Students who brave the winter-CyRide crowds may have a little relief this year after CyRide’s replacement of six buses.

Barbara Neal, CyRide senior operations assistant, said the new buses are one of the ways the department has prepared for the upcoming winter.

CyRide has retired six of its buses after 34 years of service, Neal said. The retirees will be replaced with six modern and more efficient Orion V buses.

Neal said the Orion Vs, which are now in service, have several advantages over the old GMC buses. The greatest advantage, she said, is the buses’ “capacity and the ability to load and unload passengers quicker.”

The Orion Vs have double rear doors which make it easier to exit the bus. In addition, the buses are wider, making it possible to carry up to 80 passengers instead of 65.

Neal said the Orion Vs also are able to hold two passengers in wheelchairs and have a ThermoKing heating and air conditioning system.

Bob Bourne, CyRide transit director, said the new buses are more fuel efficient, emitting “much less pollution.” The buses also get better gas mileage.

The engines and transmissions on the new buses are computer-controlled, which Neal said is generally an advantage. However, it sometimes can be a problem.

“They can be a little more challenging for the mechanics to work on and repair,” she said.

Another feature on the new buses, Neal said, is a night light.

“When the bus stops at night the bus lights up on the right side, making it easier for the passenger and driver to see,” she said.

Bourne said a bus is typically designed to last 12 years, so the department was happy to get more than 30 years’ wear from the GMCs. Bourne said he is confident the Orion Vs will last at least 25 years.

“These are rust-proofed inside and out,” he said. “That is a major factor in the life of a bus.”

Each new bus cost about $255,000, Neal said. The federal government paid for 83 percent of the cost, the Government of the Student Body paid for 9 percent, the City of Ames paid for 5.5 percent and Iowa State chipped in 2.5 percent.

Neal said the retired buses will be sold and used for parts.

This winter the bus routes will be more efficient than in the past because of the new buses, Neal said. She said CyRide rarely cancels routes, but buses do run late sometimes, depending on the weather.

Ames radio station KASI 1430 AM announces any CyRide delays or cancellations, she said.

“We run additional buses as needed, due to the weather,” said Neal, adding that the buses run as long as classes are in session. “We have stopped service for an hour or more to wait for the sand trucks to get out.”

Bourne said CyRide does a good job of making sure every one gets on a bus. On days when the weather is supposed to be bad, Bourne said two or three supervisors are sent out in smaller buses to take care of overflow.

“No one gets left behind,” he said.

ISU students can obtain a winter pass good through March 18 for $40 before Dec. 9. After Dec. 9, the price is $25, Neal said.