We’re students at Elon too, and we’ve been hearing a lot of complaints about Safe Rides lately.

We’ve also heard a few suggestions: get more cars, get more drivers and get here on time.

Well, as the student staff members of Safe Rides, let us make a few suggestions and offer a few explanations.

Be understanding. We do our best to estimate time, but we’re human. It’s not an exact science and we can be wrong. Adding to that, a few no-shows or a few times we expect three people and find six it make it difficult to estimate accurately.

Also, when you see an empty car go by, remember you were NOT next on the list. We can’t go out of order, and your car will come.

Be outside early. Usually we’re there a few minutes early because of the no-shows. No, we can’t call you when we get there—the point is anonymity.

Volunteer Homecoming weekend, parents’ weekend, that weekend with seven big parties, that’s when we need people. We want one night, so get six friends and do something different on a Friday night.

Try it: get volunteer hours, free pizza and have fun with your friends. Planning to volunteer doesn’t help move people. It’s just one night.

Doing these three simple things will help us move more people, get more funding, get more cars and get you to the party faster while your friends are taking their turn to volunteer.

To contact Safe Rides, e-mail saferides@elon.edu or join the Facebook group.

Student: Amanda Haefner, '10 - 10/03/07