Rie Du

Many a cold and weary Bowdoin student has utilized the omnipresent white, six-passenger vans that drive around campus. However, students may be unaware of the extent of the shuttle’s operations and the people who keep the program running.

Abby Rubin ’27, a student dispatcher for the Bowdoin Shuttle, described her simple yet critical role in the shuttle service.

“It’s less complicated than you would think,” Rubin said. “[Students] can either call or [request a van] on the website, and then it’ll … pop up on my computer screen. I have a little intercom, and I go, ‘Center to van, there’s a pickup at the Polar Bear.’”

Rubin admitted that dispatchers do not know where vans are during their travels outside of the pickup locations, making estimated time of arrivals hard to determine.

“We are asked frequently if we can give ETAs, and unfortunately, we just don’t know where the van [is],” Rubin said. “I’m just in the security building, and I have no idea where the vans are at any given point in time.”

Rubin offered her opinions on passenger etiquette.

“The etiquette for the van is just be respectful,… the drivers are people too,” Rubin said. “And you can’t bring open alcohol,… because the van drivers are then liable if there’s alcohol around the van.”

This Thanksgiving, the Bowdoin Shuttle will be expanded to include a service to transport students flying out of Portland International Jetport.

Angelica Gordon ’27, Chair of Facilities and Sustainability Committee on the Bowdoin Student Government (BSG), explained that the Thanksgiving Shuttle Service was created to make traveling home easier for students. After the break, BSG is eager to see what modifications they should make to future iterations of the shuttle service and how to make this program last.

“[BSG] is working hard to make sure that, if this program is successful, it won’t always be fully run by the BSG, but eventually overturned to the College in some capacity,” Gordon wrote in an email to the Orient. “The reason we want this is to ensure its continuity and longevity throughout different BSG terms. Also, I think we’ll learn more about what modifications would be best to implement after we see how the service runs for this upcoming Thanksgiving break.”

Angela Keating, who has been a Bowdoin Shuttle driver for 16 years, is excited about the new program.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Keating said. “The way they used to do [the Thanksgiving Shuttle Service] before was with those big buses they use for sports teams and stuff. They used to have two. One would take a bunch of kids to Portland. One would take some to Boston. Now, we’re doing 15 passengers, four times a day. But it helps the kids.… Jen [a Bowdoin Shuttle driver] is always willing to do that, so I’ll help too.”

Jennifer Jacobs, a Bowdoin Shuttle driver since 2020 and a Brunswick Taxi driver, raised concerns about a decline in business for the Brunswick Taxi due to the Thanksgiving Shuttle Service but acknowledged that some students will still take local taxis to the airport when traveling for Thanksgiving break.

“[The Thanksgiving Shuttle Service is] a really good thing for the students as far as saving them money,” Jacobs said. “The other piece is that … it might be taking away a few rides here and there from the taxi company…. But I think it can really help some [students].”

Regardless of when and how one chooses to use the service, Keating described how students can help improve the efficiency of the Bowdoin Shuttle.

“I wish [the students] waited for me instead of me waiting for them,” Keating said. “[Pickups would be] done a lot more efficiently if I didn’t have to wait for them. Or that if they decide not to take the shuttle and walk, to cancel [their pickup request], so I’m not waiting for them longer and they never show up.”

Keating shared that her favorite part of working as a Bowdoin Shuttle driver is witnessing the connections created between students due to their proximity in the van.

“[Shuttle driving] gives me a really good crossover of all the different sections of groups at Bowdoin because everybody has to ride in the van together,” Keating said. “It really makes me happy when [the students] introduce themselves and plan to catch a meal. And it’s nice, and nobody’s intimidated by anyone else.”

Jacobs shared that she enjoys meeting the students and hearing about their college experiences.

“There’s just a really positive energy that the majority of the students give off,” Jacobs said. “I really like it. I like hearing about what they’re working on, what they’re studying, especially the art side of it. I mean, it’s only a two to five minute ride, but it’s really interesting to hear what they’re working on.”

Weatherspoon ’25, a frequent Bowdoin Shuttle rider, reflected on how the student and driver connections they made through the Bowdoin Shuttle have impacted their college experience.

“Angela and Jen specifically have helped me stay sane throughout my college career,” Weatherspoon said. “Every time I get to talk to them, it’s a treat.”