RamSafe specializes in transporting valuable cargo: You – VCU News

By Leila Ugincius

“RamSafe provides students and staff with a simple and reliable transportation service,” said Josh Stone, general manager of Parking and Transportation. “You can easily book a ride through the Ride Pingo app, track your vehicle in real time, and safely navigate campus in the evenings and at night. We encourage more community members to use this service.”

When Nicole Rodriguez, a music student, needed to go downtown for a job interview one recent evening, she used the Ride Pingo app (available for download on Google Play, the Apple App Store, and VCU Mobile) to request a ride with RamSafe.

“I don’t want to walk home in the dark,” she said. “(RamSafe) is a safe way to get around campus. It’s quick and easy.”

When the shuttle stopped to pick up a few more passengers, Rodriguez wasn’t worried about being late. Driver Dellarie Lockett kept an eye on the clock.

“What time is your interview?” asked Lockett. “I’ll get you there on time.”

Lockett, who has worked as a RamSafe driver for about two years, tries to build a positive relationship with her passengers, who are often repeat customers, she said. “It helps make the experience a pleasant one because we’ll keep seeing each other.”

But as much as she would like to greet every passenger with a friendly smile, this takes a back seat to her top priority: safety.

“We value safety. I want to transport them as if they were valuable cargo and get them to their destination safely,” Lockett said. “I want them to know that they will find a welcoming environment on our bus and can enjoy a relaxing ride.”

Chenfeng He always feels welcome when Lockett picks her up, and she greets the driver with a big smile. Some of the drivers, like Lockett, have become friends, she said. “(Lockett) is always smiling, cheerful and caring.”

As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, she conducts chemistry experiments that require her to collect samples every hour for long periods of time, which requires her to stay on campus all night. She heard about RamSafe from her colleagues in January and has been involved ever since.

“By taking RamSafe with me whenever I need it, I can focus on my research and not worry about when I have to go home,” she said. “Safe, reliable and professional, RamSafe gets us home.”

RamSafe operates 365 days a year from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., with reduced hours on some holidays such as Christmas. There are typically between four and six shuttles in service at any given time. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, RamSafe provided 92,999 rides, with Thursday being the busiest day of the week.

Rakshith Harish Kumar had only heard about RamSafe last week – at the orientation event for international students – and used the transport later that same evening.

“It’s very convenient for students as we can move around campus at any time,” he said. “It’s very safe to travel late at night.”

That same evening, dental students Kendra Diaz and Natalie Ortiz were studying longer than expected in the Health Sciences Library. Not feeling safe walking to a bus stop and then waiting for the bus late at night, they decided to try RamSafe for the first time.

“I heard it’s an easy and safe way to get home if you’re on campus late at night,” Diaz said. “I feel safe with RamSafe because it only serves VCU students and staff. The driver is also part of the VCU staff, so they want to ensure our safety. I also really liked that they pick you up where you are and drop you off right in front of your apartment.”

Ortiz said she was very pleased with the feeling of security.

“I want new VCU students to know how safe and great this transportation option is for students – especially those who rely on public transportation,” she said.

Both she and Diaz plan to use the service more often.

“It’s really easy to order a RamSafe, and you should definitely order one if you’re out at night – it’s better to be safe than sorry,” said Diaz. “It’s very safe and reliable!”

Krishna Indla, a third-year dental hygiene student, agrees. “After 5 p.m., Ram Safe is the fastest, easiest and safest way to get from one place to another,” he says, adding that he uses the shuttle almost every day.

“It’s a great service that connects one part of campus to the other, even late at night,” Indla said. “When I use a RamSafe, I don’t have to worry about external factors like security. I can easily track exactly where my RamSafe is and how long it will take to get to me, and provide the estimated time of arrival. I would certainly say that RamSafe is a great resource if you are usually out and about on campus at night or feel unsafe walking across campus.”

Indla recommends that new students who find traversing campus intimidating or scary – especially after dark – use RamSafe.

“(It is) the best way for them to travel both safer and faster,” he said.