Badger Bus line now offers a variety of routes to all Whitewater community members, including students, who hope to journey to the Madison, La Crosse or Minneapolis area.

On Friday, Sept. 9, Badger Bus made its first pickup at 11:55 a.m. at Esker Dining Hall. The bus then went to Drum Dining Hall to pick up additional students.

“This is something the students have been asking for for years,” Director of Parking Services Robert Brecklin said.

The idea took root in Madison with people wanting to come to Whitewater, Brecklin said.

All founding for the service is provided by a statewide grant, much like the one that funds the Waukesha-Milwaukee bus service that Whitewater has, Brecklin said.

“The Waukesha-Milwaukee bus started out of Madison when we got a three-year grant to do a trial service,” Brecklin said. “And it was very successful. I think they’re probably doing the same thing here with Badger Bus.”

A ticket for a one-way trip to Madison is discounted to $13 if bought online in advance. Otherwise, a ticket would cost $15 at the counter of a Badger Bus location or at the bus itself with cash.

“I think the bus service will be beneficial for students, especially for those who don’t have cars,” student MyKayla McDonald said.

If continuing on to La Crosse, students, faculty and community members can all expect to pay $44 if paid online beforehand. Counter price is $52 each way.

The bus goes further on to the Minneapolis area for the same price as the La Crosse route.

Pickups at Esker Dining Hall on Fridays are at 11:55 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. It will then immediately head to Drumlin Dining Hall for a pickup of noon and 3:30 p.m.

Scheduled pick-up times on Sundays vary depending on the route. Most, however, will come around 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Location drop-offs in Madison include: Memorial Union, Chazen Museum, Kelly’s Market West Wash, Witte Hall, Dutch Mill Park N Ride and the Dane County Regional Airport.

The only area to be dropped off at in La Crosse is at the UW-La Crosse main building. If traveling to Minneapolis on the Badger Bus, drop-offs are at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, downtown or on Huron Blvd., which rests on the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis’s campus.

Brecklin said students who have asked for the bus hope to take advantage of it by taking it to events in Madison, such as the annual Halloween party on State St.

With only three people who used the service on Friday, Brecklin continues to stay positive with the outcome.

“I’m hopeful that it’s here to stay,” Brecklin said. “It’s a good service; I just hope it is sustainable enough that there will continue to be a demand for it.”