Does demand for rides on the Ram Van exceed the supply? I am thinking in particular about students from Rose Hill who wish to travel to and from Manhattan on Friday and Saturday nights. Can students count on being able to get a ride back to Rose Hill after 11:00 pm on a Friday or Saturday night?
In general yes. Though its not free for those using it as taxi service and the driver reserves the right to refuse service to those who are obnoxious or drunk. The Metro North runs from midtown at Grand Central until 100am. Its clean, safe, reliable. The subway runs all night, but is riskier late at night, and I never advise walking on Fordham Road late night, particularly after out partying. If they are at Lincoln Center for a performance, e.g., or Upper East or West Side for dinner…then it is best to put their names on the list with the driver to ensure there is room. The RamVan is driven by students doing workstudy and it also helps to know the drivers.
Most students at Fordham Rose Hill go into town during the day and use Metro North. They use the subway sometimes. And catch a ride on the RamVan if they are at Lincoln Center or Central Park.
My kid also took classes at LC as a Junior and Senior and that got her a FREE ride on the RamVan. She also had an internship on the Upper West Side and got a FREE RamVan ride.
RamVan is reliable and safe, though its not always the fastest method. Hope that helps.
Thanks. I am an experienced subway rider and am also familiar with riding Metro North, but the Ram Van would be the safer and more convenient option for students who are going to see a performance at Lincoln Center or a movie on the UWS just hanging out with friends who attend Fordham LC. My daughter loves to go to see shows on Broadway. Depending on exactly which theater, it could be just as easy to use Metro North to and from Grand Central as it would be to take the Ram Van, but the Ram Van is marginally less expensive than Metro North (even with the new City Ticket option on weekends) and also marginally safer.
I also don’t recommend going on the subway because it takes forever to come after 11pm. Taking the ram van is a lot faster late at night, believe it or not.