The bar landscape has a new addition on the weekends in the form of a giant blue bus.

The “Blue Goose” buses, a company created by a junior psychology major, Jon Lockin, have established a new way for students to obtain safe rides home from the bars, allowing them to avoid the dangers of DUI.

According to Lockin, the concept of the Blue Goose evolved from a prior safe ride service that he had operated out of his truck to a total of three blue buses, two of which run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Lockin said he “doesn’t presume to be some mastermind of genius,” rather he asked students want they wanted in a designated ride service. According to Lockin, it’s all in the details.

With everything from the music that is played on the bus to the places the bus goes on its route, students have been the major contributors.

“I have a little piece of paper in the bus that asks them what kind of music they want to hear [on the bus], and then I go get the commercial rights to it and I buy it for them,” said Lockin.

“I guess you could say it wasn’t so much my idea, but I had the first idea [when it started out of his truck], and students have allowed that idea to grow and come to fruition,” he said.

With a little help from his dad, Lockin was able to purchase the first bus from a military auction.

“We got it at a really great price, and it was in great condition. It was already blue and it could hold more than most buses could at that size,” said Lockin.

“It was just really perfect,” he said.

According to Lockin, since the bus used to be used in the Air Force, it already had wider aisles, more seating and a great engine.

“It was old, and it looked cool. It was really a Godsend and it was only after that I had the first bus running that I was able to get a loan and get the second bus,” said Lockin.

Lockin hires drivers that drive the university buses.

“I figured if they’re good enough for the university they’re good enough for [Blue Goose],” said Lockin.

Lockin said that the students are his priority in the operation, and he found that if he set the right price, students would quickly start utilizing the service.

“I’ve never really seen a point with charging per mile because Statesboro’s so small,” said Lockin. “As long as it’s anywhere in Statesboro, it’s not going anywhere crazy.

“I quickly found that charging a flat rate of $3 that made [the Blue Goose] very popular,” said Lockin.

Lockin admitted that the Blue Goose service is worth more than the $3 fee he charges, but he knows that it is a price point that works for the students and still brings in revenue.

“That’s part of what makes it work. It is a no-brainer. I’d be a fool not to [charge that],” said Lockin.

According to Lockin, the next step was to put all the bells and whistles in the buses, like sound systems, lights, and, soon to come, TVs.

“[It’s about] mak[ing] the ride faster and mak[ing] it more fun. You get home safe, if not safer, than in a cab and it’s still fun.”

Students seem to agree with his concept, preferring to pay the flat rate of $3 per person than fork out the cash for a cab.

“I’ve only ridden it once, but it was a great time. It was like the party didn’t end once you got into the bus,” said senior marketing major Jamie Cureton.

The Blue Goose has definitely made an impact on the cab companies in the area, according to Cynthia Francois, a driver for DW Yellow Cab in Statesboro.

“The busy nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and those are the nights that they’re out there also,” said Francois.

According to Francois, the cab prices are still the same, but the Blue Goose is taking a good deal of business.

“As long as they’re out there, it will continue to hurt the business because most of the business that we have comes from the college students,” said Francois.

For many students, the Blue Goose is a cost-effective, fun way to avoid DUIs and drunk drivers.

“It think it’s great that we have a ride to help prevent a lot of drunk driving,” said senior marketing and logistics major Jenny Pippin. “It’s really a great option to have when you can’t find a ride and you don’t want to take a cab.”

According to Lockin, there are plans to add a shuttle service to the Blue Goose, in addition to the recently added “Goosepass.”

“We’ll have a printer and computer to print boarding passes, and food and drink are allowed, of course,” said Lockin.

This option will be “much cheaper than a cab,” according to Lockin and will begin next semester. In addition to the shuttle service itself, students will be able to purchase a ticket on the Blue Goose web site  through an e-ticketing system.

The “Goosepass” is a small keychain that Lockin developed that is directly connected to your credit card or debit card.

The keychain is free, and all students have to do is register their card with the Blue Goose. After that, there is no need for students to bring cash to ride the Blue Goose.

“[This way] for the future all you need is your ID, the money you want to spend at the bar and your car keys,” said Lockin.

While many students are wondering what the Blue Goose plans are for expansion in the future, Lockin is keeping his options open.

“We’re looking at expanding, but we haven’t specifically picked a location yet. We want to learn from the successes of Statesboro,” said Lockin.

According to Lockin, Statesboro’s consolidated bar district and quiet routes make it a successful operation, and a good deal of research will be needed before he considers expanding elsewhere, which, according to Lockin, is wherever they “can make the most difference possible” for the students.