What started as a classroom assignment is now making its debut on the Goleta roads.
by Pricila Flores
ISLA VISTA, Calif. — Starting in November, UC Santa Barbara will provide a free grocery shuttle service for students who wish to grocery shop outside of Isla Vista.
For years, UCSB students have had to walk, bike, or pay to take the bus to get groceries outside of Isla Vista.
Albertsons, Target and Costco — which are the closest grocery options outside of Isla Vista — can take up to 40 minutes just to walk there. Trader Joe’s, a popular grocery store among students, is even farther and there are no direct bus lines to transport students.
Set to launch in November, the UCSB Grocery Shuttle will operate on Saturday and Sunday of each week between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The shuttle drives directly to the Calle Real center in Goleta. In this center, shoppers are able to purchase food at local grocery stores like Trader Joe’s or Albertsons and even explore the other restaurants and stores nearby.
Students will be shuttled in UCSB vans to and from various pickup location points that are still being finalized. The vans are able to take up to nine students at a time. Students will have until 4 p.m. when the last van arrives for the final pickup of the day.
The UCSB grocery shuttle was created by a group of UCSB students who were enrolled in a course titled Community Engagement in fall 2021, where they were tasked with creating community change. UCSB TV spoke with Lian Benasuly and Romi Benasuly, two founders of the initiative. Watch here for the full story.