No Ride, No Voice

The text provides excerpts from a podcast discussion titled "No Ride, No Voice: How Mobility Shapes Student Belonging," featuring a host, an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) director, and an EOP student, to discuss transportation challenges at SUNY Brockport. The participants establish that mobility is a major barrier for low-income students who often lack access to personal vehicles, which severely limits their ability to attend off-campus internships, jobs, and social events, leading to feelings of isolation and limited professional growth. The discussion frames transportation as a social justice and literacy issue, arguing that restricted mobility shrinks students' capacity to experience the world and participate in vital conversations. While the campus offers several transportation efforts, the sources note that these programs often have gaps, limited schedules, and complex booking requirements that still restrict student access. To address these problems, the speakers propose solutions including bringing more opportunities and cultural events onto campus, utilizing digital social platforms, and implementing structural improvements like subsidized ride-shares and expanded shuttle hours.