Cambus

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Cambus is a public transport bus system, primarily serving the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, IA. The service is operated by the Department of Parking and Transportation for the University of Iowa with funding from the Parking & Transportation Department, a UI Student fee, and the Federal Transportation Administration. Cambus is a free service to the public providing nearly 4,000,000 rides per year.

[edit] Company History and Details

Cambus was originally founded by University of Iowa students and has been in operation since 1972. The University of Iowa campus is divided into east and west halves by the Iowa River. Most Liberal Arts and Sciences classes take place on the east side of the river; thus the purpose of the new bus service was to facilitate easier transportation between the west-side dormitories and the east-side classrooms. At first there was no name for this service, so the founding students created a contest open to all U of I students to select one. "Cambus" was the name eventually chosen, and the winner (whose name has been lost to history) was awarded a free pizza.

The first Cambus buses were used school buses, repainted by Cambus employees. There were three different bus routes; Red Route, Blue Route, and the Interdorm Shuttle. Cambus also acquired a trailer, which was used as their main office; this was located in the Hancher Auditorium parking lot.

Currently, Cambus employs approximately 145 employees. There are only six non-student employees who work specifically for Cambus: the Cambus Coordinator, the Maintenance Supervisor, and four full-time mechanics. All other employees, including drivers, dispatchers, trainers, mechanics, and departmental supervisors, are students currently enrolled at the University of Iowa. Cambus maintains a fleet of thirty-two buses: one Champion paratransit bus, three Orion Bus Industries paratransit buses, one Opus 30-foot low-floor bus, and 27 Gillig Phantom buses. All buses are outfitted with lifts to assist those with disabilities, although many of them fail to work.

Cambus also has two different buildings on the University of Iowa campus. The main office is located in a trailer building on Stadium Drive, behind Kinnick Stadium. It has recently been renovated with stylish faded white panel siding. The Cambus Maintenance Facility, often called "The Barn" by employees, is located on S. Madison St near the Motor Pool.

[edit] Cambus Routes and Hours of Operation

Cambus currently has fifteen (15) routes in service. Some primary stops are listed for each route; please note that the stops listed are not the only stops for the given route. During Academic service (the Spring and Fall semesters), all routes run on weekdays. Only Red, Blue, and Hawkeye-Interdorm run on the weekends. During Summer and Interim service, Mayflower Shuttle and Hawkeye Express are suspended, and Interdorm runs only until 10 am. There is also no weekend service during Interim, although Hawkeye-Interdorm runs weekends in Summer.

Route times are published on the Cambus website and in pamphlets available on the buses. Cambus time is set by the Master Clock at the US Navel Observatory (http://www.time.gov)

Red Route and Blue Route run virtually identical routes, but in opposite directions; Red goes clockwise, Blue counter-clockwise. They offer service to the Cambus office, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the VA Hospital, Hancher, the west- and east-side dorms, the Pentacrest, the Main Library, and UIHC (via the South Hospital stop). The gimmick used to remember the directions is: from downtown take "Red to Rienow" and "Blue to Burge." Red and Blue Routes only serve Mayflower Hall on the weekends, or after 7:30 pm on weekdays.
Hours of Operation: 6:25am-12:40am Weekdays and 11:40am-12:10am Weekends

East Campus Shuttle is the shortest route run by Cambus. It serves the Pentacrest, the Main Library, Lot 11, and the Cambus Maintenance Facility. This route is usually serviced by an Orion II paratransit bus rather than the full size Gilligs.
Hours of Operation: 6:36am-6:33pm

Hawk Lot/Hospital runs during the morning and evening rush hours. It serves the Hawkeye Commuter/Storage Lot and South Hospital.
Hours of Operation: 5:10am-8:20am and 4:04pm-6:43pm

Hawkeye-Interdorm is the longest route. It serves Mayflower Hall, the east- and west-side dorms, the Pentacrest, the Main Library, South Hospital, the Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive apartments, and the Hawkeye Commuter/Storage Lot. Hawkeye-Interdorm also services Iowa City Transit stops along Melrose Ave when ICT is not in service (no pass required).
Hours of Operation: 6:16am-12:52am Weekdays and 11:30am-12:11am Weekends

Hawkeye-Hospital serves South Hospital, Carver, the VA hospital, the Hawkeye apartments, and the Hawkeye Commuter/Storage Lot.
Hours of Operation: 6:05am-6:19pm

Hawkeye Express is essentially a stripped-down Hawkeye-Interdorm. Running only during morning and evening rush, it serves the Hawkeye Apartments, the Hawkeye Commuter/Storage Lot, and the Pentacrest.
Hours of Operation: 7:14am-9:43am and 2:58pm-6:05pm

Interdorm serves Mayflower, the east- and west-side dorms, the Pentacrest, and the Main Library.
Hours of Operation: 8:05am-7:25pm

Mayflower Shuttle is a slightly-shortened Interdorm route. It serves Mayflower, the east-side dorms, and the Pentacrest.
Hours of Operation: 6:40am-5:26pm

Hospital, also known as Hospital-Finkbine/Arena, serves South Hospital and the Finkbine and Arena Commuter Lots. It is also the first route to go into service on weekdays, beginning at 4:30 am.
Hours of Operation: 4:30am-6:40pm

Hospital Shuttle provides early morning service from South Hosptial to the Finkbine and Arena Commuter Lots until Pentacrest goes into service.
Hours of Operation: 5:35am-7:50am

Hospital via Hancher runs from 7 am to 8:15 am weekdays. It serves the South Hospital, Carver Arena, VA hospital and Hancher.
Hours of Operation: 7:05am-8:13am

Hancher Shuttle offers service to the Pentacrest, the east-side dorms, Hancher, and the Main Library. It runs weekdays during evening rush.
Hours of Operation: 4:33pm-5:42pm

Pentacrest serves the Pentacrest, Hubbard Park, the VA hospital, Carver, and the Finkbine/Arena lots. The "Night Pentacrest" also includes the Cambus Office and South Hospital.
Hours of Operation: 6:20am-12:35am (Night Pentacrest begins at 6:45pm)

Oakdale is the only route that goes through Coralville. It serves the VA Hospital and the Oakdale Campus. It works with the Pentacrest route to provide service from Oakdale to the downtown area. Oakdale is also the only route that is not truly free to the public. Because Oakdale goes through areas normally served by Coralville Transit, anyone who boards the bus at a Coralville stop (other than the Oakdale Campus itself) must present a special bus pass to board the Oakdale bus. These passes can be purchased at the Coralville City Hall or Coralville Public Library.
Hours of Operation: 6:00am-7:45pm

Safe Ride Service is a late night Friday and Saturday night only route that operates on slightly modified Red and Blue Routes.
Hours of Operation: 12:10am-2:10am

Bionic Bus is a demand-response paratransit service for UI students, faculty, and staff with disabilities.

Cambus also provides charters and shuttles for certain athletic events and orientation.