[This article was published in the Lee Clarion (Lee University's student newspaper) in the Life section in 2012, at which time I was the Life Editor of the newspaper. This piece informs students of the on-campus trolley system: How it works, who drives the trolley, how students can utilize the trolley system, et cetera.]
Lee students need not worry about walking to class in the heat, cold or rain. They can take the trolley instead.
Bo Franks, a Campus Safety officer and the driver of the Lee trolley, is ready and waiting to offer students a ride across campus.
“[Students] will get on the trolley with me a lot of times [because] they’re tired,” Franks said. “They’ll just ride around with me and relax.”
Driving large vehicles is something of a speciality of Franks. Before driving the trolley, Franks’ job was to drive trucks across the country. Now, Franks said that he enjoys driving students across Lee’s campus.
“I try to be a friend to [the students],” Franks said. “I guess it’s a calling.”
This calling is something that Franks has been doing for over five years. During this time, Franks said that he has driven over 60,000 miles with the trolley, making constant circles around Lee’s campus on his route.
Currently, Franks estimated that he picks up close to 130 students per day while driving his route. However, he said that this number is low for him.
“It depends on the time of day, the weather and the time of the semester when [students] really start getting tired,” Franks said. “I’ll pump 300 a day, easy.”
Franks said that he loves the amount of interaction he has with the students; it is one of the perks of being a trolley driver.
“I love [the students] like they are my kids,” Franks said.
Matt Smith, a graduate student in Lee’s School of Religion, is a constant passenger on the trolley.
“I am the most frequent rider,” Smith said.
Smith first began riding the trolley regularly during the spring semester of 2009. He still remembers the first time he ever rode the trolley.
“It was one of those days where walking was a trial,” Smith said.
Once he started riding, he seemed unable to stop. Franks, himself, considers Smith one of his most frequent riders.
“Matt is like my travel guide,” Franks joked.
Smith said that he thinks more students would take advantage of the trolley system, but they assume they have to pay a fee to ride.
“People don’t realize it’s free; they think they have to pay,” Smith said.
Smith also said students don’t notice the trolley, or they think it is a permanent fixture adjacent to the Paul Conn Student Union.
“Some people see it there and don’t think it moves, or it’s not there, and they think [that it's a free] parking space,” Smith said.
Students can be assured that the trolley is not a fixed vehicle. Franks operates the trolley from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. every weekday. While Franks makes several designated stops throughout campus, he said that he will happily stop the trolley for students walking around campus to deliver them to where they need to be taken.
“I know the look,” Franks said in reference to tired students walking on campus who need a break. “I try to pay attention to them.”
Smith said that once the weather gets bad, students will utilize the trolley system more than when the weather is fair.
“As soon as the first rain comes … [students] freak out and get on [the trolley] to not be wet,” Smith said.
Though Franks enjoys the nice weather, he loves when students ride on the trolley with him. Students such as Smith are what make his job worthwhile, Franks said.
“The trolley gets them involved; it gets them mixed with other students,” Franks said. “I’m kind of like a mother hen for them.”
While Franks is allowing God to dictate his next step in life, he knows that driving the trolley is where God wants him to be right now.
“God calls all of us to do certain things,” Franks said. “If I pick up one student a day, it’s worth it, and I’ve done my job.”
Lee students need not worry about walking to class in the heat, cold or rain. They can take the trolley instead.
Bo Franks, a Campus Safety officer and the driver of the Lee trolley, is ready and waiting to offer students a ride across campus.
“[Students] will get on the trolley with me a lot of times [because] they’re tired,” Franks said. “They’ll just ride around with me and relax.”
Driving large vehicles is something of a speciality of Franks. Before driving the trolley, Franks’ job was to drive trucks across the country. Now, Franks said that he enjoys driving students across Lee’s campus.
“I try to be a friend to [the students],” Franks said. “I guess it’s a calling.”
This calling is something that Franks has been doing for over five years. During this time, Franks said that he has driven over 60,000 miles with the trolley, making constant circles around Lee’s campus on his route.
Currently, Franks estimated that he picks up close to 130 students per day while driving his route. However, he said that this number is low for him.
“It depends on the time of day, the weather and the time of the semester when [students] really start getting tired,” Franks said. “I’ll pump 300 a day, easy.”
Franks said that he loves the amount of interaction he has with the students; it is one of the perks of being a trolley driver.
“I love [the students] like they are my kids,” Franks said.
Matt Smith, a graduate student in Lee’s School of Religion, is a constant passenger on the trolley.
“I am the most frequent rider,” Smith said.
Smith first began riding the trolley regularly during the spring semester of 2009. He still remembers the first time he ever rode the trolley.
“It was one of those days where walking was a trial,” Smith said.
Once he started riding, he seemed unable to stop. Franks, himself, considers Smith one of his most frequent riders.
“Matt is like my travel guide,” Franks joked.
Smith said that he thinks more students would take advantage of the trolley system, but they assume they have to pay a fee to ride.
“People don’t realize it’s free; they think they have to pay,” Smith said.
Smith also said students don’t notice the trolley, or they think it is a permanent fixture adjacent to the Paul Conn Student Union.
“Some people see it there and don’t think it moves, or it’s not there, and they think [that it's a free] parking space,” Smith said.
Students can be assured that the trolley is not a fixed vehicle. Franks operates the trolley from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. every weekday. While Franks makes several designated stops throughout campus, he said that he will happily stop the trolley for students walking around campus to deliver them to where they need to be taken.
“I know the look,” Franks said in reference to tired students walking on campus who need a break. “I try to pay attention to them.”
Smith said that once the weather gets bad, students will utilize the trolley system more than when the weather is fair.
“As soon as the first rain comes … [students] freak out and get on [the trolley] to not be wet,” Smith said.
Though Franks enjoys the nice weather, he loves when students ride on the trolley with him. Students such as Smith are what make his job worthwhile, Franks said.
“The trolley gets them involved; it gets them mixed with other students,” Franks said. “I’m kind of like a mother hen for them.”
While Franks is allowing God to dictate his next step in life, he knows that driving the trolley is where God wants him to be right now.
“God calls all of us to do certain things,” Franks said. “If I pick up one student a day, it’s worth it, and I’ve done my job.”
