The Commuter Life
The regularity of the daily commute to campus can be both exhausting and comforting. Whether you’ve been living on campus and decided to move into other housing, or you’ve been living off campus since your first year, commuting to get to your classes comes with its own unique set of challenges. This article will cover methods to prepare for your commute effectively, as well as ways to take advantage of your commute time.
How Will You Be Commuting?
The most obvious forms of transportation to and from campus include driving, public transportation, and walking. Each has their own pros and cons:
Driving: When you drive to campus you have much more flexibility to depart when you want, and it is generally faster as well. The cons include how it can be expensive on gas, difficult to find a parking spot, and if you want to park on campus you need a parking permit. They usually sell out pretty fast at the beginning of the fall semester, so if you want one be sure to do it ASAP in September. The price also varies—a Student 8-month General Permit (Spetember-April) is listed as being $302.00, and a Student 12-month General Permit (September-August) is $428.00. A Student Summer permit (May-August) is also available, costing $138.00. More information about parking permits can be found here.
Public Transportation: Bussing is less expensive than owning and driving a vehicle, more eco-friendly, and you get some free minutes to spend during the commute. However, you’re dependent on the bus routes/schedule and have less flexibility in that regard. You also may need to bus-hop in order to get to campus depending on where you live.
It’s worth noting that if you’re a full-time student you can get a U-Pass through SMUSA. Instead of purchasing transit tickets or paying directly when boarding the bus, the U-Pass provides entry if you show it (a sticker on your student ID) to the bus driver. This pass is valid from September-April, and if you’re full-time it’s already included in your tuition fees, so definitely get one if you haven’t already! To get it, you can visit the SMUSA Information Desk on the first floor of the Student Centre, from Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:30-pm. More information about the U-Pass can be found here.
Walking: It’s free, good for your health, and eco-friendly! However, sometimes it’s impossible to walk because you live too far away, and the weather can make it more difficult and uncomfortable (especially during the winter).
Another thing to note is that while a thirty minute walk may seem a bit far, taking the scenic route can serve as a much-needed mental health break. It’s also easier to move around the city and visit a coffee shop or the public library when you don’t have to worry about street parking!
Schedule It In
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
To lessen the morning stress, I recommend determining how long it will actually take you to get to campus. While this sounds obvious, it makes a difference knowing that what should be a 15 minute route actually takes 45 because of the traffic. Being aware of the time commitment helps you to decide what time to leave in the morning, or what bus you need to catch. Also, take into consideration the weather. It’s probably going to be a longer commute if there’s precipitation and/or icy roads, meaning you might need to leave earlier.
Following from this, when you’ve determined how long it will take you to get to campus you’re better able to consider how to spend the time outside of your commute. Do you like getting up earlier to have a slower morning, or prefer a longer sleep-in? Do you want to leave earlier to do school work on campus? Scheduling in your commute is helpful when trying to figure out what routine fits your needs best!
Prepare Ahead of Time
Most of the time commuting involves extra prep work since you don’t have a dorm room that’s located less than 10 minutes away. Some things to pack may include:
Wallet
Personal hygiene products
Meals/snacks
Weather related gear (umbrella, waterproof jacket, backpack rain cover, hat/gloves, etc.)
Chargers
Headphones
Study supplies (pens/pencils, textbooks, notebooks)
Having at least some of these items prepared the night before can be extremely helpful when you’re in a rush the next day. From experience, I can tell you it’s frustrating to get to campus and realize you forgot something!
Something worth noting as well is the locker-rental system at SMU. When I was a student last year, there were many times I wished that I had a locker to leave my winter layers, lunch, textbooks, etc. I’ve rented a locker this year, and so far it’s been useful for storing books, lunch, and my jacket. You can rent either a half or full sized locker from September-August ($20 or $35 respectively). Additionally, you get to choose which particular locker you would like to rent, as they are scattered across campus in various locations (some examples are Loyola and McNally). Just be sure to purchase a lock if you do decide to use this system, as they are not provided with the locker.
How To Spend Your Commute Time
If you’re driving, please be safe and keep your eyes on the road! That said, (safely) listening to your favorite playlist or podcast can be a way to make the drive more pleasant on a Monday morning.
If you’re taking public transit you have more options. Some students prefer to do class readings while they have the time, while others like to go on their phone, listen to music/podcasts, and generally relax. I personally like using the bus ride to take a break and let my mind wander, since the rest of the day can be busy and and a bit chaotic with classes and assignments.
Conclusion
Especially when you’ve experienced living on campus, it can be difficult to find effective ways to commute. Hopefully this article has inspired you to prepare differently, or to try something new while commuting. Most importantly, I hope you discover a way to make the commute to and from campus more comforting and enjoyable for you!