wind energy for its facilities.”

The next step is to request proposals and contract with vendors. The project will be completed by Spring 2010.

CityBus was one of 43 U.S. transit systems awarded grants totaling $100 million, and the only grant recipient in Indiana. The grants were awarded as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction program.

Senior Fair 2009

CityBus will participate in the 10th Annual Greater Lafayette Senior Fair. The event, which features 50 exhibitors, health screenings, entertainment, lunch and thousands of dollars in door prizes, will be held Wednesday, October 7th at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CityBus will provide free rides for the day to passengers who are age 65 or older. To ride for free, simply show the driver proof of your age. Route 6B S. 18th St. serves the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds.

Stop by CityBus's booth at the fair to learn how easy it is to use CityBus transportation, or contact Katy Dietrich, Public Relations Outreach Coordinator, by calling (765) 420-2957.

Mosey Down Main Street

The next edition of Mosey Down Main Street is set for Saturday, September 5th. Several detours will be in effect beginning at 4PM as Main Street, between 6th and 11th streets in downtown Lafayette, will be closed.

• 1A Market Square, inbound route will use Ferry St. instead of Main.
• 3A Lafayette Square, inbound bus will use Columbia instead of Main.
• Wabash Trolley, will follow 11th to left on Ferry, left on 3rd, resume route at Main.