Tech transportation options
Along with the stress of starting class and being homesick, the last thing that you want to tell your parents on top of having to pay thousands of dollars for your education is that they have to add a $30 parking ticket to your bills.
Although freshmen are allowed to bring their vehicles, with rising gas prices do you really want to add gas to your new budget? With students across the university attempting to make the campus green, why not help out and bring a bike?
A bike will not only help to save gas and the environment, but it will help to inhibit the notorious freshman 15. Riding your bike to class everyday is a great source of exercise without having to fight the crowd at the gym.
Bikes must also be registered with the Virginia Tech Police Department. If you ignore this policy you could face a $20 fine or the impoundment of your bicycle.
Blacksburg does not grant the privilege of warm weather year round, so as the cold weather sets in and it becomes unbearable to ride a bike, Blacksburg Transit becomes an ideal solution.
Most freshmen will be familiar with the Blacksburg Transit from week one as they quickly learn they will be making multiple trips to the Math Emporium each week to fulfill the university's math requirements.
Don't fret, even if you do not have car or bike you can get around Blacksburg problem free. The BT charge is included in your student fees, so you ride fare-free upon presentation of your Hokie Passport.
The BT allows students to travel to Christiansburg via the Two Town Trolley, as well as transportation to virtually every apartment complex in the Blacksburg area, so visiting friends off-campus is always possible.
For those residents who will be bringing their cars, there are some rules you must familiarize yourself with to prevent that dreaded orange parking ticket. First, make sure you buy a parking pass, either online or by going to Parking Services.
Parking passes for students (graduate, commuter, and resident) are priced at $96 for an entire year, and $48 per semester. Do not wait, parking fines can range from $25 to $110.
Second, know where you can and cannot park. Virginia Tech is a big campus and parking can be a bit confusing at times.
There are two designated parking lots dedicated to residential parking.
"The Cage," more properly known as the Duckpond lot, will become a frequent term in your vocabulary as a resident on campus. It's located at the west end of Washington Street.
Safe Ride is available to students who will be walking back to their dorms during late hours of the night, and can be found in the building located at the entrance of "The Cage."
Residents are also allowed to park their cars in the resident section of the Stadium Lot, located behind Lane Stadium. However, during home football and basketball games those cars must be moved from the area. If you do not move your car it will be towed.
After 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday and on weekends, you may park anywhere on campus, unless marked otherwise. The Drillfield is reserved for faculty/staff and graduate parking Monday through Friday until 8 p.m.
If you receive a parking ticket you can pay in one of three ways.
You can mail it to Parking Services at 455 Tech Center Drive, or 130 Student Services Building; you can physically pay at Parking Services; or drop it off in the lock box outside of Parking Services.
If for some reason you do decide to appeal your parking ticket you must do so within 10 working days of receiving the citation.
A ticket must be paid in full before an appeal can be processed. Upon your ticket being dismissed you will receive a refund check in the mail within six weeks following dismissal.
To avoid a ticket while loading or unloading during the academic year, students are advised to "green-log" their vehicle. To do so, call Parking Services at 540-231-3200; a "green-logged" car receives 30 minutes to load or unload in any legal parking space.
