A new BioBus route made its debut Tuesday afternoon as a group of faculty, staff and students traveled through Burlington as part of the Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop. The route will help will lead to a reduction in the university’s carbon footprint and assist academic service-learning and federal work study students who need transportation away from campus.
The route, which is open to the public for free use, will also make it easier for all students to serve in the community and will improve safety by placing fewer young drivers on the road.The pilot project runs through the spring semester.
Reaction to the route on Tuesday was positive.
“This will help students get to know the community better, especially the larger community outside the ‘Elon bubble,’” said Phil Smith, associate chaplain and director of Religious Life. “I’m looking at my Elon 101 syllabus for next year to see how to fit this in as an activity.”
The Kernodle Center for Service Learning, the office responsible for the route, will use College Coffee on Feb. 9 to share more information with students about the route, said Tammy Cobb, assistant director for community partnerships. A Kernodle Center guide will ride the bus from 2:30-4:30 the same day to give riders background information on the agencies assisted by the route.
Partner agencies to be served by the Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop include the following:
American Red Cross
Women’s Resource Center
Meals on Wheels
Alamance Citizens for Education
ARC of Alamance County
Christmas Cheer
Bynum Education Center
Downtown Burlington Corporation
Family Abuse Services
Habitat for Humanity main office
Loaves and Fishes
McCauley Family Learning Center
May Memorial Library
Alamance Health Care
Alamance County Community Services Agency
Alamance County Department of Social Services
Crossroads
East Burlington Community Center
Eastlawn Elementary
Friendship Adult Day Services
Healthy Alamance
Positive Attitude Youth Center
Open Door Clinic
Burlington Housing Authority
Excel Christian Academy
Mayco Bigelow
Allied Churches
OE Enterprises
Ralph Scott Life Services Center
Residential Treatment Services
Alamance County Justice Center
For more information on the service loop, contact the Kernodle Center for Service Learning at elonvols@elon.edu or 278-7250.