The University’s campus spans 6,370 acres. That figure can be daunting to incoming students wondering how to get to and fro when they step onto campus this fall.
Luckily, students at the University have discovered numerous ways to make the sprawling campus feel a little smaller.
MTD: CU’s public transit
A walk down Wright Street wouldn’t be complete without dozens of buses zipping in and out of Transit Plaza. Buses shuttle students between academic buildings, residence halls and the rest of the area.
“It depends where I have to go,” said Dystonae Clark, junior in LAS. “I just had a class at Lincoln Hall, and I have to go to Ike (Ikenberry Commons), so I’m going to take the bus because it’s kind of far.”
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With a University-issued i-card, students can ride any Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus free of charge. Additionally, all on-campus stops — so-called “iStops” — are free to all riders without showing an i-card.
On days classes are in session, 13 MTD bus lines run through the streets surrounding the Main Quad. Routes that serve high-traffic areas of campus often run every 10-15 minutes, while those that serve off-campus locales vary in their frequency.
“I think it’s convenient, especially on campus,” Clark said. “(Buses come) about every 10 minutes. The 22 (Illini) comes pretty frequently.”
Learning the bus schedule is a distinct drawback to relying on buses to traverse campus. While riders have several ways to track buses in real-time — including Google Maps, the Transit app and mtd.org — buses don’t always run on time.
“Sometimes it just doesn’t come, and sometimes it’s delayed,” Clark said. “I think if you plan it out well enough, you will get to where you need to on time. It’s better than walking.”
A step-tacular alternative
Whether the schedule is too confusing or a bus never shows up, walking may be the next-best option.
“Walking is pretty good, especially when the weather isn’t too bad,” said Silvia Chen, sophomore in Engineering. “You have to wait a super long time for the bus, and sometimes they get delayed.”
Although a cross-campus commute might be time-consuming on foot, it’s an effective option for those who live close to their classes.
“I normally just walk,” Chen said. “In my first year, sometimes I would take a bus when I had an exam (far away) … But this year, I just walk to class because it’s pretty short — like a 10-minute walk.”
The reliability of buses aside, walking may be necessary for the chronically late among us. No matter the weather or bus schedule, there are few things more reliable than your feet and a pair of walking shoes to get to class after pressing snooze one too many times.
Biking: The wheel deal
The University is especially well-suited for bicycles. Cyclists might find that plentiful bike racks and dedicated bike lanes make biking faster and more reliable than public transit or walking.
“I basically always bike no matter what,” said Andrew Guelfi, junior in LAS. “I used to (take the bus) freshman year when I was in the dorms … but unfortunately, I had a few bad experiences.”
Biking presents an option that’s more reliable than buses and much faster than walking. But it doesn’t come without its own challenges.
“I actually had my bike stolen from ISR, and they couldn’t help me out much,” Guelfi said. “So, I will say having a good bike lock is very important … Use more than a cable lock. Use a U-lock for sure.”
In addition to a sturdy bike lock, Guelfi, who works at Durst Cycle and Fitness in Urbana, recommends that students regularly lubricate their crankset chain to maintain their bikes.
Inexperienced riders should also use caution when biking around the busiest areas of campus. C-U is no stranger to numerous bicycle accidents.
“If you’re not an experienced (rider), maybe wearing a helmet would be good,” Guelfi said. “You have to pay attention to things. People will walk — just go — anywhere without looking where they’re walking. You have to expect that at all times.”
No matter how you get around campus this fall, get to your destination safely.
