QUB Introduces ‘Get Home Safe’ Shuttle Scheme: Students Call It “Long Overdue”
By Saffron Baker
Last week, Queen’s University Belfast announced the launch of its new ‘Get Home Safe’ scheme.
In a statement released to students, the University said it has an “ongoing commitment to student safety”, and from the 11th of February, it will pilot a “free late-night shuttle bus” available to all QUB students. The shuttle bus will operate in partnership with the non-profit organisation, SOS Bus NI services. The shuttle will have two key pick-up points, namely The Kremlin and The Limelight, and will operate on two nights a week – Wednesdays and Thursdays – from 12 am to 2 am. The service will transport students to the ‘Holylands area’. To use the shuttle, students will need to present their student card.
It comes in line with the University’s broader commitment to student safety – an issue which has attracted some criticism in previous years. Patrick D’Arcy, who completed his undergraduate degree at Queens, believes the new pilot scheme to be “overdue”. In discussing the topic, he said:
“Throughout my entire undergraduate degree at Queens, one thing never changed – the campus simply didn’t feel safe. Walking home in the winter months when darkness fell early was something I dreaded. The reality of being followed, shouted at, or having people lurk around the edges of campus… At one point, I was even jumped outside a Queen’s building”.
When asked about how vocal students have been in campaigning for change, he responded, “Students have raised concerns about safety in key areas of Queens for years – like the McClay and the MBC – and nothing seems to change”.
“These are supposed to be central, well-used spaces, yet they become hotspots for antisocial behaviour and intimidation when the sun goes down. Instead, students are often relying on an Instagram page to see whether it’s safe enough to leave the house. It’s unacceptable”.
In mention of the “Instagram page”, Mr. D’Arcy referred to a student-run page called Holylands Spotted. The page has amassed over 100,000 followers, and regularly posts updates from the Holylands, encouraging students to share reports of suspicious or unusual activity. The page’s bio states: ‘send us in all of the strange things you spot around The Holylands and the neighbouring area!’. It is not the first time the page has attracted student attention in concern of safety and wellbeing; student journalist Katie McShane suggests it has transitioned from ‘entertainment to neighbourhood watch’, stating that it is ‘no more solely a reminder of last night’s embarrassing activities… but a pseudo of neighbourhood watch’. A question emphasised in McShane’s article, as well as Mr. D’Arcy’s account, is ‘why has this become a role that an entertainment page should fill?’
The University has also expressed that it has ‘future plans’ for a ‘further inter-campus’ service that is currently under development. It states that when introduced, it will operate “daily, from 9 pm to 2 am, connecting to the One Elmwood’s Student Centre, the SU and the McClay, BT1, BT2, BT9 and Queens Sport Upper Malone”. This further expansion into shuttle services may come as a welcome development, as students have also raised questions about the scope of the current pilot. One student, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that,
“The shuttle bus scheme is great. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a well-needed scheme and will be utilised. However, the pick-up times are a little restrictive. In my experience, the busier times for students going out are on the weekend. Why is this only available on a Wednesday or a Thursday?”, but added, “I know it’s only in its pilot phase. So, I suppose we’ll see how it pans out”.
For many, the initiative represents a long-awaited recognition of concerns that have been felt among the student body for several years. Whether the pilot develops into a permanent service or further expands into other areas is yet to be decided and will likely rely on usage, funding, and continued engagement between students and the University.
As the scheme begins operating this week, attention will turn to how effectively it addresses the safety concerns that have shaped much of the conversation surrounding student life at Queen’s.
