Okay, your parents won't let you bring your car to school, but it's not the end of the world. In fact, there are other forms of alternate transportation for college students.
You are still probably thinking, "Well, I don't care, I don't have any money." But you do realize that you have to put gas in the car, which is around $20 a week right? AND let's not forget about those maintenance fees that Mom and Dad aren't going to pay for (especially if you are going to school in another state). Lastly, it's hard to find parking when using your own car, especially having to pay for parking. Now I guess I got your attention!
Not having a car on campus isn't as bad as you think. You may be surrounded by people who have their cars, but that's them. They have to pay for gas, maintenance, and parking. But let me tell you, as a junior in college, I still left my car at home because I am living on-campus, and have multiple resources available to me. I even have an internship and I am commuting just fine.
If you are living off-campus, it's still not the end of the world. It's nice to have a car when you're commuting but there are so many different ways to getting where you need to go. If you still think it's the end of the world, here are some alternative ways to commute when you don't have your car:
1. Download the Lyft/Uber App to save your life!
Of course this was going to be #1! You are going to need money, regardless if you have a car or not. Plus, who doesn't ride Lyft/Uber? The perks of these apps are that you know who you are getting into a car with, you have their license plate information, and the make of their car. I personally prefer riding Lyft over Uber because Lyft is WAY cheaper and the drivers are friendlier in my opinion. But if you don't like chattiness, Uber may be better.
Also, you are going to want to go out clubbing and you obviously can't drive drunk. Lyft/Uber is here to help you.
2. Learn how to ride the bus in your area.
You may say "Ugh, I have to ride the bus," but you have to get over it. EVERYONE rides the bus at least once in their life, and it's not that bad.
Plus, bus fare is super cheap. You can get an hour-long ride for just $1.75 as long as you stay on the same bus. It's also easy to track the bus times and you can look to see which stop you can get off at. It's also nice to be able to listen to music without the need to drive.
3. Take advantage of shuttle busses provided by your university!
At my university, campus shuttles are provided for us. I mean, we're paying for it. And these shuttles can go around campus or to off-campus locations such as the mall, train station, airport, multiple supermarkets, and to different apartment complexes within the school's radius. I know many people who live in off-campus apartments and take the shuttles to school. It's a great resource. There's also a big shuttle that goes to different universities (in case you just so happen to want to go visit another school).
4. Ride with a friend who has a car in college.
Why not have a personal chauffeur? Making connections with other people is key. But make sure you're not always bugging them for a ride to the point where eventually you won't even HAVE a ride if you know what I mean.
5. If your parents can’t pick you up during college breaks, try taking a coach bus.
Since I am hours away from home, it's hard for my parents to take off work and pick me up. So, to make it easier, I ride a coach bus, which gets me home faster and is very cheap. You should try to look into riding the bus. If you have money like that, take a plane or Amtrak if you want to get home in 20 minutes!
6. If you haven’t learned how to ride the train, YOU BETTER NOW!
The train is much faster than a regular bus. It's also fun to ride if you think about it. It's really not that bad. Many think that riding a train is difficult, but I have no trouble! All you have to do is follow the numbers and look at the map.
7. It also wouldn’t hurt to purchase a bike or use the ones provided by your university.
Our school partnered up with a bike company and now we have bikes on campus. But it wouldn't hurt to buy your own bike so you can go beyond campus.
8. If the place isn't too far, WALKING is key!
I know what you're thinking, WALKING? Are you serious? But come on, if it is in walking distance, you might as well. Plus, it's good exercise. If you don't feel like paying, how else are you going to get there?
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