Elsa Panning stood at the bus stop, checking her phone anxiously as the minutes ticked by. The bus was late—again. She knew from experience that it might not show up at all. After waiting for what felt like forever, she gave up and called a friend for a ride.
“I specifically don’t take the bus because of how long I have to wait,” said Panning, a biology sophomore. “It’s just easier to ask a friend or roommate for a ride to campus rather than wait and be late.”
Students relying on SLO Transit’s bus lines consistently face overcrowding, primarily on the 3 and 4 lines, leaving many stranded at stops during peak hours.
The issue, rooted in a nationwide bus driver shortage exacerbated by low wages and funding challenges, has yet to see a full recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic—despite it being five years since the pandemic began.
Despite a slight improvement in the past year, the nationwide shortage remains severe.
As of September 2024, there were 12.2% fewer bus drivers compared to September 2019, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Additionally, the median bus driver earned 43% less than the median weekly wage for all workers in 2023, with wages continuing to decline—down 2.8% since 2019.
Adding to the challenge, public transit providers across North America are facing a shortage of operators and mechanics, straining budgets and forcing agencies to reduce service. This shortage has been further exacerbated by economic instability and the tail ends of the pandemic, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
For Cal Poly students, the impact has been immediate and disruptive.
The 3 and 4 lines are among the most affected, serving key routes through campus and downtown. Consequences on students are particularly acute, affecting class attendance, work schedules and daily routines.
“Overall, the bus routes are okay, but during rush hour, they need more capacity to support the demand for students. During the weekends, it’s frustrating trying to get to places downtown with limited buses running.”
Alex Yan, a biology graduate student.
SLO Transit officials acknowledge the difficulty of recruitment but emphasize ongoing efforts to expand services and accommodate Cal Poly’s future plans.
According to Alex Fuchs, City of San Luis Obispo mobility services business manager, the city is “90% complete” with its short-range transit plan, including more frequent service of the 4A and 4B lines.
Fuchs noted, however, that ongoing hiring efforts can be slow.
“It seems like hiring efforts are being successful, but it’s like a six- to eight-week onboarding process from when someone starts their training to when they are road-ready,” Fuchs said.
Additionally, the city is looking toward long-term goals for public transit. By 2032, all of their fossil fuel vehicles will be replaced with electric vehicles, Fuchs said.
“Right now we have two electric vehicles and we have eight more on order… in a year and a half or so, more than half of our fleet will be battery electric,” Fuchs said.
While these efforts point to a better future, students continue to bear the brunt of limited capacity and inconsistent service.
“Sometimes it feels like the routes are random, and changing drivers at the transit center takes way too much time,” Yan said. “It makes me late on occasion to campus.”
For now, the frustration among students lingers as they wait for solutions to move from planning to reality.
