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Huskie Safe Line to replace Late Night Ride

July 28, 2014

Late Night RideThe Northern Illinois University Department of Police and Public Safety is revamping the way it transports students during the late night hours. The new Huskie Safe Line will offer shuttle ride service during late night hours after the Huskie Bus Line stops running, replacing its forerunner, the Late Night Ride Service.

The free service is available to NIU students, faculty, and staff as well as community members with disabilities, beginning Friday, August 1. Riders must present a valid NIU One Card or Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card to use the service and are allowed to bring a guest with them.

“I am confident the new Huskie Safe Line will increase safety and reduce ride wait times after the regular bus line stops running,” said NIU Police Chief Tom Phillips, noting the effort was the result of collaboration between the NIU Student Association and Department of Police and Public Safety. “Together, we conducted a student survey, engaged in an open forum of the greater campus community and researched other university safe-ride systems resulting in this service improvement.”

The shuttle service, which runs from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. daily, travels a fixed route with 35 convenient pick-up and drop-off locations over two distinct routes.

Along the north route, the shuttle van goes to each stop along the following route approximately every 15 minutes:

  • Holmes Student Center
  • Barsema Hall
  • Nursing School
  • Corner of Blackhawk and Ridge
  • Corner of Rushmore and Arcadia
  • Casey’s Gas Station (east side)
  • Corner of Hillcrest and Spiros
  • Corner of Hillcrest and Regent
  • Corner of Hillcrest and Fotis
  • In front of 735 Fotis
  • Corner of Regent and Eco Park Drive
  • Corner of Varsity and Regent
  • Behind Jimmy John’s (850 Pappas)
  • Parking lot of 1023 W. Hillcrest (Prontos Pizza)
  • 900 block of Hillcrest (near 904-910)
  • Corner of Greenbrier and Normal
  • Corner of Greenbrier and Russell
  • University Plaza Parking Lot
  • North side of New Hall (by bridge)
  • In front of Grant North
  • In front of Stevenson North
  • Entrance to Northern View
  • Culvers Parking lot (Next to Fatty’s)
  • University Circle (near Dusable and Reavis Halls)

The shuttle makes stops along the south route approximately every 20 minutes. The route includes the following stops:

  • Holmes Student Center
  • CVS Pharmacy parking lot
  • Corner of Deerpath and Knolls Drive
  • Corner of Knolls Drive and Ivy
  • Entrance to Ashbury Court Apartments
  • Parking lot of Walgreens Pharmacy
  • Corner of Locust and John
  • Corner of Augusta and Woodley
  • In front of Gilbert Hall
  • In front of Campus Parking Services
  • East side of Founders Library

Riders can simply go to the closest stop and wait for the van by the sign that says “Huskie Safe Line.”

The door-to-door handicap accessible shuttle ride service is available by calling 753-2222 to request the service.

In addition to this new service, NIU Police and Public Safety offer walking escorts anywhere on campus 24 hours a day.