Collegiate Times

For just about anywhere students may need to go while at Virginia Tech, there is probably a way to get there without a car. Not only is the abundance of alternative transportation better for the environment, but having a car on campus can be expensive and a hassle.

Last year, parking permits were $136 for the year, but are expected to be higher this year to cover construction costs. Residents’ cars must be parked in the Stadium Lot, the Chicken Hill Lot, or “The Cage,” none of which are very close to classes or dorms.

“I think that students can do very well without cars,” said alternative transportations manager Deborah Freed.  “Not having easy access to going home makes you rely on your campus community
more.”

In fact, Tech is among the minority of Virginia schools that allow freshmen to have their cars on campus.

Of course, cars are extremely convenient when it comes to going home on weekends and for carrying large amounts of cargo.  At the same time, it is usually possible to find other students willing to carpool.

According to parking services, 3,087 resident permits were issued last year, about 30 percent of the almost 9,000 freshmen and upperclassmen who live on campus.

So even if resident students do choose to have a car on campus, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the wide range of alternative transportation options in Blacksburg.

BUSES

The Blacksburg Transit  is Blacksburg’s bus system. It was rated one of the 10 Best Small Transit Systems in North America by Metro Magazine. Better yet, the BT is pre-paid for all full-time students via student activity fees — a Hokie Passport provides free admission.  For non-students, the bus costs 50 cents per ride.

BT buses run all over campus, as well as to Oak Lane, University Mall and the Math Empo and various locations around Blacksburg. There is also a “Two-Town Trolley” shuttle that runs to the New River Valley

Mall and the hospital in Christiansburg.

Most buses run every 10-15 minutes during the week, and every 30 minutes on weekends. They stop running around midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on the
weekends.

Another bus system is the SmartWay, which runs between Blacksburg and Roanoke. It stops in Roanoke at the Roanoke Airport as well as several locations downtown. The SmartWay bus is $3 per trip.

BICYCLING

Biking is another popular transportation system.

“A recent bike count came out to about 1,400 bikes on campus,” said Freed. “Although, that was on a cold and rainy day!”

New bike lanes are continually being built both on and off campus, and there are a large number of bike racks that are convenient and close to buildings.

Bikes are allowed on all asphalt surfaces including roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. Of course, they must always obey traffic laws and yield to pedestrians.

Bikes must be registered with Parking Services. Registration is free and can be done online.

SAFE RIDE

Safe Ride is a service sponsored by the Virginia Tech Police for students who feel uncomfortable walking alone at night across campus. It operates every night from dusk till dawn, and provides a ride or a walking escort. However, Safe Ride only services on-campus locations; it will not pick passengers up from an off-campus location and bring them to campus.

To use Safe Ride, call 540-231-SAFE.

U CAR SHARE
This program is specifically designed to meet the needs of residential students who may need a car occasionally, but not all the time.

U Car Share, owned by national truck rental company U-Haul, has six cars that are available 24/7 for students, faculty and staff to use at an hourly rate. It includes a pick-up truck for hauling heavy or bulky items as well as two hybrid cars.
“Once you register, you can then call and reserve a car for however long you will need it,” Freed said.