Take advantage of risk-free, reliable ride

Have you ever been out late at night and realized you had no way back home? Or have you ever needed to go to the grocery store or want to go watch a movie, but had no way to get there? In spring 2011, UCF's Student Government Association solved that problem for many students with the introduction of KnightLynx. KnightLynx is UCF's first late-night bus system, and it provides students with a new and safe transportation experience.

With a school as large as UCF, and a city as large as Orlando, safety has to always be a major priority. Nights have always been a time where safety is much less attainable, but for the first time it is much easier to come by for students. For years, UCF has provided students with free transportation, but that was only throughout the week and primarily during times in which classes are offered on campus. According to the SGA website, KnightLynx provides services every Friday and Saturday around the UCF community from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Adam Brock, UCF student body vice president and pioneer for the KnightLynx project, agrees that KnightLynx has been worth its place in the SGA budget.

"If KnightLynx saves the life of one student, it is a success," Brock said.

If students use KnightLynx as their designated driver for the night, they could be saving not only their lives but the lives they would be putting in danger if they sat behind the wheel. With frequent stops and a constant flow of buses, KnightLynx gives a new approach to the term designated driver.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website states, "the risk of being involved in a crash is greater for young people than for older people." Some young people tend to think that they are above the laws and believe they can drive the same, if not better, while drunk. Drinking impairs your reaction time so something as important as a life should not be risked on luck of driving home while intoxicated. KnightLynx will get you back home without the uncertainty and illegality of driving under the influence of alcohol or any drugs.

Unlike the SGA-sponsored Safe Ride vouchers, which you can only take out one every sixty-one days, KnightLynx can be used every weekend as frequently as needed. All you need as a UCF student is to show your valid UCF ID or just pay a small fee if you are not a UCF student. The buses are clean, the bus drivers are nice and they make sure you get to your stop.

Another main concern on the mind of many students is whether or not KnightLynx will be expanding to other days of the week. Currently, the future of KnightLynx is unknown since it is such a new addition to the UCF community, unlike similar programs at the University of Florida and Florida State University. Brock hopes that some day in the future KnightLynx will expand and become part of UCF's Parking and Transportation Services.

I would eventually like to see KnightLynx expand to other days of the week. The shuttles that take students from campus to apartments end by 10 p.m. during weekdays; if KnightLynx expanded, students would be able to stay on campus later, go out with friends or go shopping at Waterford Lakes without worrying about transportation.

Whether you are a student coming in from a late night with friends or just going out to get groceries, KnightLynx is a safe and convenient way to get home on the weekends. So next time you are out late over the weekend or just want to get away from the constant rush of campus, make sure you check out KnightLynx for a safe ride paid for by your Activities and Service Fee dollars.