It's a bright, sunny Friday afternoon as Earl Sires does what he often does. He waits for the Wildcat Transit bus that will take him back to Newmarket.
Like so many other UNH students, Sires, a senior, is a commuter who lives in one of the neighboring towns that Wildcat Transit services.
"I like taking the bus - it's quick and easy," said Sires. "But, some people don't like to take the bus."
However, some commuters living in Durham who dislike taking a campus connector bus to and from campus may have to start taking one next year. Due to slight changes in regulations governing eligible commuting addresses, some off-campus students in Durham will no longer be able to purchase parking permits next semester.
Currently, commuters living within a one-mile radius of campus aren't given commuter permits, according to Transportation Services Manager Marc Laliberte.
Laliberte said this stipulation is in place because parking for commuters would be too congested if students within the one-mile radius were given space in lots such as A Lot and Mast Road. He said the stipulation is to also protect students who can't conveniently take the bus or walk to campus.
"There are people from Dover, for instance, who have to drive," said Laliberte.
Next year, that one-mile radius will be slightly expanded to include addresses a quarter of a mile or less from a campus connector stop or the first Wildcat Transit bus stop beyond the old one-mile radius. This means a few more Durham street addresses will be added to the ineligible list.
The reasoning for this change, according to Laliberte, is the addition of new apartment complexes west of campus on upper Main Street and on Route 155A. Laliberte said these complexes, as well as other possible developments in those areas, are just outside of the current radius but are close enough that a commuter pass isn't necessary.
In addition to the new apartment complexes on upper Main Street and 155A, some students living on Wood Road, Lundy Lane, Hampshire Avenue, Scotland Road, Pendexter Road and New Pendexter Road will be ineligible for commuter passes.
The change also includes some Madbury Road homes, such as the Bryant apartment complex, as well as Old Piscataqua Road. Students living near transit bus stops outside of these Durham areas won't be affected by the change, said Laliberte.
He said to picture an aerial view in which Durham is circled, with Thompson Hall being the center. The circle currently has a one-mile radius, but will now have little pockets that push out of that mile.
"Now there are a couple of bubbles that radiate out," said Laliberte.
Laliberte said he expects Wildcat Transit buses to be busier with more students having to take them in order to get to class, although he said this possible increase in new riders wouldn't affect transit much.
He said even if it was assumed the new complexes are fully occupied, not all of them will be students and riding the bus.
"I expect buses will be busier, regardless of whether we changed anything or not," said Laliberte.
Sires said his roommate drives to campus, so he understands that commuters need to be protected. Still, he feels there should be no restrictions on commuter passes.
"I don't think it's fair," said Sires. "Whoever wants to get passes should be able to."
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