According to the Cheongju City Bureau of Public Transportation, a bus that will pass through the Gaesin campus will start operating in November. Accordingly, the bus will follow a newly made bus route. The Department of General Affairs says that bus number 710 will follow a new bus route. The route is Ochang ¡ê Ochang 2 Industrial Complex ¡ê Yancheong High School entrance ¡ê Ochang Science Complex ¡ê LG road ¡ê Sewon Nettie Village ¡ê Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal ¡ê Chunbuk National University ¡ê Chungbuk National University Hospital ¡ê Sannam Road ¡ê Sannam Branch, but the bus number and route might be changed in a city and bus transportation company conference. The school bus stop will be named Chungbuk National University. It will be in front of the main building of the College of Natural Sciences(S1-1) and the Student Union Building(E3). The bus that comes into the school through the main gate will stop at the S1-1 bus stop, and the one that comes through the east gate will stop at the E3 bus stop.
Why is a bus stop on campus necessary? For a long time, students have had difficulties getting off the public city buses and walking to campus. It takes about 10 to 20 minutes to get from a bus stop to a building on the campus, so the students made complaints and asked for improvements to the school. In 2016, the 48th Student Counsel, Chungjeon Wanlyo, requested Cheongju City to operate a bus through the campus. After that request, the university and the city continued discussing a possible bus route.
However, this isn¡¯t the first time it has been said that a bus would be running through the campus. After the Student Counsel¡¯s request to the city in 2016, the city said that bus number 911 would be following a new bus route that passes through the campus starting from April 2017, with the start of the Cheongju City public bus route reorganization. However, that plan was delayed because the consultation between the city and bus transportation industry didn¡¯t come to fruition. Later, the city reviewed a bus route two more times, and this year they replied that a possible new route would be possible to operate.
There are advantages and disadvantages to the public bus going through the campus. The Department of General Affairs is preparing a plan for safety measures. First of all, there is a speed limit on campus for all vehicles. There will be more speed bumps on the roads so that the buses will be reminded to follow the speed limit. Furthermore, CCTVs will be installed near the bus stops. There is not enough space for the buses to make a stop in front of the main building of the Natural Science College(S1-1). Therefore, to make space, there is going to be construction in late September. In October, bus signs and bus stop maps will be provided. Considering the narrow road, the buses will go through the S1-1 bus stop and E3 bus stop will be a certain distance apart.
Hwang In-Jun (¡¯18 Dept. Of Physics) said, ¡°I think this will be a good modification. I live in Ochang, and I have to wait for about an hour for a bus to our university. Also, to get back to Ochang, I have to walk to the Sachang Intersection or the Chungbuk National University Entrance bus stop, which is quite inconvenient. When I had classes at building S1-6, I had to walk for a long time. This made me worry that I would be late for class. If a bus operates on campus, it would be much easier to come to school. Also, I hope the bus stop will be placed somewhere convenient.¡±
Kim Young-Il (Dept. of General Affairs) said, ¡°I listened to the opinions of school members and the related departments, and most told me that, for the students¡¯ convenience, it would be good if a bus ran through the campus. This is the first time that a bus will operate on campus, so I hope that there will be no safety problems with this service.¡±
With the public local bus ready to operate, the university is expecting the students¡¯ transportation convenience to increase. Also, the number of people using public transportation is expected to increase, so the number of vehicles entering the campus is expected to decrease, enhancing the school¡¯s educational environment. There might also be an increase of outsiders entering the school grounds, which might lift the university¡¯s promotional effect. As long as the bus route comes to fruition, CBT hopes the students will have a better campus life and that the buses will operate smoothly
By Youn Su-o
sy40@cbnu.ac.kr