Photo of a Safe Ride van on campus

Safe Ride starts earlier in response to student government request

Effective this evening, Safe Ride services will begin at 6 p.m.—one hour earlier—every day and continue through until their same ending time of 3 a.m.

The shift to an earlier start time comes at the recommendation of the university’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG), which last week overwhelmingly supported the suggestion that Rep. Alex Bernhard offered prior to Thanksgiving break. With the end of Daylight Saving Time at the beginning of November, darkness arrives earlier—bringing with it cooler temperatures and greater safety concerns.

“I commend Representative Bernhard and the entire USG for presenting such a smart, practical suggestion in support of the entire campus community,” Vice President for Student Affairs Lou Stark said. “The change is particularly timely given that we are in the last days of the semester, when academic demands typically result in longer stays in libraries and other study areas.”

The 6 p.m. start will continue from today through until at least Sunday, March 10, 2019, when Daylight Saving Time resumes.

To arrange a Safe Ride transport, call 216.368.3000, visit saferide.case.edu or download the smartphone app by searching “Ride Cell” in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

This move to enhance campus safety is one of several the university has made since the Nov. 3 shooting of an undergraduate in a lot just east of the Murray Hill (also known as lower south) area of the South Residential Village. The campus police presence in the area increased immediately, while an additional group of security officers and a supervisor started the evening of Monday, Nov. 5. By the end of that week, the number of Safe Ride vehicles operating also had grown.

The university is continuing to monitor Safe Ride and shuttle usage to identify opportunities to reduce wait times. Track shuttles at case.edu/access-services/shuttles/shuttle-tracking/ or by using the TransLoc app.

Finally, if walking after dark, arrange to walk in a group with others or call 216.368.3300 to request an officer to provide a walking escort.