Newsletter No. 13

Campus Transport Other Services to Link the Campus with the Outside The Staff Bus Service Its origin can be traced back to 1969 when the University organized two routes to carry staff members to and from work at the Benjamin Franklin Centre, the first building on the central campus. Thereafter routes have been added or dropped to reflect the changing demand, but all along the service has been self-supporting, drawing as its only source of income the monthly fees paid by subscribers. Currently there are eight bus- routes, three for Hong Kong dwellers and five for Kowloon residents. Each route has specific pick-up and drop-off points. The service is rather popular as the average cost per trip is about 50 per cent of what one has to pay to travel by the MTR and the KCR. Children's Bus Service To facilitate staff members living on campus whose children have t o attend schools i n Kowl oon, the University organized a special bus service in 1976 to carry these children to and from school. Similar to the staff bus service, this service is fee-charging, self-supporting, and operated by an outside contractor. VIP Cars As the name implies, VIP cars are primarily for transporting important guests of the University to and from campus. When there are no important visitors, senior academics and University officers sometimes use them when they need to represent the University at official functions but cannot find transport. The University had only one VIP car at the beginning. The number was increased to two around 1975 and to three only last year. Each car has its own driver, and two of the three VIP car drivers have served the University for over 20 years. Traffic Accidents on Campus According to figures provided by the Security Unit, serious traffic accidents on campus can be attributed to three major reasons: Jaywalking 一 Many students do not seem to realize that roads on campus are no different from roads elsewhere: they are primarily for cars and not pedestrians. Quite a number o f accidents have been caused by careless students who don't bother to check the traffic before they cross roads. Careless pedal-cycling — Pedal cyclists who disregard safety regulations are a danger to themselves and other people on the road. They account for over 80 per cent of the total number of traffic accidents on campus and the figure rises every year. Unlicense d Drivin g — A traffic accident caused by unlicensed driving on campus took the life of one student in 1981. From 1st July 1989 ， all campus roads have become subject to the Road Traffic Ordinance and Regulations. In 1989-90’ six students were prosecuted for driving without a licence on campus or driving with only a learner's licence. Some Facts of Interest * Mr. David Gilkes, the University Bursar, does not usually drive on campus but is the registered owner of 47 vehicles, all of which have been purchased for the use of different departments and units i n the University. * If you have a car and want to obtain a University vehicle registration label, apply to the Security Unit and NOT the Transport Unit! * Each year the University spends about HK$3 million on hiring school buses, replacing worn-out vehicles, and repairing and maintaining University cars. * Passengers on school buses can be very forgetful. Items they leave behind on the buses range from books, umbrellas, and clothes t o examination scripts and stocks costing over HK$300,000! 5