Topper Transit

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Topper Transit
Headquarters1906 College Heights. Blvd.
LocaleWestern Kentucky University
Service areaBowling Green, Kentucky
Service typeBus service
Routes4
Fleet14 buses
Annual ridership735,000 (2015)
WebsiteTopper Transit

Topper Transit is a provider of mass transportation in Bowling Green, Kentucky with four routes primarily serving the Western Kentucky University campus. It is a service of WKU's Parking and Transportation Services and complements GO bg Transit, which covers a wider swath of the city. As of 2015, the system provided 735,000 rides with 14 buses annually.[1]

History[edit]

Service has grown considerably from 165,000 riders in 2006 to 735,000 in 2015. A 2014 survey found Topper Transit drivers were ranked first among the best features of WKU.[2] In April 2018, Bus #13 was converted to run on biodiesel to celebrate Earth Month.[3] In 2020, service was severely curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Service returned to normal in January 2021, with three routes operating at the time.[5] In 2023, both Topper Transit and GO bg Transit were brought under the same operator, however the services, fares, and buses remain separate.[6]

Service[edit]

Topper Transit operates four bus routes, three centered on campus during weekdays and one providing Saturday service to shopping destinations. When WKU is in session, hours of operation for the system are Monday through Friday from 7:15 A.M. to 5:45 P.M. and on Saturdays from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. There is no service on Sundays. When WKU is no in session, only Route 4 operates from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The service is fare-free.[7]

Routes[edit]

  • Route 1 South Campus
  • Route 2 Kentucky Street
  • Route 3 Campus Circulator
  • Route 4 Shopping Shuttle

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "History of… WKU's Topper Transit Bus System". College Heights Herald. November 5, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "History of… WKU's Topper Transit Bus System". College Heights Herald. November 5, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "Converted cooking oil fuels Topper Transit bus". April 12, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "View from the Hill: Topper Transit changes for fall semester". August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "Topper Transit offers three new bus routes for students". College Heights Herald. January 16, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Michael Ridgeway (August 21, 2023). "WKU and GO bg Transit work to further align". News 40. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. ^ "Transit". Retrieved September 2, 2023.

External links[edit]