The Issue of Nightlife Transit in Burlington

Downtown Burlington at night can get quite busy with college students. Image source here

Nightlife downtown is a significant cultural and economic facet of the identity of Burlington, Vermont. In a city inhabited by many college students, young people and folks who enjoy having a drink in a social setting, Burlington Vermont offers a plethora of bars and nightclubs for customers to enjoy. The majority of bars and nightclubs stay open until 2:00 am, which presents concerns for safe, sustainable transportation in the area. With the recent increase in gun violence in Burlington, students and residents are increasingly concerned with navigating the streets of Burlington in a safe manner. I had the opportunity to work at one of these bars over the summer: Three Needs. As a member of the security team my duties were to ensure patrons were behaving reasonably, clean up broken glass, and remove empty glasses from tables and countertops. Through my own experience working in the Burlington bar scene, results from student surveys, testimonials from fellow students and bar employees and additional research it is clear there is a problem of safety in Burlington that is contributing to a growing sentiment of fear and uncertainty surrounding transportation downtown.

According to the Burlington Police Department's September 8th, 2022, report “Gunfire in Burlington Vermont” of the 64 gunfire incidents since 2012, 49 of these incidents have occurred between 2020 and 2022. Although the number of gunfire incidents as a percentage of all incidents is still low at 0.079% the increase in the past two years has been notable to the Burlington community. The BPD further broke down these incidents into hourly timeframes. Of the 64 gunfire incidents since 2012, 7 incidents occurred between 1:01 am to 2:00 am. 10 incidents occurred between 2:01 am and 3:00 am, and 8 incidents occurred between 3:01 am and 4:00 am. With 39.06% of incidents occurring between 1:01 am to 4:00 am the concern for safety during this timeframe is palpable. Customers leaving a nightclub or bar and those working at these locations must be on high alert for potentially problematic situations.

During the summer of 2022, I was lucky enough to work at one of Burlington's most popular bars, Three Needs. As a member of the security staff, the most important aspect of the job was ensuring the safety of patrons and bar staff. The Three Needs safety protocol goes above and beyond by providing intoxicated individuals with a ride home through a cab service. On a typical night working at Three Needs, my shift would end between 2:45 am and 3:30 am. After a long shift, “Get home safe!” was often the parting words from coworkers. I certainly felt a sense of uneasiness when traveling home at this hour. Multiple coworkers claimed they have not seen Burlington this unsafe in decades.

I conducted an anonymous online survey of UVM students that enjoyed taking part in the Burlington nightlife in some capacity. From a sample of 18 respondents, 15 students noted safety as their primary concern on a night out. 11 of the respondents stated walking as their only means of transportation downtown and four respondents noted they relied on rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft or rides from a friend as their primary means of transportation from downtown. 2 respondents noted they typically left the bars before midnight, 5 students typically left before 1:00 am and 11 respondents often left around 2:00 am. Most respondents listed “traveling in groups” as their primary safety precaution when going out. For those living far from downtown Burlington, walking is not always an option, especially in the colder months. 

I had the opportunity to briefly sit down with two UVM students to discuss their views on late night transportation around downtown Burlington. First was John Truslow, a junior at UVM living in the Old North End. John depicted his primary concern with walking around Burlington late at night. “Coming back from a night out or simply coming home from a trip to Mr. Mikes, there are plenty of interactions taking place I would like to avoid,” he said. John then noted the safety precautions he takes for safe transportation, “I always try to walk in a group and avoid situations that seem less than ideal. Some of my friends and I also share our locations with one another just in case something goes wrong.” 

Next, I talked to another UVM student who wished to remain anonymous. They said, “Since I live close to the Winooski border, the walk home from the bars can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. My roommates and I have had multiple occasions where we could not find available Ubers or a ride from a friend. We then either had to try to crash at a friend's house or make the long walk home.” They later claimed that “The walk up the hill at these hours feels dangerous especially after a lot of drinking. Some individuals are looking for trouble, and the walk home during the winter months feels even more sketchy. ” I found this problem to be a prevalent issue as well. After suffering an ACL tear in late July, I was immobile for a few months. After surgery, I returned to Burlington on crutches and was forced to use Uber and Lyft at times when I could not drive or get a ride from a friend. After midnight, the availability of drivers drops precipitously as the early morning hours progress. Additionally, the cost of a ride increases substantially the later it is requested. Anyone who frequently travels around Burlington during late night hours understands the possibility of negative or even dangerous interactions. Keeping a calm demeanor and staying alert are crucial for safe navigation on foot. 

To mitigate this issue of safe sustainable transportation in downtown Burlington, students should be extra attentive to how they plan out the night. Those walking should ensure they never travel alone, walking with at least one friend is necessary but moving with a group is preferable. Utilizing a designated driver is a good measure to take for those who live far distances from the bars and might not be able to get an Uber or Lyft. UVM specifically utilizes a SafeWalk feature through the LiveSafe app that “provides a 24/7 virtual escort tool for walking, biking, or riding.” Students should not feel hesitant to use this feature if the situation requires some assistance. Staying aware and alert and being around peers you trust is the best mechanism to ensure safe and sustainable transportation in downtown Burlington.