Parking and Transit Should be a Key Element of Every Campus Safety Plan

Safe campus environments are created through a combination of concrete steps. These include officer patrols, lighting plans, facility security, education, and a practice of awareness (See Something, Say Something).

Parking and transportation play a pivotal role in enhancing and embracing security. Ignoring these key components of the campus security network can lead to potential vulnerabilities and significant gaps..

One of the great challenges transit systems face is preventing uninvited or unauthorized passengers from boarding vehicles.. Risks can be minimized by utilizing strategies that empower driver/operators while providing outstanding ridership data.

A system such as Passio Technologies’ Gateway solution securely tracks boarding passengers by unique ID cards. The introduction of tap and swipe card technology ensures that each passenger’s ID card is validated against a database every time they board the vehicle. Individuals who don’t belong on the bus are restricted from boarding.

Transit technology can be effectively integrated with parking software and permit management solutions to allow parkers and passengers to use the same card/permit to access parking buses. Additionally, all data from multiple systems can be aggregated to give management incredible visibility into patterns, utilization, and capacity needs. Often universities or agencies don’t realize that new developments in technology allow for cost effective solutions that minimize system disruption and maximize integration.

The bottom line is universities have a lot of tools at their disposal to ensure the safest campuses possible. The technology is available today, and that’s why it is imperative we look at every solution possible.