Shuttles add safety options at ODU

NORFOLK, Va. - It's getting late on the campus of Old Dominion University and students are heading home after their last classes or a night study session at the library. And now, what was once a safety scare at ODU has become a new way of getting around.

New shuttle routes have given students new options to get around campus. The shuttles add more than convenience in cold weather. Students requested the new routes after a string of crimes on and near campus sparked safety concerns.

Faculty and staff answered with expanded shuttle services to off campus housing and longer hours.

The shuttles run with interior lights on at night and have cameras inside and outside of the bus to keep security tight. Students who hitch a ride off campus are required to show identification, all as a way of keeping the buses safe.

In the first week of expanded operations, the buses have been a hit with students who have more options throughout the day and night. There's no plan to expand the service further yet, but the shuttle company says they can keep adding routes and times if students need them.