The WSU Van Pool has three open spots for faculty members, staff and students who commute from Palouse to campus.

The Palouse van is one of many vans that drive students and university employees from surrounding towns to Pullman. Other WSU vans offer pickup and drop-off locations in Colfax, Colton, Uniontown and the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Tucson Smith, a passenger on the Palouse van, said he has saved a great deal of money since he began riding in 1985. “You don’t have to worry about a parking permit,” Smith said. “Also, you get a discount from your insurance, because you’re not commuting every day.” Like Smith, Kimberly Gates, director of Asotin County Public Transportation, said riding a van can save a lot of money and wear and tear on your car.

“The average cost is about $100 a month when passengers share the van pool expense to ride each month,” Gates said. “If you took your car, it would be about $350 every month.” Normally, the van has space for about 15 passengers, Smith said. The Palouse van, which holds eight, is an exception. The vans typically run from 6:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., making stops at various locations such as Hulbert Hall and the French Administration Building. Smith said all the vans have different pickup and drop-off locations, and accommodations can be made if arranged in advance. However, the van is required to follow schedule. “If it (the van schedule) doesn’t fit your schedule, it’s not for you,” he said. However, Smith said riders are rarely left behind. “I can only recall not being picked up about three times,” he said. “One was because of the snow.” Shirley Collier, the driver of the Clarkston van, said using the van services does have a few disadvantages. “You don’t have a vehicle when you’re on campus, so then you can’t go out to lunch or go downtown,” she said.

With that said, she mentioned that it is a great option for women who do not want to travel alone. Additionally, it benefits the community, because it is ecological and reduces gas emissions, she said.

Collier said riding the van allows passengers to develop camaraderie with other people who work in different departments on campus. “You can find out more about different things that are happening campus-wide,” she said. Smith said everyone on the van always has a good time.

“That’s one thing about the Palouse van,” he said. “We all get along really well, and most of the time we’re pretty cheerful.” Lindsay Flodin has been a rider on the Palouse van since 2005. Flodin said she has invited many of the friends she made on the bus to events at her home, such as birthday parties.

Overall, she said her experience with the pool has been a positive one. “The convenience of not having to drive when the weather's bad was important for me, because I hate driving in the snow,” she said. “It’s nice to have that time to unwind after work. I don’t have to think about anything during the commute. I can just kick back and relax.”