Getting around on campus is necessary, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
Microbiology freshman Alex Kokesh primarily uses his bicycle to get around and is just interested in getting to his destination no matter the method.
“When I can, I mainly use my bike around the campus,” Kokesh said. “There would obviously be benefits to having a car, especially if I had my car up at college, but in honesty riding my bike gets me to where I need to go. That to me is the most important thing.”
Public transportation can play a big role in protecting the environment, as well as saving people money. Undoubtedly, the biggest form of public transportation at MSU is the CATA buses.
Human biology junior Justine McGeary believes in utilizing the bus system and finds it very efficient in getting her where she needs to go.
“I live in The Lodges, so I usually take buses to anywhere that I need to be,” McGeary said. “That includes the Lodges’ buses and the CATA buses. I feel that taking the bus is extremely more convenient than driving my own car around campus every single day.”
Walking, especially around a large campus such as MSU, not only cuts out the issue of money, but also allows for students to get a workout during the day.
Physics senior Kevin Jock said he loves to walk because it allows him to not only save money, but also to be with his thoughts during the day.
“Walking gives me a great opportunity to just think,” Jock said. “I live 20 minutes away from campus, and I honestly don’t mind it because it’s less of a hassle to walk than drive my car. There’s no point to be a college student driving a car every single day. I personally think that it’s just a waste of money and gas.”
Chemistry junior Emily Matthews also prefers to walk to get around the campus and does so to ensure that she reaches her destination.
“I usually walk to where I need to go on campus, mainly because I know that I’ll make it there,” Matthews said. “I know that I can walk to any location on campus, while in a car I could easily get lost. I know that sounds a little weird, but it’s honestly true.”
Despite all of the reasons why driving a car might not be the best option for your wallet, some students still believe that having and utilizing your own car on a daily basis is the way to go.
Dietetics freshman Alex Vizzaccaro believes that having her car on campus would make life a lot easier.
“I’m a freshman, so I usually walk around the campus, but if I had a car up here at MSU, I would definitely utilize it as much as I could,” Vizzaccaro said. “Campus is really big, and it’s difficult to get to place to place sometimes. At home, I usually spend about $20 on gas a week, and that’s with driving more miles in my hometown than I do here.”
In addition, taxi services and Zipcars can be utilized on campus for students who need to use a car but don’t want the commitment of owning one. Gas, mileage and full coverage insurance are taken care of when a person signs up with Zipcar and pays the registration fee and rental fee, which varies by location.
