Sooner or later, every student needs to make decisions. From what major to declare to where the best place to shop for groceries is.
But a choice many students struggle with is deciding where to find good student housing.
The majority of students try to remain within walking distance to campus, but for many who live farther away, transportation is an important detail to consider.
Caitlin Hascall, office manager at Duck’s Village Apartments@@http://www.ducksvillage.com/page.php?id=6@@, says transportation is a primary concern for students considering housing off-campus.
“I always tell students that the bus system is always an easy way to get to and from campus, and on nice days walking or riding a bike is a great option too,” Hascall said.
As with any decision, students must weigh the positives and negatives of their options, so here are the basics of transportation to consider when living off-campus.
Riding the bus
The most popular mode of transportation to get to campus by students, the Lane Transit District and EmX bus systems run past many apartment complexes and residential areas, and they run directly to campus.
The bus systems try to be student-friendly. They try to work the schedules around when students will need to get to campus, and there is no fee for University students who show their ID card when boarding the bus.
However, there are a few downsides to relying on the bus. If you miss the bus and have to wait for the next one, you risk being late to class or any other appointments you may have. Also, though the bus systems do their best, it is impossible to run exactly on schedule all day. Riders are at the mercy of the traffic, which unfortunately is an excuse that professors rarely accept for being late.
Biking or walking
Eugene is a beautiful city full of nature, and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors are abundant. So taking a leisurely bike ride or walk to campus is a great way for students to take advantage of their surroundings.
One downside to enjoying the landscape in Eugene is going to be the wet weather.
Though the rain does keep the scenery lush and green, it can be an annoyance to have to walk to and from your house only to arrive in soaked clothes. The less time spent in the rain before classes, the better. Living an extended distance away from campus can make that difficult.
Driving
Having a car can be an advantage for those who have tight schedules and need to get to and from places quickly.
With most apartment complexes and homes, parking is free. But to park on or near campus typically requires an expensive parking pass just for an opportunity to compete for a spot in student lots, which are diminishing in number as many parking zones have become construction sites for University expansion.
The other options are to pay meters, which can burn a hole in your pocket, or risk parking in a two-hour zone.
Many students who live off campus are forced to consider these pros and cons on a regular basis.
University junior Tyson Heesacker says it can even affect his work habits.
“Sometimes when I’m considering going over to the library to study, I think about all of the travel time it will take for me to get there and back,” Heesacker said. “That can be enough to keep me from going at times.”
However, many students are glad to make the trip and even take advantage of the time.
“I don’t mind the time at all because it gives me a chance to relax a bit, take the time to myself,” said Jasper Liau, a University business major.
In the end, it comes down to a personal preference; it might take a few tries to figure out what works best for you.
But the great thing about Eugene is that you are never too far away from finding the right situation.