Anyone with a Student ID can ride the CDTA bus free of charge by swiping their Skidmore ID (or “Skid Card,” as it’s known to faculty and students) in lieu of payment. The bus is a convenient way for students to travel as far as Wilton Mall, with stops in downtown Saratoga Springs, including many Broadway stops, Walmart - Wilton, and Lowes Drive.
The current Route 452 schedule. Photo courtesy of cdta.org.
However, per an October 23rd announcement on the Capital District Transit Authority (CDTA) website, Route 452 (the bus route connected to Skidmore) will be significantly reduced starting on Sunday, November 30th.
Per the announcement, this route, along with many others (such as Route 451, which travels between Ballston Spa and West Saratoga Springs), will be changed because “CDTA is currently going through a service rebalancing, taking a critical look at the system, and focusing on optimizing it. CDTA aims to enhance efficiency and allocate resources effectively based on ridership trends. These changes are also intended to make the system more reliable and sustainable.”
More specifically, Route 452 “... will no longer be in service, except for late-night Skidmore service on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Customers will have access to FLEX On Demand.” FLEX is an on-demand bus service that will travel to many destinations in Saratoga Springs. To request a ride, users must download the Navigator app on their phones or call (518) 482-8822. From there, users must pick a location and drop-off time.
Students who do not own cars, or who cannot drive at all, face serious concerns. First of all, the operating hours of FLEX are limited. From Mondays to Saturdays, FLEX runs from 6 AM to 10:45 PM; 10:00 AM to 6 PM on Sundays.
As students, we have many commitments. Even beyond our studies and research, many of us work one or more jobs, participate in clubs, volunteer, and try to take care of ourselves and maintain a rich social life on top of everything. These hours are restrictive—after a long day of classes and other commitments, students may not be able to take the bus during these times, or simply lack the energy to do so. The bus offers a wider range of times with
In addition to its restrictive times, FLEX is unreliable and limiting. The FLEX service area does not include Wilton Mall and many other locations along Route 452. Riders may need to wait up to half an hour to be picked up from their location, which can be inconvenient in traveling to time-sensitive commitments such as doctor’s appointments or picking up prescriptions. Route 452, on the other hand, offers a consistent, mostly reliable schedule.
Restricting Route 452 also affects our finances. We depend on a reliable bus route to buy groceries, go to work, and handle daily needs more generally. With FLEX, students will have to call ahead and pay every time they need a ride, without any guarantee that the bus will arrive on time. Students, especially student workers (who make less than the New York State minimum wage), will now have to pay for the bus in addition to their groceries, medications, and other necessities..
Further, reduced hours and inconvenient wait times will negatively impact marginalized communities at Skidmore, including students of color, international students, disabled students, LGBTQIA+ students, and women. Especially at night and in the winter months, when the sun sets earlier, students may fear for their safety while waiting for the FLEX bus to arrive.
As a woman, it is a comfort to me that Route 452 runs every weekday and weekend, multiple times a day, like clockwork; I know that there is always a safe and quick way to return to campus. If we are out late on the weekends, past 10:45 PM (when FLEX service ends for the night), we have to contend with walking home or ordering an Uber.
This change will cause many issues for all Skidmore students, not only those who cannot drive. Even for those who own cars, gas is expensive, and they may not want to search through the sea of cars to find theirs, only to drive a few minutes into town. While drivers are in town, they have to deal with irresponsible drivers, finding a parking space, and paying for parking in an overpriced parking lot. As the weather gets colder, they may worry about icy roads and unpredictable weather, opting to take the bus as a safer option.
Despite CDTA’s claims that FLEX On Demand is more convenient, the plan is no replacement for students who rely on Route 452 to get around. To voice your concerns about this new change, you can sign the “Save Route 452” petition on change.org and share the petition with others.
In the meantime, use the bus as much as you can before November 30th, and enjoy the free public transportation provided by Skidmore. If you do not use the bus, recognize that many of your peers need it, and maybe take the bus to town a few times for old times’ sake. The days of Route 452 are coming to an anticlimactic close.