The Kwantlen Students Association put a new spin on students racing to class by holding a contest to show that public transit is slower than cycling and jogging.

The association's Beat the Bus contest midday Wednesday started at the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Surrey campus (12666 72nd Ave.) and concluded at the Langley campus at Glover Road and 208th Street.

"We'd like TransLink to step up and provide better service South of the Fraser," said Nathan Griffiths, the student association marketing coordinator.

Cyclist John O'Brian rode the route in 52 minutes.

David Palermo, a Thai massage therapist and runner who wanted to help draw attention to the student transit situation, took one hour and six minutes to run the 19.2 kilometres.

Clocking in at the slowest time was Ashley Fehr, a fourth-year political science student who is well acquainted with trying to get to and from school on transit. She must take transit two to three times each day. Her bus trip took one hour and 28 minutes.

For Wednesday's contest, held to highlight the need for better transit for Langley and Surrey, Fehr missed a connection. She said that happens often.

Students need to take three buses to get between the Surrey and Langley campuses, "so the probability of missing one of them is high," Griffiths said.

Because of the number of student spots at each campus and the availability of courses, students must travel between the different campuses to get what they need. Griffiths, a Langley resident had to go to the Richmond campus when he was a student and was underwhelmed by the bus service.

The students association freely admits it held the contest to embarass TransLink.

"It was clever and well executed," said Ken Hardie, spokesperson for TransLink. "Their point is made."

Griffiths said the group would like to see a shuttle bus between the Langley, Cloverdale and Surrey campuses.

Hardie admits that many of the connections are "convoluted" and that every community is calling for better service but TransLink can't afford it.

He said the transportation system is making adjustments as it can to provide better service, that includes issues such as the bus connections so students don't miss their transfers.

The provincial government has previously announced it would extend the UPass program to all post-secondary schools in B.C. Previously it was only available to a handful of schools in or near Vancouver.

The university will hold a vote in October about whether to adopt the UPass, and Griffiths said only about 20 per cent of students use transit but more would if there was better service.

He said students don't see value in transit because the options are so limited and noted that it costs $30 no matter the quality of transit service the students face.

That's why the group is trying to make the pass more appealing. It's been looking for partners to create a value added pass that would cover transit as well as let students get discounts on other greener or healthier products or services, such as Gold's Gym and Ladybug Organics.

All Kwantlen students are eligible to vote and the results must be at least 50 per cent plus one to pass.

Hardie said the association is smart for doing that kind of cross-promotion, and it's something TransLink is looking at doing more of with its passes. By 2013 it is introducing smart cards which could also be used for various promotions.