Coming from a car-dependent city, the prospect of living without a car was frightening at times. How was I supposed to explore Charlottesville, or even the far reaches of the grounds? Befriend an upperclassman with a car?
As the first week has passed, it has been great to discover the many buses that service UVa and the surrounding Charlottesville community. Living near the corner of campus, far away from Central Grounds, a bus is probably the easiest way to get to class (biking in traffic while not fully awake may not be a great idea). And the a/c offers a nice reprieve from the recent heat wave.
While enjoying the a/c, a student can take buses from Central Grounds to Charlottesville's bustling downtown mall, the JPJ and other sporting venues. The Barracks Road shops are a short ride away, offering access to whatever a college student might need. For the more adventurous, there's also a connection to Charlottesville's CAT buses heading to the downtown mall and to the northern suburbs. If enough time is allotted, it's even easy to reach the one place that everyone needs: Wal Mart. As a cash-strapped college student, I can appreciate that I can use the city buses for free after showing UVa ID.
That UVa has taken the effort to provide transportation for all (especially car-handicapped first-years) is a good sign. It's a part of the college experience to explore new boundaries. Not only have the UTS, the trolley and CAT provided a way to get around town, it has given room for thought on the necessity of a car.
EC
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