Lately, it feels like FSU’s been cutting back on a lot of things that make campus life a little more manageable.
Free movies at the Askew Student Life Center (ASLC) have turned into $5 screenings, Westcott “21st Fountain Throws” are now limited to Wednesdays (with restrictions on climbing and champagne popping), and most recently, the free late-night Lyft rides are gone.
I understand that budgets are limited and that some benefits may have to be reduced, but the FSU Lyft rides felt like something that shouldn’t have been cut. I can’t count how many times I’ve walked home alone after a night out with friends, all of us heading in different directions. I’ll be on the phone with someone, keys and pepper spray in hand, walking through the streets of Tallahassee at 2 a.m. That’s just the reality.
When FSU introduced free Lyft rides, I was much less likely to walk home alone. For a lot of students, it wasn’t just about convenience; it was a real safety measure. It also likely reduced the number of people driving under the influence, even if only slightly. When you’re a college student, “I’ll just order a ride” isn’t always realistic at 2 a.m., especially when cost is a factor.
I really love this school, but removing something that directly supported student safety doesn’t feel right.
To FSU’s credit, they didn’t completely remove the service. It’s been replaced with FSU Safe Ride powered by Slidr. It still serves a similar purpose, but it’s definitely not the same experience.
For example, Lyft was easy because most students already had the app. Now, there’s a separate app called FSU Safe Ride (not Slidr itself), and you have to create an account using your FSU email. There are also more limitations: a defined area, restrictions on short distances, and limited availability that requires you to act fast before rides fill up.
It’s important to note that if you go outside the designated area, like from campus to BAJAS, there’s a flat fee. FSU campus locations include Innovation Park, the College of Engineering, Seminole Legacy Golf Club, and the Intramural Fields.
So, what changed? FSU released the following statement: “FSU has opted to run its own service that is environmentally and economically more sustainable. Our fleet of electric vehicles run at a significantly lower cost than what Safe Connection provided, allowing us to provide rides for years to come.”
In other words, the university is framing this shift as a long-term sustainability and cost-saving decision.
To be fair, the new system isn’t completely without structure. The FSU Safe Ride option, powered by Slidr, has a flat fee of $6 for certain rides outside the main campus area. It also includes information about other public transit options in case a ride isn’t available or ends up being too expensive.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, the system operates from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., daily. In the Summer, however, it only runs until midnight.
According to the FSU website, the service is only available when classes are in session. That means that during holidays, closures, and other breaks, the FSU Safe Ride program won’t be running.
That said, there are still a lot of unclear details. I’m still not sure if students are limited to a certain number of rides per month. This matters when you’re relying on a late-night service like this; if that’s the case, you should keep track of how many rides you have left.
I also think part of the frustration comes from timing. A lot of students had just gotten used to the Lyft system. It was familiar, easy, and already built into something people were using daily. Now there’s a new app, a new login system, and a new set of rules to learn. Even if the replacement is technically functional, it still feels like we’re starting over with something that was just beginning to feel normal.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about Lyft rides or apps or convenience. It’s about how students actually navigate campus life at night, especially when safety becomes the main concern.
Right now, the new system is still something students are adjusting to. It may take time to figure out how well it truly meets student needs in practice, not just on paper, but there’s still potential here. If the system’s refined, made more transparent, and consistently accessible, it could become something that works just as effectively in a new form.
For now, students are simply in the process of learning a new normal, and hopefully, one that still keeps safety at the center.
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