Driving, one of the many ways Canes choose to get to class.
With all the challenges that surround a University of Miami student, getting to class is one of the hardest. Traffic jams, parking woes and unexpected rainstorms can make it difficult for a student who is trying to get to class on time. We know that professors get upset when their class is disrupted by a late arriving student and, showing up on time is a key to a student’s success. This is where transportation comes into play. There are multiple modes of transportation available to a student such as walking, running, biking, scootering, driving, renting a zipcar, riding the Hurry’Cane or riding a motorcycle.
The simplest and most old-fashioned mode of transportation for a student is walking or running. You would think only students trying to get exercise would use the latter, but that’s not the case. “With classes separated by only 15 minutes, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to frantically run across campus to get to my class on time,” said senior Kevin Kleinberg.
Riding a bike is an inexpensive and simple way for students to get around campus. With bike racks in front of nearly every building on campus, many students choose this means of transportation. “I started riding my bike on campus during my freshman year at the University of Miami and have never looked back,” senior Mike Roffee said. Not only is riding your bike a very convenient and efficient way to get around campus, it’s also good for exercise. “My legs have definitely gotten bigger, which the ladies love,” laughed Roffee.
Using either electric or non-electric kick scooters is the newest way students travel around campus. “When I was ten years old, they first came out with the kick Razor scooter and I would ride it everyday after school around the neighborhood. Now there are lots of us who use this scooter to get around campus,” said senior Andre Alvarez. The kick Razor scooter is so inexpensive and safe that University of Miami students are using it for the first time on campus. Electric scooters are used by off campus students who live nearby. These students are able to park their scooter in the front of most parking lots and only have to pay $80 for a parking pass. “Having an electric scooter means I don’t need to have a car for my short commute from my off campus apartment. It saves me so much money!” said junior Chloe Behar.
Wonder why parking is so hard to come by at the University of Miami? It’s because 50 percent of students attending the University of Miami have a car on campus according to the schools’ website. That means 5,000 students need to park their car somewhere on campus (not even taking into consideration faculty and staff). This makes cars the most used mode of transportation on campus besides walking or running. For people that commute, driving to campus is the easiest way to get on campus, but parking on campus can be expensive. “For me, driving to campus is the only way to get to campus from my home but paying over $200 for a parking spot that’s not even close to my classes, stinks!” senior Matt Bodfield said. This year parking has gotten even more complicated because of all the construction on campus. “Sometimes it takes longer to find a parking spot anywhere on campus than if I just walked from my off campus apartment,” said law student Bryan Dandes.
Zipcar is an innovative car-sharing program that provides the convenience of having a car on campus without the commitment of car ownership. Zipcar members, 18 years and older, may rent a vehicle for an hour, a whole day, or longer for a small fee that includes fuel, insurance, and maintenance, according to the University of Miami website. Signing up for zipcars is simple and takes under 5 minutes. Zipcars are at every campus dorm and there is almost always one readily available to rent. “I used a zipcar almost every weekend last year. It was the only way for me to see what Miami had to offer,” said sophomore Tim Smith. The zipcars are used mainly by freshman who are not allowed to have cars on campus.
The University of Miami bus system, the Hurry’Cane is another convenient way for students to get around campus. The Hurry’Cane runs throughout the week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Hurry’Cane runs from Stanford Circle to Ponce parking garage and from Ponce parking garage to the fountain. The biggest issue with the Hurry’Cane is the long lines, and overcrowded buses. “It seems like everyone on campus goes to class at the same time. I’m late to class at least once a week because I cannot get onto a shuttle,” freshman Bettina Schumacher said. In addition, the Hurry’Cane Ibis shuttle takes students from the Coral Gables campus to Coconut Grove Thursday and Friday from 9 P.M. to 2 A.M. The Hurry’Cane Ibis shuttle allows students to have a good time and not have to worry about getting in trouble getting back and forth from the Grove.
Riding a motorcycle to campus, may not be the safest way for students to get to campus, but anyone who has a bike wouldn’t have it any other way. Students who ride motorcycles to school are almost like a cult, everyone knows everyone else. Only about 25 students ride a motorcycle to campus, but those who are passionate about their motorcycles. “One day I just got the itch to check out a bike. I fell in love after the first time I rode,” said senior Rico Dominguez who rides a 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa. Riding a motorcycle is less expensive than using a car and more convenient. Motorcyclists are able to park in their own spots in the front of school parking lots for a price of $80 a year. “ I save so much money and gas riding my bike. It costs me $13 for 180 miles on my bike,” said Dominguez. Despite the fact that traffic can be impossible at times, there is always a way to make it to and around campus
words_ brandon lumish.
