“No worries. If you feel unsafe, you can use us anytime. That’s why we are here for.”
It was late at night, a time when I usually wouldn’t go out alone. Safety has been my top priority since I moved to Baltimore — my first time living abroad and outside of Seoul, South Korea.
On my very first day in Baltimore, the first thing I learned was how to use the shuttle bus. A junior from my university, then in Johns Hopkins’ M.P.H. program, who had already been living here, gave the lesson. I was fortunate to have a friend who knew the campus must-knows. He showed me the essentials of campus life, starting with the shuttle system. He helped me install the TransLoc app, log in with myJH ID and navigate the map of shuttle routes connecting the Homewood, Peabody and East Baltimore campuses. Seeing a clear map of the city made this unfamiliar place feel a little closer, a little less daunting.
For the first month, I stuck to the shuttle and rushed to get home before sunset. It was fear of the unknown that drove me. While I was safe, my world felt smaller. Back in Seoul, I was used to spontaneous late-night walks by the Han River with family or a mad dash for the last subway home. Those moments had their own kind of charm. But in Baltimore, I hadn’t yet found my comfort zone for such adventures.
Then came Blue Jay. My friend had mentioned it during the TransLoc introduction, but it hadn’t resonated until I saw it in action. I’d noticed the blue vans with Jay logos circling the campus and thought, “Oh, so that’s Blue Jay," without giving it further thought. I only used the “route” tab, the first screen when accessing TransLoc, to check the real-time location and arrival times of the regular shuttle. Then, one evening, after dinner with friends near the campus, they introduced me to the “OnDemand” feature — a new world of possibility.
The “OnDemand” tab revealed services like Homewood’s Night Ride and East Baltimore’s To & From Campus within designated service areas. When “Booking Unavailable” switched to “Booking Available,” I could select pickup and drop-off points, among the points around the campus and a specific address within the designated zone. Then, there it is — I had a ride.
The wait time for pickup varied, and sometimes the ride would meander through Baltimore’s neighborhoods before reaching my destination, picking up and dropping off other passengers first. But these unexpected tours became moments of discovery, showing me neighborhoods I wouldn’t have explored alone — places where other members of the Johns Hopkins community lived. Maybe I had prioritized finding the shortest and fastest route to any destination. These unexpected mini adventures taught me to embrace the journey itself, offering brief respites from hectic days and chances to better understand my new city.
The best gift of Blue Jay, however, wasn’t the safety or convenience — it was people. After long days in the lab, when I boarded the shuttle alone and tired, a simple, “How was your day?” from a kind driver would spark gentle exchanges about music, food, work and life. These brief connections helped release the day’s frustrations, turning exhaustion into refreshed energy by the time I reached home.
One night, I hesitated before requesting a Blue Jay ride. The distance seemed walkable, but I wasn’t familiar with the area. When the driver arrived, I, the only passenger, awkwardly admitted, “I feel a bit sorry that the distance seems walkable. But I’ve never walked this way at night before. So I figured I’d call Blue Jay. Is it OK for you?"
Her response — those words that opened this story — moved me: “No worries. If you feel unsafe, you can use us anytime. That’s why we are here for.”
That simple statement, spoken with such kindness and conviction, made me realize the deep sense of responsibility and dedication she had for her work. She wasn’t just doing a job — she was fulfilling a mission to keep our community safe. Her words echoed countless other moments of the drivers’ kindness — waiting for passengers to enter their home on a quiet street and calming anxious riders rushing to catch the shuttle. The Blue Jay shuttle isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’sabout creating small spaces of comfort, reassurance and connection in a city that could often feel overwhelming and unfamiliar.
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