For many high school students, the car is the ultimate sign of freedom. To be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want is a big deal when you turn 16. There’s no denying how fun it can be to be a teenager with a car in high school, but things get complicated when going to college.
Although having a car on campus can be convenient, it isn’t necessary. It may even be more of a hassle than it’s worth! When you have a car you have to pay for gas, you have to pay for repairs, and chances are, you’ll have to pay quite a bit of money to park it somewhere on campus.
You don’t have to have a car to get around campus quickly and conveniently! Here are a few other options that can be just as convenient as driving.
Motorcycle or Moped
If speed is important, you may want to consider a motorcycle. Like a car, it provides you with the ability to get up and go whenever it is convenient for you, but without the hassle of figuring out where to park it. Motorcycles can be cheaper to operate because they need less gas. They are also more environmentally friendly than other vehicles.
If a motorcycle is a bit too expensive, consider a moped instead! Just make sure you’re aware of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents so you can avoid them.
Bicycle
Although not as fast as a car or a motorcycle, a bicycle is still a really good way to travel on a college campus. Not only are bikes convenient, but there are many other benefits of riding a bicycle on campus. You never have to worry about parking, you never have to pay for gas, and riding a bike to and from class every day is a great way to get exercise.
If riding a bicycle isn’t really for you, there are many other types of wheeled vehicles you can use to get around campus quickly and conveniently. A few other ideas include:
- Rollerblades
- Skateboard
- Scooter
- Electronic hoverboard
- Wheelie shoes
Rideshare or Carpool
If you really do need a car to get where you need to go on campus, you can use one without owning one. Not only are Uber and Lyft options, but there are many other ridesharing apps out there competing for your business. If you need to get somewhere quickly or safely, call a ride.
Rideshare apps make it easy to pay for a ride, but you aren’t stuck calling for a ride every time you need to go somewhere if you know someone with a car!
Consider starting a carpool with friends on campus who have their own vehicles. Everyone can pitch in for gas and carpool to the other side of campus together. If your college campus is located in a large city, you may also be able to pick up and drop off rental vehicles from a convenient kiosk.
Bus
Ridesharing or carpooling can be great, but they do require you to rely on another person. They can get expensive too if you use ridesharing apps like Uber or Lyft. If you want a little bit more autonomy, but still need some speed, take the bus.
Chances are there’s a city bus you can ride, but most college campuses also have a bus that operates on-campus only. Because these buses cater to college students, they often run longer than city buses, making them a great option if you need to get across campus at night.
Walk
No list of convenient ways to get around campus is complete without walking as an option! Although it’s the slowest way to get around, it is also the easiest. It doesn’t require you to spend a bunch of money, you can leave anytime you want, and you aren’t dependent on anyone but yourself to get where you need to go.
Another great thing about walking is the fact that you can mark things off your to-do list as you walk. Pick up the pace to burn a few extra calories, call and check in with your parents back home, or answer a few emails.
Don’t think you have to own and maintain a vehicle in order to get around on your college campus quickly and conveniently. From ridesharing to biking, walking, and more, there are many ways you can get from point A to point B.
