ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A brand new bus service started running for the first time Friday night from the University of Central Florida.
Some say it's a solution to drinking and driving but it's going to cost students nearly $100,000 a year.
Students told WFTV they call it the "drunk bus" because it only runs on weekend nights. The bus loops from UCF to local bars and then to student apartment complexes.
The first late night bus which is painted in gold started running Friday night.
The director of the program, Knight-Lynx, defended the hefty price tag. "The benefit of having it run until 3am is going ahead and getting drunk students that are driving off the road," Adam Brock said. "That obviously is a goal for the Knight-Lynx program."
Students also said the bus is the answer to finding a designated driver.
"I think more people are going to use it actually," Cindy Marcelino said. "More people are going to want to go out now because if they have transportation and don't have to worry about having to get home; or we all can go out together."
Lynx officials said Knight-Lynx was approved Thursday.
Student Fees will pay for 4 Lynx buses to run from 8pm until 3am, Friday and Saturday nights.
There are two lines. One line runs from the UCF Campus to surrounding bars. A second line will stretch to the south of Alafaya Trail and stop at shopping plazas and apartment complexes.
Not everyone is happy about the bus. Some students told WFTV it could make the number of student drinkers go up.
If the bus is successful the service could be expanded.
WFTV
