This last year has a turbulent one for the entire world. The pandemic has rocked many niches and sectors to their core. Restaurants have closed for good, while lots of gyms and movie theatres remain shut down.
Academia is another area that has had to adjust because of the pandemic. Some colleges have been able to continue holding classes, while outbreaks have forced others to suspend them.
Luckily, two approved vaccines exist now, and there’s reason to think more should be coming. Though the rollout is frustratingly slow, things should start getting back to normal at some point later this year.
If you plan on attending college in 2021 or 2022, you’ll need to consider many factors, including how to pay for your tuition and how to get to your classes. Let’s examine some student transportation methods that might work for you.
Driving
If you’re off to college, you might have a vehicle of your own by this point. Maybe your parents can help you buy a used one.
You might be able to buy one if you get a job, save your money, and your parents or other relatives can also kick in for it. Maybe you can convince them to help you get a vehicle as a high school graduation present.
Driving to class can be convenient in some cases, though you’ll need to look into on-campus parking. Some universities have student parking lots, while in other instances, you have to find on-street parking. Trying to find a parking space can get pretty annoying, especially if you know class is about to start at any minute.
Also, you’ll have to watch out so you don’t get in an accident if you’re frantically trying to park right before class starts. You can easily cause a multiple-vehicle pile-up because you’re trying to get to class before your professor locks the door. Some instructors won’t allow students in after class starts.
Multiple-vehicle accidents kill about 13,000 people per year, so if you’re driving to class, make sure you leave early. Set your alarm, and grab some coffee or another caffeinated beverage to wake you up.
Biking
Biking is another possible way to get to class. If you own a bike, you can probably keep it in your dorm, or your apartment if you live off-campus.
You likely can’t bike all year, though, unless you live in a part of the country that has mild winters. If you attend college somewhere where there’s significant snow in the winter months, you won’t want to try biking through that.
Also, if you do bike to class, you’ll need to make sure there’s a place to chain up your bike. Some schools do provide bike racks, which is convenient. On the plus side, you can get a little exercise on the way to class, which is a great way to avoid putting on some extra pounds.
Walking
You can walk to class if you live close enough. If you live in the dorms, and all of your classes are right there on campus, this is one of the easiest ways.
If you live further away, you still might be able to walk, but you’ll have to leave the house earlier. If you’re walking home after a late class, you may want to carry a can of mace or another weapon with you.
Colleges should have security patrolling at night, but once you leave the campus, you might have to walk through a potentially dangerous neighbourhood. In some cities, college neighbourhoods aren’t exactly the safest places.
Buses or Trains
If you live further from campus and it’s too far to walk or bike, you can look into trains or buses that will take you to class. Depending on what city and state you’re in, you might have lots of options, or not as many.
Many universities will let you buy a discounted bus or train pass. That’s helpful for students who are already finding it hard to come up with expensive college tuition fees.
Online Classes
If you’re taking strictly online classes, you don’t need to worry about commuting. You require a stable Wi-Fi connection, and you can attend class from home.
Many colleges have done this during the pandemic, but you’d figure some of them will no longer have this option once we have eradicated Covid-19. However, if you must attend college from home, you can probably find one that uses an online-only model.
