WVU, Goodwill City use shuttle to get everyone to Mountaineer football games

Clad in bright orange shirts, Sara and Clif Bishop of Morgantown’s Goodwill City Ambassadors (GCA) worked diligently to get football fans to WVU’s game against Kansas State Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The rides were offered through a new courtesy shuttle service, used to provide transport for elderly or injured fans. The shuttle was provided by WVU Athletics and driven by volunteers with Morgantown’s Goodwill City Ambassador program.
The organization was created 2011, in an effort to help the community combat image problems following some bad behavior at previous games.
“What they did was they decided let’s have what we would call Goodwill City Ambassadors, so those first two years we dressed in the (opposing) teams’ colors … and we were there to greet them,” Sara Bishop said.
The group meets with visiting fans, welcoming them to the area.
Through the efforts of Sara Bishop, they have established relationships with the entire Big 12
conference.
Sara Bishop said the group also wanted to tackle another problem: People struggling to get to the stadium, thanks to Morgantown’s hilly terrain.
“A student could be on crutches, a person who is 90-some years old and it’s hot. Not today but other days, and they just can’t walk it. So we said we need carts,” Sara said.
With help of WVU Athletics, the pieces fell into place and two golf carts were purchased for GCA.
“We start two hours before the game and then the beginning of the fourth quarter we take people leaving and run for an hour after,” said Cliff Bishop.
This schedule helps those using the shuttle service catch a bus or PRT, he said. Shuttle stops have signs to show where pick up and drop off places are located.
“We want people to get in the habit of you go here and we will help you navigate around the stadium,” Sara Bishop said. She said the routes and drop offs will hopefully expand as the program catches on. The Bishops also underwent ADA training, and the carts are handicap accessible.
Each cart seats six people, though they are not equipped to haul wheelchairs. The back seats fold down, in case someone has a cast or crutches.
“They’re allowed one companion, so somebody on crutches they’re allowed to bring a friend with them,” Cliff Bishop said.
Saturday, it was hard for the couple to gauge what to expect from the fans. Factors such as weather, kickoff time and the crowd in general could change the number of people needing a lift.
Stops included in the shuttle service are the Hospital Roundabout, the Don Nehlen Drive Entrance, and every gate of Milan Puskar Stadium (with the exception of East Gate being post game only).
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