In light of rising gas prices, more students are forced to find means of travel that don't involve getting behind the wheel of a car. Luckily for UF students, there are plenty of ways to get around Gainesville and campus without one.
Walking
It's the cheapest transportation alternative, and there are plenty of sidewalks in Gainesville where students can get their walk on.
Biking
Unlike motor scooters, bicycles are allowed in the core of campus, and they can be taken to the Student Government-funded bike repair shop beside the Reitz Union for free.
Like cars, bicyclists can be ticketed for not stopping at stop signs, speeding and not using lights at night.
The Bus
UF students ride Gainesville's Regional Transit System buses for free with their Gator 1 Cards because the service is part of tuition. Santa Fe College students must pay 50 cents a ride or buy a semester pass.
Buses go all over the city, including major apartment complexes and The Oaks Mall. Buses that go to and from UF's campus can be tracked online at http://gator-locator.com.
Later Gator
The Later Gator bus service schleps students between Downtown Station and campus. It runs every night of the week, usually from 8:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Major stops include the Reitz Union, The Oaks Mall, Campus Club Apartments and Lexington Crossing Apartments. Other routes run on the weekends as well. It's free for UF students and up to $1 for everyone else.
Motorcycles and Scooters
This option is increasingly popular on campus, but as of Aug. 15, they are no longer allowed in the core of campus. However, 100 more motorcycle and scooter parking spaces were recently added outside the auto-free zone to compensate for the loss of spaces near classroom buildings.
Motorcycle parking decals, which can be purchased at parking.ufl.edu, have also gone up to $64 a year.
SNAP
Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol (SNAP) vans will pick up and drop off students anywhere on campus every night of the week. Students can call 392-SNAP from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. to arrange for an escort. Walking escorts are also available.
Gator Lift
Students with temporary or permanent disabilities can arrange for on-campus transport through Gator Lift, which operates from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. Transportation from class to class can even be arranged for an entire semester. Call 374-6547, ext. 482 to schedule.
Zipcar and GreenRide
With Zipcar, UF students can rent cars from on-campus locations at a rate of $7 an hour or $70 a day. The price includes gas, insurance, parking and 180 miles of driving. There is an annual fee of $50. Students can sign up at zipcar.com
GreenRide is an online carpool program students can use to find potential ride matches. Students are matched based on starting and ending locations and preferences, such as smoking or non-smoking.
Gator Ride and Taxi Stands
For less-than-sober students who need to get home after a night at the bars or clubs, there are two new options that will be available in the fall. Gator Ride, which starts Oct. 18, will provide free transportation from any bar or club in Gainesville to any residence in the city. It will operate from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. To use the service, at least one student in a group must have a Gator 1 Card.
Starting Aug. 30, taxi stands near the bars and clubs in both midtown and downtown Gainesville will provide easier access to taxis from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m Wednesday through Saturday. One stand will be located on University Avenue in front of Balls. The other will be on Southwest First Avenue across from Market Street Pub.
