University of Iowa students will now have the option to take the Cambus service later at night during finals week — with the UI Student Government and the Cambus office collaborating to add the late-night service for student safety.

Cambus will extend its bus times to run from 12:45 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. during the week of May 12-16.

Cambus officials worked with UISG to create the new service, which will run the Interdorm route — stopping at every dorm, including Parklawn.

Drew Lakin, the UISG Student Life Committee chairman, said the service will improve safety and increase use of the IMU and library as study spaces.

“We wanted to encourage students to study on campus,” senior Lakin said.

This is the first year the Cambus is extending its hours for the finals week Interdorm route. It will cost $800 for the week. UISG paid for half.

Cambus Director Brian McClatchey said UISG proposed the service last semester, but there was not enough time.

He said he hopes it will be an option during finals weeks in the future.

“Obviously, it isn’t reasonable for us to run all night long but at least this gives students a safer ride home late at night,” McClatchey said.

Safety is a main concern among UI and Iowa City officials.

Chuck Green, the assistant vice president for the UI police, said there is not an increase in the number of safety incidents during finals week, but he believes the service will be beneficial.

“Once the IMU starts running 24/7 during finals week, officers are put on extra patrol so students know there is someone else in the building,” Green said. “They may feel weary about the quietness and isolation.”

Nite Ride, the service offered for women, will also extend its hours during finals week. The buses will be available from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

UI junior Caroline Kopp and senior Gretchen Nichols believe that the Cambus extending its hours will be more beneficial than using Nite Ride, because it forces students to go to certain stops that may be inconvenient.

Nichols and Kopp both said they plan to use the service.

“I would study until midnight [during last semester’s finals week],” Kopp said. “I would usually just walk because the buses would come so infrequently it was just faster to walk. I think [the new Cambus service] is good to have, because it is so late at night, and people are already stressed out enough they don’t pay attention when they’re walking.”