What Are Your Transportation Needs?
As a college student, you will frequently travel from one place to another. The first thing to do is determine what your specific needs are. How far do you have to travel each day? How many things do you need to bring with you when you travel? Do you need to transport perishable goods? What is the weather typically like? If you are considering bringing a car to college, read my article Should You Bring a Car to College for some advice and considerations. If you live on campus and have a student meal plan, you may only need to leave campus a few times per semester. If you live off campus or your campus is particularly large, you may need to commute almost daily. Although planning transportation should not be your main focus as a college student, it is important to ensure you know how you will get where you need to go. You won't want to miss a planned workout because you didn't realize that the gym is a forty-five-minute walk from your last class, and you missed the bus you didn't know about!
Determining Your Needs
Start by looking at your weekly schedule. Your classes and academic events should each have a building name (and room number) listed. Most colleges offer campus maps that show the library's locations, dining hall(s), classroom buildings, sports and recreation facilities, and even dorm buildings. Look at the map for your college and plan out the routes you will take from place to place. Remember to plan transportation to the dining hall for meals! Also, include any recreational facilities (gyms, training centers, volleyball courts, etc.) that you plan to use. Once you have determined where you need to be each day and when you need to be there, you can consider different transportation options.
Transportation Options
Walking
Walking is the most efficient mode of transportation if you live on or near campus. Walking has several advantages:
- It's free.
- It gets you exactly where you need to go.
- It's good exercise.
- It's great for the environment.
If you primarily plan to walk, be prepared for inclement weather. Ensure that you have warm clothes for cold days and waterproof clothes when walking in wet weather. Be sure to wear some reflective clothing when walking at night, particularly if you are walking near roads or bicycle paths. If you have friends and/or classmates going to the same destination as you, ask if they want to walk together. Walking with a group is much more fun than walking alone! After walking to a few destinations, you will have a better idea of your walking speed and can more easily estimate how long it will take you to walk a certain distance. Public Transportation Most cities and some large towns feature public transportation systems, and many of these municipal systems offer reduced-fare options for college students.
Municipal bus and/or train systems are a great option, particularly if you live or need to travel off campus. Your city or town's public transportation should be available through your college or your city website. Public transportation is typically low-cost and is a great alternative to walking if you need to travel longer distances. However, remember that public transportation generally operates on specific schedules, and you must ensure that you plan your trip around these schedules. Also, remember that you may need to walk to or from a bus/train stop to your final destination.
Uber, Lyft, Taxis, and Rideshare Options
Ride-on-demand and commercial rideshare options are usually more flexible than public transportation. These services and apps are very useful for last-minute trips or emergencies, for example, if the bus is running behind schedule and you need to get to an interview several miles away. However, they tend to be something other than budget-friendly options for most college students. Some small towns may not offer such options or may only offer them during limited hours. Personal rideshares with other students who own cars can be a great transportation option in some situations. If you have a friend who lives nearby and attends the same class or event as you do, consider setting up a regular rideshare; you could ride to class with them and split the cost of gas.
Motorcycles and Mopeds
Motorcycles and mopeds are attractive to college students for many reasons. They are relatively inexpensive, they are generally cheap to insure and register, they are easy to park, they can be ridden down narrow streets or alleys, and they can be a lot of fun to ride. However, motorcycles and mopeds do have significant drawbacks. First of all, they are quite dangerous. Motorcycles and mopeds do not have a protective structure, which means that the rider is exposed in the event of a crash.
According to 2020 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash. Motorcycles and mopeds are also impractical for carrying cargo or additional people while traveling. It is hard to travel on a motorcycle or moped during inclement weather, and it may be difficult or impossible to travel long distances or on highways. If you do decide that a motorcycle or moped may be the right choice for you, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers useful information to those who are interested in traveling on two wheels.
Final Thoughts
Although you should plan your transportation, you will likely find that your needs change over time. Also, trial and error may be valuable for determining the best transportation option in a given scenario. Go ahead and try a transportation method and reevaluate if necessary. Almost all college campuses and most college towns are designed with ease of transportation in mind, so you should be able to find a suitable solution for your particular needs. Don't be afraid to ask your college about options. College advisors usually know the campus well and can help you to plan a reasonable schedule and show you the best walking or transit routes between buildings. Don't stress about transportation; remember that a little bit of planning goes a long way and will help ensure your success as you navigate your transportation needs in college.
