So far, a fair number of students have beentaking advantage of the new route and times.

Tempesta said anywhere from 4 to 11 studentsuse the morning shuttle daily, and he expects thatnumber to increase once the winter sports seasonbegins and the weather gets bad.

Besides curbing the need for cab rides, theCollege has also changed taxi services. Thecompany who responds to phone calls to 495-TAXI isnow Checker Cab of Cambridge instead of AmbassadorBrattle Cab.

Bean said students, as well as faculty andstaff, complained that Ambassador did not pickthem up in a timely manner and refused to acceptvouchers as payment.

But Tony J. Guariglia, sales manager forAmbassador Brattle Cab said "Students said theyhad trouble getting a cab for shortdistances...you guys are calling the shots...it'sthe dorms that have problems."

"There are 252 cabs in Cambridge, all splitamong radio services. When everyone wants one,everyone has trouble with service," Guarigliasaid.

Guariglia also cited long airport runs to Loganas limiting the availability of cabs in Cambridge.

"For the most part, you get priority withvouchers, but not during peak hours," Guarigliasaid.

"During business hours, drivers can takevouchers to our office and convert them to cash,"he continued. "But in the middle of the night,when no one is the wiser, drivers feel better withcash."

Carol Gallo, sales and marketing manager forChecker Cab of Cambridge, said her company had notexperienced difficulties with the voucher system.

"We haven't had a problem with the vouchers,"she said