by Michael Montalvo
The Daily Lobo
Giovanni Mu§oz said he should get to ride city buses for free because he's a college student.
But there's a problem - Mu§oz goes to CNM.
"If the bus is free for UNM students, then it should be for CNM as well," Mu§oz said.
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ABQ Ride started offering free bus service to UNM students Aug. 20.
The Lobo Ride Pass program was funded by a $35,000 appropriation from the New Mexico Legislature introduced by Rep. Gail Chasey, an Albuquerque Democrat.
"The mayor talked to me about it, and I thought it was a very good idea," said Chasey, a student at UNM's law school. "So, I made it one of my priorities during the session."
CNM students pay $1 to ride the bus, unless they buy a monthly pass, discounted for college students at $12.
Chasey said she will go back to the Legislature next year to request additional funding for the program.
Greg Payne, director of transit for the city, said the Lobo Ride Pass is the first step toward getting free public transportation for college students.
"The Lobo Ride Pass program is a pilot program," he said. "We only have funding for the fall and spring semesters."
There is no discrimination against CNM students, Payne said.
"It's not a knock on CNM," he said. "Now that the funding has been approved for UNM students, the next step is to include CNM students in the program."
CNM is experiencing parking and traffic problems, and getting more students onto city buses should help with those issues, he said.
The $35,000 appropriation for the Lobo Ride Pass program may not cover the costs for UNM students to ride free all year, Payne said.
"We're more than happy to take it on the chin if we're able to go to the Legislature and make this a permanent program," he said.
CNM student Daniella Espinoza said it would have been nice to ride the bus for free this year.
"I don't think it's fair," she said. "If I were able to ride the bus for free, then I would have been able to save some money."
Payne said CNM students would not be forgotten.
"We are certainly going to advocate for it," he said. "We are going to have to go back to the Legislature and ask for additional funding for next year for UNM as well as CNM."
