ICTC free shuttle service encourages downtown travel
Downtown Mount Pleasant provides a world of opportunity, often ignored by Central Michigan University students.
For students looking to explore what the city has to offer off-campus, the Isabella County Transportation Commission has a solution.
The ICTC's I-Ride service operates four bus lines that provide free rides to and from campus and apartment complexes. The service is prepaid for apartment residents by their respective complexes, and CMU foots the bill for students, faculty and staff on campus.
All yellow bus stops indicate free fare when boarding.
Shuttles take passengers as far as retail shops Meijer and Walmart, as well as offering access to locations like Celebration! Cinema, Kroger, city hall and the rest of downtown Mount Pleasant.
While some students don't know about this offering, Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller said it's a great way to bridge the gap between campus and downtown Mount Pleasant.
"In reality, there's only nine blocks between campus and downtown, but many students never make their way past campus to see what Mount Pleasant has to offer," Sponseller said.
The system, called the Community Shuttle, operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., stopping at each location every half hour. To accommodate late-night pick-ups, there is a 10:30 p.m. bus outside of Park Library, which runs to all complexes.
All buses stop in Lot 33, outside of the Music Building on campus.
