I have survived three and a half years of college without a car. Yes, there were times when I felt bad about having to ask around for a ride to the grocery store or felt like I was pulling teeth to find a ride to my church. But through all of these encounters, for better or worse, I made it. And you will too.
Stranded on campus? Here are three transportation options to get you where you need to go.
TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES
1. FIND A FRIEND WITH A CAR.
The easiest way to get a ride is to ask around: your roommate, your resident assistant or even the person you ran into that one time in the community bathroom. You may be surprised to find that most people around campus are glad to help you out if they have time in their schedule.
Oftentimes, if you only need to get a few groceries down the road, chances are they are going to have to go anyway and are excited someone offered to come along for the ride. It’s also a great way to make new friends and have an adventure.
2. CHECK OUT THE LOCAL BUS SCHEDULE.
Look online to see if there are bus stops near your university and check out the local bus schedules. Public transportation is always an option if you are in a time crunch or really craving a visit to your favorite coffee shop in town.
Some students have managed to commute or even have internships that would have been impossible if it wasn’t for the bus.
3. TAKE A WALK TO PLACES NEARBY.
A little walking never hurt anyone, right? I have walked a mile to Meijer and the movie theatre down the road on multiple occasions, sometimes, in less than stellar weather conditions.
If you are feeling cramped and need to get off campus for a while, walking down the road and seeing what activities are around, make for a fun afternoon.
THE TAKEAWAY
While you may occasionally feel stuck, due to your lack of transportation, not having a car can be a great opportunity to meet new people and explore the city. Plus, on the flip side, if a friend asks you if you want to tag along for a ride downtown, do it. Sometimes, all you need is a break from the scenery of your own dorm room.
