The Determinants of Students' Patronage and Efficiency of the New Unilorin Rapid Bus Scheme

The University of Ilorin Rapid Bus Scheme was introduced to improve transportation for students across campus and surrounding areas. This study assessed the factors influencing students’ use of the bus system and how efficient the service has been since its implementation. The research focused on key areas such as affordability, availability, service quality, safety, and user satisfaction. A sample of 397 students from different faculties and levels was surveyed using structured questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and OLS regression to understand usage patterns and identify major issues affecting student experiences. The findings showed that a majority of students used the bus service regularly, with 33.8% using it 3–5 times a week and 16.9% using it daily. Students said they used the bus mainly because it was available, affordable, and involved short waiting times. However, the analysis revealed that only bus availability had a slightly significant impact on usage frequency. Challenges such as overcrowding (24.4%), safety concerns (25.2%), and poor driver conduct (23.2%) were major issues affecting students’ satisfaction. A lack of facilities for students with disabilities and inconsistent hygiene were also reported. Despite these problems, the bus scheme had a positive effect on student life. About 49.1% of students said their class attendance improved due to the availability of the bus service, and 52.9% said they reduced their use of other transport options. In conclusion, while the Unilorin Rapid Bus Scheme has been helpful and widely used, it still needs improvement in areas like safety, reliability, inclusiveness, and service delivery. The study recommends increasing the number of buses, improving scheduling, training drivers, and gathering regular student feedback to ensure the system continues to meet students’ needs effectively.