With every seat filled, students stand in the aisle as the intercampus shuttle pulls out of the Armstrong campus, beginning the hour-long ride to Statesboro. For many, it’s not a one-time inconvenience, but a routine part of getting to class.

Required Commutes Between Campuses

For many students, commuting between the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses is not a choice, but is a necessity because of where their classes are offered. Many  majors are offered at the Armstrong Campus such as health science degrees, but programs such as business, engineering and media are centered in Statesboro. As a result, students in majors such as these must travel between campuses to complete required courses. While some majors are offered on both campuses, not all required courses are available in each location, contributing to continued demand for intercampus travel.

How the Shuttle System Operates

According to April Burke, the communication and engagement strategist for the Business and Finance Division, the intercampus shuttle operates four round trips every day that classes are in session and each bus is “available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum seating capacity of 35 passengers per shuttle.”

However, average ridership on some days exceeds that capacity, with Monday mornings having an average of 37 passengers, indicating that not all students are able to secure a seat.

In practice, this means that once all seats are filled, additional riders may still board the shuttle, often resulting in students standing in the aisle for the duration of the trip.

Jaynia Pinder, a sophomore student who regularly uses the shuttle, described it as a reliable but often crowded experience. While she noted that buses generally run on schedule, she also recalled instances where “all seats were full,” forcing students to sit closely together. Pinder added that they have “witnessed many times where students were unable to get on the bus due to full seats and have to wait for another shuttle.”

“If the shuttle reaches capacity, remaining riders are given the option to ride with the understanding they will not have a seat,” Burke said.

Decisions Based on Ridership Data

While students describe the experience as uncomfortable, the department acknowledged the limitations of the system.

For many riders, the impact goes beyond momentary discomfort. With the commute between campuses lasting close to an hour, standing for the duration of the trip can make an already demanding schedule more physically taxing, particularly for students traveling multiple times per week.

The university determines shuttle frequency and capacity based on ridership data collected through student credentialing. According to the department, adjustments to service are made when demand consistently exceeds capacity, with the goal of balancing efficiency with available resources.

“While we recognize this is not an ideal rider experience, we also aim to balance individual comfort needs with the need to accommodate occasional or emergent transportation demand,” said Burke.

Federal and state regulations do not prohibit passengers from standing on the bus. The department stated that current ridership trends do not justify the addition of another shuttle.

“The Parking and Transportation team tracks ridership via credentialing on intercampus shuttles; decisions about increasing bus allocations are made if/when demand supports,” Burke said.

Increased Demand on Peak Days

According to spring 2026 data, increased ridership on Tuesdays and Thursdays has led the university to add an additional morning shuttle on those days. However, similar adjustments have not been made on Mondays and Wednesdays, when buses still meet or exceed seating capacity.

With limited alternatives for those without personal transportation, many students rely entirely on the shuttle, making overcrowding more than just an inconvenience — it becomes a barrier to getting to class comfortably and reliably.

Pinder also pointed to frustrations beyond overcrowding, noting that “almost every time students would fill seats with their backpacks in an attempt to avoid having a seat mate,” which further limits available seating.

As the university continues to monitor ridership trends, students commuting between campuses are left navigating a system that meets demand on paper, but could be falling short in meeting student expectations.