Many students anticipate moving off campus after their first year of college. Even though it’s enjoyable living off campus, not having a car sometimes makes it difficult. Many people would think that a college town like Tallahassee would be easy to get around, but everyday students struggle to get to campus for class.
Students who stay off campus typically stay within ten to fifteen minutes away from campus. Normally for a Lyft or Uber, one would pay anywhere between $11 to $13, but now time plays a factor in the price. So students who typically have early classes see prices anywhere between $25 to $60 just for a 10 to 15-minute ride that would be a cheaper price if they rode at a different time.
Quenentra Corley, a third-year broadcast journalism student and DJ, expresses her frustration with the transportation system here in Tallahassee.
“It is very stressful and overwhelming, especially when you have 20 minutes to get an event and set up, but you also have to wait 20 minutes for the Lyft to come,” Corely said. “As far as getting to school it’s the same way, you’re trying to hurry up and get to class and then you might wake up late and have to wait on a Lyft, and it’s crazy expensive.”
Corley has also had to pay $25 for one ride to get to campus which is twice the price it should be.
Lyft and Uber aren’t the only way of transportation, there is also the city bus. Emmani Henry, a third-year transfer student, shares how it’s hard to access the bus system.
“Back at my community college, it was much easier to take the city bus because the buses are right there and the bus would take you directly to campus, but that option isn’t available for FAMU,” Henry said. “I live about ten to fifteen minutes away from campus depending on what’s going on that day, so I end up having to rely on Lyft and Uber which is expensive.”
This has even made it hard for Henry to participate in career fairs.
“But then it also hurts with finding internships and opportunities because if I’m not here, it’s kind of hard to spend money to get here outside of class.”
Not having a car doesn’t only hurt students off campus but also students who live on campus, especially student-athletes.
Veronica Rodriguez, a second-year psychology student and tennis player, says not having a car on campus is hard too.
“It’s kind of annoying not having a car either on campus because, after practice and everything, I am very tired and have to walk from the courts to my dorm,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not that long of a walk, it’s about twelve minutes and sometimes I’m just really sore so having a car would be easier.”
Rodriguez has a scooter that she uses to get around campus sometimes. Her only concern is not having anywhere to put the scooter where she could lock it, so it doesn’t get stolen. So, this discourages her from using her scooter to not only get from practice but in between classes.
Some people may see not having a car in college as a way of saving money, but many students claim it makes it hard for students to easily meet their full potential.