Texas A&M University – Kingsville has a student population of almost 7,000. As of 2021, about seven percent of the student population is international, meaning TAMUK has about 600 international students on campus. So, the question remains, how do these students get around the city?
TAMUK offers a shuttle called the B&G Express. It operates from the campus to adjacent apartments from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and goes into town from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Apart from the B&G Express, Kingsville has little public transport options. Students who are not local and don’t own a car have a hard time going around the city and constantly must rely on their friends to take them places.
A student-athlete class schedule is based on their practice schedule. If they are not able to catch the bus during those times, they are left stranded in their dorms with no groceries. Public transport apps like Uber and Lyft do not operate in the city of Kingsville due to the scarcity of registered cars. However, Kingsville offers “Paisano Transit” that offers services that range from taking people to buy groceries or driving them to areas in the city and surrounding area for medical purposes. This public transportation is available to Kleberg and Kenedy county residents. All riders are required to call 24 hours in advance. TAMUK, as a school, can encourage their students to try the local transportation services.
Kingsville is very spaced out and almost everything worthwhile is more than a mile away, making it less accessible and walking is not an option.
As an international student, my life in Kingsville would have been very different during my freshman year if I had not befriended local students. I am very grateful to my friends who helped me during my freshman year and showed me around Kingsville and Corpus Christi.
Public transportation at a college campus has many benefits. It is better for the environment as it would mean multiple people can travel together which then results in less CO2 emissions as well as the parking issues at TAMUK.
Having public transportation is also important because it reduces the risk of drunk driving when students are tempted to participate in activities like going out on a college night.
The ratio of benefits overthrows the drawbacks and having the option of public transportation may make TAMUK a bigger attraction, therefore, resulting in a more diverse student body.
