University of Denver Undergraduate Student Government Proposal

Let us do the driving!

February 2012

About University Ski Bus

George Cooper founded University Ski Bus in March 2011. At the time, Cooper was a DU freshmen and avid skier who noticed a lack of transportation options from campus to the ski slopes. Knowing that SUVs are not the answer, Cooper set out to start University Ski Bus. The company operates on the principles of convenience, responsibility and value.

Quick Facts
Pickup locations: Johnson-Macfarlane (7:00am) and Centennial Halls (7:15am) Resorts served: Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail all included on Epic Pass Cost: $24 roundtrip including continental breakfast Website: www.UniversitySkiBus.com Vehicle: MCI J-4500 Americas best-selling motor coach Features 56 reclining seats, DVD player, restroom and climate control Chartered through Premier Charters of Golden, Colorado Tickets sold this season: 149 Trips this season: 4 Cars taken off the road this season (in terms of carbon emissions): 120 Customers who stated they are likely to recommend us to a friend: 87.5%

Passengers arriving at Breckenridge (1/7/12)

Why University Ski Bus?

Inclusivity: Denver is regarded as the hub of Ski Country USA. Students come here expecting to partake in many activities that the Rocky Mountains offer. Unfortunately, it is difficult for many students to find rides from campus to the slopes. Currently, as a student at the University of Denver you must know a skier who owns a suitable car or you are out of luck in terms of getting to the mountains. University Ski Bus allows anyone and everyone who wants to get to the mountains the opportunity to do so. By filling this void, all students have the means to participate in an activity that is fun, healthy and part of the Colorado lifestyle. Students also have the opportunity to meet like-minded people on our trips. Convenience: Our luxury bus picks up students directly in front of Johnson-Macfarlane and Centennial Halls. No matter where students live on campus, one of our pickup locations is only a short walk away. We provide every customer with a complementary continental breakfast, which means theres one less thing to worry about as students rush to catch the bus in the morning. Our bus drops students off directly in front of the gondola and picks them up at the same location after the lifts close. Comfort: Lets face it; the worst part of a day of skiing is getting there and back. We make the experience a lot more enjoyable by offering reclining seats, foot rests, climate control, an onboard restroom and DVD player. The majority of our passengers sleep on the way to the mountain. On the way home, passengers vote on which movie they would like to watch. Safety: On average, ski resorts are a two-hour drive from campus on roads that can be snowy and treacherous, especially to students who come from out of state and are unfamiliar with winter driving conditions. University Ski Bus minimizes safety risks by using charter bus companies who employ Colorado natives who are familiar with winter driving and chain installation. Drivers are background checked, drug tested and constantly trained and observed. Buses are inspected and maintained on a regular basis. Environmentally Friendly: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, motor coach travel is amongst the greenest options out there. It is estimated that every University Ski Bus trip takes the carbon equivalent of 30 vehicles off the road. Our company 3

has also been recognized by the I-70 Coalition for helping to relieve the congestion problem on Colorados freeways. More green facts: Motor coaches provide 206 passenger miles per gallon compared to only 27 passenger miles per gallon in a standard vehicle Just 10 passengers on a motor coach is more efficient than a single person driving a Toyota Prius
(Data from getmotorcoachified.com and EPA)

Value: Being a student-oriented business, we know that we need to keep ticket prices as low as possible while offering customers unsurpassed value. For a flat rate of $24 we offer customers roundtrip luxury transportation, complementary breakfast, afternoon refreshments and entertainment on the bus. Occasionally, we offer customers free extras such as Red Bull energy drinks through our partnerships with other companies. Our customers appreciate not having to pay for breakfast, gasoline, resort parking, as well as wear and tear on their car.

Compare us to other ski bus services: Company RT Fare Breakfast Included Campus Pickup

University Ski Bus

Front Range Ski Bus Denver Ski Bus CME

$24
$39 $38 $58

YES
NO NO NO

YES
NO NO NO

Data accurate as of February 26, 2012 Information compiled from company websites

Invest in our School

There are a variety of reasons that a partnership between the University of Denver and University Ski Bus will benefit the university and its student population. Image: CU Boulder is nationally recognized for their ski bus program that transports students from campus to local ski resorts each Saturday throughout ski season. The service receives high marks for its promotion of extracurricular activities and eco-friendliness. By partnering with University Ski Bus, the University of Denver will quickly gain a similar positive image as an eco-friendly and extracurricularrich school. Ease of implementation: University Ski Bus has rapidly proven itself as a quality service and the entire infrastructure to bring an affordable ski bus to University Ski Bus is already in place. Liability: University Ski Bus is a limited liability corporation (LLC) and is a separate entity from the University of Denver. Precautions are in place to protect the University of Denver and University Ski Bus from liability arising from any unlikely incident. Customers agree to a comprehensive liability waiver before boarding the bus. Our transportation partner, Premier Charters, carries liability insurance that meets or exceeds every municipal, state and federal standard. Student Owned: There are substantial benefits to supporting businesses owned by University of Denver students. By supporting a student owned business, the university will show prospective students and the general public that students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world. Because a University of Denver student owns the company, there is a vested interest in providing a topnotch service that students will love for years to come.

Proposal
Because we are serious about promoting student activities and a drive towards eco-friendliness, University Ski Bus needs to be a no-brainer as students plan their weekend ski trips. The University of Denver can offer its students $10 ski bus tickets at surprisingly minimal cost. For years, USG has funded discounted arts, concert and sporting event tickets at subsidized prices. The same thing can be done with University Ski Bus tickets. How it will work: USG will fund the purchase of 50 ski bus tickets per week for four Saturday trips in January and three Saturday trips in February 2013. The upfront cost of the tickets will be $8,400 total for all seven trips. Ski bus tickets will be sold to students for $10 each at a convenient location on campus such as the Driscoll information desk. Through USGs extensive social media, email and on-campus presence, it is highly likely that the discounted tickets will sell out each week. At $10 each, students will quickly realize that riding University Ski Bus is cheaper and more desirable than driving themselves to the mountains. When all the tickets are sold, USG will recoup $3500. Assuming all the tickets are sold, USGs overall annual investment will be approximately $4,900. Logistics: When students purchase a ticket at a venue like the Driscoll information desk, they will sign a liability waiver that will be left at the desk for pickup each week by a University Ski Bus representative. Students will receive a unique ticket stub that they will present to University Ski Bus as they board the bus on Saturday morning. In the event that a student loses their ticket, we will have a list of names from the waiver forms that we can match against their Photo ID as they board the bus. Next steps: USG should make it a priority to bring an affordable ski bus service to DU by the start of the 2012-13 ski season. It is highly desirable to have an agreement in place no later than the end of spring quarter. University Ski Bus founder George Cooper is readily available to discuss details regarding the financial, legal and logistical aspects of the proposed partnership between the University of Denver and University Ski Bus.

Conclusion
A partnership between the University of Denver and University Ski Bus will have a positive impact on the university and its students. Such a partnership is in line with many existing USG goals such as a movement towards environmental stewardship and the expansion of student activities. The proposed partnership will greatly enrich the University of Denvers image. As people learn about the subsidized ski bus service, word will spread throughout the state and nation as we have already seen happen with CU Boulders ski bus program. Additionally, such a partnership will add yet another incentive for prospective students to choose the University of Denver.

Contact
George Cooper, founder and president of University Ski Bus, is eager to answer any questions you may have about the proposed partnership. Email: George@UniversitySkiBus.com Phone: (650) 793-5044 Mail: George Cooper 2222 South High Street #387c Denver, CO 80210 Be sure to visit our website, www.UniversitySkiBus.com for extensive information about our service. You may find the FAQ section very helpful in familiarizing yourself with the service. Visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/UniversitySkiBus

You may access an electronic version of this document online UniversitySkiBus.com/USGProposal

Together, we can improve DU. Thank you for your time and consideration.