My one memory of the Inspiration point shuttle involves a long wait in the parking lot, air conditioning (thank God) and an awkward conversation with the girl next to me as we watched sexually explicit scenes from “Legends of the Fall” on the shuttle TV.
I don’t think I made it to class any faster that day (in fact I think it may have taken longer than actually walking) but the air conditioning and Brad Pitt’s exposed torso made it worthwhile.
This semester the shuttle’s been shut down to the dismay of many a book schlepping, walk averting, City College scholar.
The decision to nix the shuttle service is just another symptom of the City College budget cuts, but unlike the relative quiet that accompanied the cutting of library hours and cafeteria services this issue has got the student body griping so loudly you can hear them from inspiration point.
Personally, I don’t mind the walk. I know that the physical activity of putting one foot in front of the other can be annoying and downright infuriating when your late for class, but when looking for ways to pinch pennies I’d rather they cut the shuttle service than the caffeine cart or whittle down bookstore hours even more than they already have.
Maybe it’s California’s car culture that makes the idea of walking so offensive. With drive through restaurants, coffee shops, liquor stores and even banks why shouldn’t we expect curbside service to our classes? I hate to say it, but I think we may be spoiled.
Luxuries like the shuttle are part of the reason why developed countries like ours consume so many more resources than our less industrialized neighbors. Think of all the developing nations that don’t even have shuttles!
But have no fear; it’s likely that the suspension of shuttle service is only temporary. San Diego Community College Police Department Supervisor, Debra Picou, is petitioning the district office to get our beloved shuttle running again. The cost to reinstate service would be a $5.00 increase in parking permit fees and the elimination of free parking in permitted lots between 12 and 6 P.M. daily
Hopefully with the opening of the C street lot in March we won’t even have to park at Inspiration point, but until then try not to walk in a cloud of negative energy, as if your trudging a hot and winding road to Mordor (they sure did a lot of walking in that movie didn’t they?)
Instead of stewing over the air-conditioned shuttle you’re being deprived of try thinking positively. Take in the city skyline, soak in the vitamin D and remember, “All truly great thoughts are conceived through walking.” Or at least Frederick Nietzsche thought so. I’m inclined to agree with him.
