Many students find themselves riding bikes, taking buses, skateboarding or using other means to avoid the costs of parking permits and filling up their tanks in order to get to class.
According to the UA's Parking and Transportation Services, there are more than 9,600 bicycle parking spaces campuswide and clearly defined bike routes around campus. Some UA students prefer riding their bicycles, as they can get around more quickly than they can walking from class to class.
Two-wheeling it
Many UA students agree that bicycling is one of the healthiest and most cost-effective means of transportation.
"I can get exercise and it saves me time in getting to class," said communications senior Jacob Pallastrini. "It's much easier to get around campus without having to pay for parking, finding a paying spot or deciding which garage to park in knowing it could be full."
He said the UA is a good place to bicycle because there are many bike paths that enable riders to get around easily.
Other UA students enjoy riding their bicycles for leisure.
Political science senior Eric Werner lives close to campus and rides his bicycle every day. Bicycle safety on and off campus is a concern, said Werner.
"I'd say definitely there are certain rules of etiquette you have to abide by when driving or using any means of transportation. If you ride safely, it's definitely a safe place to ride."
However, Werner said that some streets in Tucson are not as safe for bicycling as they could be and that bicyclists should be careful when they ride back home from classes.
"There are streets I think should have better biking provisions that don't," Werner said. "Not all of Tucson is bike safe, but there are definitely bike-safe routes that you can figure out."
Additionally, PTS provides free bicycle registration for students. This service includes lock-cutting for students who lose their bicycle keys, and PTS will even help students locate lost or stolen bicycles.
To register your bike or get a map of all campus bike routes and safety regulations, call 626-RIDE.
Skateboarding
For students who don't ride bicycles, skateboards are another option. Riding the board may also save students the hassle of finding a place to store their bikes when riding to campus and the worry of losing a bike to theft.
Rather than simply skateboarding as a hobby, political science senior Brendan Bauman now uses his skateboard to get from class to class quickly.
"I used to skateboard back in the day, but now I just ride it to get around campus," he said. "It saves money in not paying for a garage permit."
Bauman said it takes him around 15 minutes to get from his house near East University Boulevard and North Third Avenue to the Social Sciences building on campus every day.
"It's a lot easier than using a car to get around," he said. "I was late to class one day so I used my skateboard and I got there really fast."
Bauman also said it is safer to use a skateboard to get around campus than to use a bicycle.
"I bought a skateboard because I can just take it into class and not worry about it getting stolen," he said.
All aboard the shuttle
Some students prefer the luxury of sitting on a padded seat with air conditioning flapping on their faces to the laborious task of walking, biking or skateboarding on and around campus.
Students have the opportunity to ride the campus CatTran or the Sun Tran, which runs throughout the city, making trips to campus for students to get to class.
During the fall and spring semesters, the CatTran shuttle has seven routes: USA, Purple, Yellow, Mauve, Teal, Orange and Copper.
The routes vary, but provide free transportation from campus parking lots to various parts of the campus. Some shuttles even take students into residential areas north of campus.
The shuttle system is also very helpful for the disabled, who cannot easily use other means to get around campus. Some shuttles are wheelchair accessible, so disabled students with wheelchairs, walkers and/or seriously reduced mobility may use the lift if needed.
There are seven Sun Tran buses that run near the UA campus, including numbers four, five and 81, which run on East Speedway Boulevard; 15, which runs on North Campbell Avenue; one and six, which run on North Park Avenue; and three, which runs on East Sixth Street.
The cost for a single trip is $1, which includes a transfer if needed. A $2 day pass is good for a day of unlimited rides.
A monthly bus pass costs $28, a quarterly pass $75, a UA semester pass $70 and an annual pass $275.
CatTran shuttles operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and riding schedules with guidelines are available on the CatTran shuttles.
For more information about the CatTran shuttle program and riding suggestions, call (520) 621-7721.