Julia Duba/Contributing Writer
Students who use the FIU One Card to boa
rd the shuttle bus have encountered problems with the handheld device that deducts the shuttle fare of $2.50 from their One Card account between the two University campuses.
The transition in Fall 2011 from Golden Panther Express tickets to the device has created delays for some students and drivers—and resulted in complaints to the Department of Parking and Transportation department.
When students switched to the FIU One Card, some presented their card to shuttle drivers without any funds. The PantherCard account is linked to Wells Fargo, and can receive funds from the Wells Fargo ATMs on any FIU campus. The money deposited into the accounts will be available for use almost immediately.
According to Senior Clerk of the Parking and Transportation department Kerssy Ciceen, students don’t know that they must activate their cards online at shop.fiu.edu to add funds.
“It’s not a perfect system yet. Of course there will be glitches,” Ciceen said. “It should be getting fixed in the next year or so.”
The problem started in August 2011 when the transition from purchasing tickets to electronic account withdrawals confused students. For a couple of weeks GPE tickets were still accepted at the beginning of the Fall 2011 semester.
Lisette Hernandez, Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation, recognizes that any new software will have issues when a new system is implemented.
“We know of one particular issue, mainly an operator issue, but our office solved it and continues to support the drivers as needed to ensure that it does not happen again,” Hernandez said. “Our office is in constant communication with the drivers and helps them if there is an issue or concern in order to solve it immediately.”
American Coach bus driver Donald Hill recounts the training he received for handling the readers.
“It’s pretty simple once you learn how to handle it. Now I always know how to get it to work,” Hill said.
After orientations on how to work the card readers, Hill said that on a few occasions, the device would not read students’ One Cards because it automatically activates and deactivates through electronic signals on the campus. When a shuttle bus leaves the FIU campus, the device shuts down.
When the bus arrives on a campus, the reader self-activates, allowing the drivers to use it and swipe the cards. In some instances, the card reader remained deactivated and delayed shuttle drivers from being able to swipe students’ cards and board the bus.
Despite some of the problems, the Parking and Transportation department has encountered, students like John Irizarry, a junior accounting major, knew nothing about the issue.
“I’ve ridden the shuttle multiple times this semester and never had a problem,” Irizarry said.
Hernandez said, “As far as we understand, there has been no glitch as of late. Training and support will continue to be provided to the drivers as well as monitoring on our side to help minimize the issues.”
Hill is sympathetic.
Despite the occasional problem with the card reader, he never denies students a ride.
“Let’s face it; You’re going to school and trying to get an education,” Hill said, “I’m not going to stop that.”
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