After rushing to catch up to your bus at the Holmes Student Center, you finally reach the door, and to your surprise, the driver walks off and disappears. After what seems like an eternity, the driver returns with Big Mac in hand and the bus finally leaves.

This is not an uncommon occurrence, but it has more to do with policy than love of the golden arches, said Charles Battista, general manager of the Huskie bus line.

“The law says they are entitled to a break. Some drivers work six to eight to ten hours a day,” he said. “There is a built-in layover time for every route at the student center. The bus is supposed to get in and stop and wait. It is like a depot or main terminal. It’s not just another stop.”

Still, some students are annoyed.

“I think it’s too time consuming & a real waste of time,” junior art major Mike Fournier said.

Drivers defend their breaks.

“Either we get a break or we fall asleep at the wheel and there is an accident,” said Monica Lewis, bus driver and senior fine arts major. “The training that they put us through stated that we should take our breaks as we need them.

“We happen to take our breaks at the student center. We get off the bus for air and to get blood circulation in our legs,” Lewis added.

Some students place fault on the schedule and themselves.

“I feel it’s important that they take breaks, but at the same time, I think they could schedule it to make it more convenient for students,” said Beth Christman, a freshman special education major. “At times I get annoyed with the breaks, when I am in a hurry to get to class, but sometimes it’s more my fault for not getting on the bus sooner when I know it is going to be busy.”

Lewis has one more disclaimer. “I don’t even like McDonald’s,” she said.