Anthropology students look into mass transit system for Boise

The future of mass transit in Boise, Idaho looks “bleak”, BSU anthropology students say.

Recently, a group of 12 applied anthropology students, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Robert McCarl, conducted field research on various transportation options within the Boise community.

The students explored facets of the Boise transit system as well as Commuterride, a business van service in the Treasure Valley. The students were interested in evaluating how mass transit systems affect various groups of Boiseans and what factors prompt individuals to rely on transit instead of personal automobiles.

The group used participant observation, surveys, and personal interviews as their primary research methods. Each student took on the tasks of speaking with mass transit users and conducting personal interviews with handicapped individuals that use the transit as their main form of transportation. These interactions were designed to assess levels of satisfaction among transit patrons.

The students also studied the history of the automobile and its construction. They discovered that in the past, automobiles were designed with high gas mileage, but now car manufacturers are consciously making an effort to lower gas mileage on their vehicles. This lower gas mileage comes at the cost of harm to the environment and an impractical investment for consumers.

The findings from the research will be reported on a Web site linked to the BSU Anthropology department. The students will also prepare a presentation of their findings slated for the beginning of the 2005 Fall semester.

Students interested in finding out more about transit systems in the Boise area are encouraged to explore the following Web sites: www.commuterride.com and www.census.gov. They can also take part in activities during the May in Motion month-long celebration sponsored by Commuterride. Each week in May is marked by a different theme such as Feet Week, Try Transit Week, Get in the Pool Week, and Leave Your Car at Home Week. A more detailed list of events can be found on Commuterride’s Web site.

As for the students involved in the research, all are hoping that their research study will have an impact on the future of Boise’s mass transit system. Though they currently see this future as bleak, they hope that their study will prompt steady improvements.

Danielle Verhulp
News Writer

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