THE UNIVERSITY OF DARLY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
APARTMENT GUIDE
11
Multiple options getting to campus available
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
jbaker@kansan.com
Students living off-campus use the KU bus system for a variety of reasons, including saving money for gas and groceries.
It's your first year out of the dorms, and you're living in an off-campus apartment. You're loving the feeling of being free from being so close to campus, except for one thing: getting to class. Considering walking to campus is out of the question, you have the option of either driving to campus or taking the bus.
Say you decide that you're getting a bus pass to commute to campus, According to KU on Wheels, a bus pass for the school year is $140. But if you're not sure and want to test it out for a semester, it's $75 for each semester. The bus pass goes for all the bus routes. One advantage some students find about the bus is not having to worry about much. Sarah Aistrup Manhattan sophomore and Sara Holloway Springhill sophomore both agree that it's convenient, "I don't have to worry about parking, it drops you off in front of the buildings you need to go to and it's better than riding a bike," Aistrup said.
Another reason students opt for the bus is because it's cheap. Matt Perlil, Overland Park sophomore, takes the Legends bus because it's included with his rent. "It gives you are reason to get up and go to class". Perlil said. Perlil said he would continue taking the bus because gas prices are too expensive and out of his budget.
Students can also use the Park and Ride system, an annual pass is $205 or $140 for each semester to park in the lot and catch the bus. But it's free for students to take if you happen to be on campus. Park and Ride
starts on 23rd and Iowa streets; and makes stops at Snow Hall, Robinson Gymnasium and West Campus. Blaine Juhl, Lawrence freshman, uses the Park and Ride lot. "It provides a method for me to get to campus, because where I live isn't on the KU bus route," Juhl said. He said there's no other way considering that he doesn't live on campus and freshman living off campus are only allowed the Park and Ride lot.
Isaac Meier, Salina sophomore, doesn't park in the Park and Ride lot but does use the bus system. "I ride the bus because Park and Ride is within walking distance of my house, and it's free. I would rather drive if it's raining or it's cold outside. However, if the weather is nice, I enjoy the walk." Meier said.
Although the bus may be a convenient way to save money on gas, many students feel that it doesn't help that the time of waiting is uncertain. "You sit and wait for it and sometimes you nissit it and that sucks." Said Holloway. Aistrup believes that there's not enough of off-campuses that go around. "I feel like there's more on-campus buses that go to places like the Recreation Center and the Dorms than off-campus" Aistrup said.
Some students may miss the bus for different reasons, Matt Broberg, Salina junior, said because it cant tell what bus it is. "Sometimes I miss the bus after class. But it's actually right in front of me, just the side panel screen is blank," he said.
Another hassle for students is that it forces them to have to wake up earlier than they want. Perll talks about the Legends bus, "It comes every 40 minutes. If I have a class at 11, I have to be get up at 10:10. It
gets there at 10:20, and I have to wait a while for my class. There's a lot of downtime in between," he said. Broberg has similar experiences, "Sometimes I just wanna lay in bed for five more minutes, but nooo, I have to get up to catch the bus." He said. Broberg said he originally started taking the bus because he used to have a bad car.
So if you prefer to get to campus on your own time, you might want to get a parking pass. According to KU Parking and Transit, students are allowed to park in the Yellow Lot. Which is $160 for the school year or $85 for a semester. Students that drive to the campus can find it very feasible.
Sarah Harbert, Shawnee sophomore said she can go to class on her own time, "I can leave whenever I want, and I don't have to worry about catching the bus." Harbert commutes from The Reserve on 31st and Iowa and uses the Recreation Center lot. Harbert says getting to class is not a problem because she has
morning classes, and it's easier to get a parking spot than in the afternoon.
Sara Vestal, Kansas City, Kan. sophomore likes the different options to park. "There's parking out at the Burge Union, JRP and the Rec. Center. So you can park closest to where you need to be." She said. Like Harbert, Vestal uses the Rec. Center a lot but sometimes uses the Union parking.
Another issue is overselling of parking passes, Brady Greig, Olathe junior like others parks. "I guess I don't like the fact that they oversell parking permits but still charge so much," he said. Another issue is the cost of gas. Harbert said that the main reason she might get a bus pass next year because of the rising gas prices.
So students who are moving off campus for next year have a lot to consider. The choice is up to the student, and you may want to try both out for each semester to see which works the best, if you are dead set on not hiking up to campus every day.