NightRide/NightWalk, the volunteer service at CU-Boulder that shepherds students safely to their homes, has expanded its operations to meet the growing number of people dialing 492-SAFE.
Cumulative statistics from August through October of this year show the service was used 895 times, more than double the 367 requests recorded in the same three months of 1997.
Brian Mears, the Littleton junior who is director of NR/NW, said the increase in calls for assistance demonstrated the viability of the organization, which has been rebuilt after almost closing two years ago. It currently has some 25 volunteers, including nine paid staff members.
In August, 1997, the NR/NW service did not operate at all. It was open only one day this past August, and two women were given rides home.
But once classes began, usage climbed sharply. In September, 1997, the service operated 17 days, assisting 146 persons during the month. But when the greatly expanded NR/NW chose to stay open every evening this September, it recorded a corresponding growth in patronage. Some 318 persons 聳 297 women and 21 men 聳 took advantage of the service that month.
October saw even more growth, when NR/NW shifted from 24 days in 1997 to the month聮s full 31-day calendar and darkness began falling earlier. While 221 calls were answered in October a year ago, a heavy 585 requests were answered in October 1998.
Mears said the 13-year-old volunteer service currently runs seven days a week except for holidays and when the University Memorial Center is closed, and Night Walk does not operate on weekends. It provides safe escorts on campus and within a two block radius of the University Memorial Center, but not to family housing. Night Ride will provide transportation anywhere within the Boulder city limits.
NightRide/NightWalk is available by telephone at 492-SAFE and at its UMC office.