Originally published November 12, 2010
Student Senate is hoping to provide a shuttle service for students to nearby grocery stores.
Without a grocery store within walking distance, Senate is focused on a temporary solution for students to get by while they work on bringing in a new store.
Chairwoman of City and Local Affairs Jaime Sievers distributed surveys to its members with a variety of destinations to find out which stores the shuttle will possibly run to.
“Target got the best feedback, its near Shop N’ Save, Lowes and Best Buy as well,” she said. “So it could potentially be a one-stop route with multiple purposes.”
The outcome was dependent upon the interest of the students. Sievers said the university tried a store on campus but it ultimately failed due to the lack of interest.
“Bradley tried providing students with a small-scale grocery store on campus years ago,” she said. “A lack of student interest caused the store to be unsuccessful.”
If the administration approves the shuttle service, it will start small and grow from there.
“If shuttles were to be offered, the 12-passenger Bradley vans would be used initially,” Sievers said. “If students utilize the service regularly, we may be able to offer more trips and larger vehicles.”
Sievers said she is thinking about running the shuttle from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is currently unknown if a minimal fee will be charged for services.
Students are very receptive to the idea of a shuttle to local stores.
“In my opinion, the weekend shuttle will be not only good for me but for other freshmen who do not have a car,” freshman pre-liberal arts and sciences major Candice Richardson said. “I feel that the weekend shuttle is that extra independence to go where you need to and not be dependent on anyone else like friends. It makes it easy for me to have the things I need so I can enjoy the Bradley experience better.”
Sievers has had meetings with stores and thelocal neighborhood association.
“I’ve met with the West Bluff Neighborhood Association and found that the Peoria community would be supportive of a grocery store as well,” Sievers said. “If a store were to be built on campus, the prices would not be competitive, nor would the selection match that of a regular grocery store.”
Limited space around campus has ultimately slowed the process down.
“The biggest obstacle I’ve had with off-campus options is the limited available space near Bradley,” Sievers said. “An opening in Campus town would be ideal. I’d also like to look into the retail space that Main Street Commons is developing within their apartment complex.”
