Taylor Pasquariello was looking for another option to get home for Thanksgiving because of fear.

“I decided to take the bus because the thought of shooting in a metal tube through the sky terrifies me,” said Pasquariello, a freshman international relations major about traveling to her hometown of Washington, DC.

Though her reasoning may be a bit unusual, Pasquariello is not alone in wanting a safe ride home for Thanksgiving. Whether it’s because of convenience, cost or simply fear of flying, many students are looking for a simple way home without the hassle of ordering a ticket or taking a cab to a station.

The Student Association will be providing transportation for students traveling home for Thanksgiving. Buses will be leaving from the Schine Student Center on the Thursday and Friday before Thanksgiving Break and traveling to major locations, including Boston, Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey. In addition, SA will be providing free shuttles to the airport and the train station.

“My parents didn’t feel like driving to come get me, and I don’t know anyone here to drive me home. Taking the bus is convenient for me,” said Samantha Wilder, a freshman biology major.

Bus tickets were sold at Schine for $99 round trip, and have already sold out. Aysha Seedat, a junior policy studies major and the director of Student Life for the Student Association, attributes the buses’ popularity to the price and the lack of alternatives.

“Often times, other transportation companies are late. Some bus companies, like the Greyhound, are known to oversell tickets,” Seedat said. “On our buses, you are guaranteed a seat. It is also cheaper than flying.”

SA used the same method as last year to orchestrate the transportation and sell tickets. Available at the Shine Box Office, students could simply stop by to purchase the tickets.

Pasquariello said buying the ticket was easy and said it took about five minutes to do so.

The buses also depart from Schine, which appeals to many students.

“Schine is right near my dorm,” Wilder said, “I don’t need to leave my dorm until 10 minutes before.”

Seedat praised the timeliness of the buses last year, and said she is confident that they will be punctual again this year. She also appreciates the comfort of traveling with other SU students, as opposed to strangers.

“It’s a safety matter. You could be traveling with anyone. On these buses, you are with people you know in your area. It’s a comfort thing,” Seedat said.

Buses depart the Thursday and Friday before Thanksgiving break from the Waverly side of the student center. Shuttles leave Thursday through Sunday from that same location.

Though there are many benefits to taking the buses, there are some complaints about the length of the trips and the departure times.

“I wish there was a potentially earlier bus since I end class early on Thursday. I would like to get home earlier. Instead, I have to wait for the bus at 5,” said Kelsey Geisenheimer, a freshman public relations major.

Seedat said she hopes the bus trips themselves will not be much longer than taking a car, as they are making no scheduled stops besides bathroom breaks. However, students still realize the downside of spending an extended time on the bus.

“It is probably going to be longer and a more uncomfortable ride than riding in the car,” said Wilder. She did consider the bright side, though. “I don’t have to listen to my parents for five hours in a car.”

Published on November 20, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Hanna: hrhorvat@syr.edu