Getting Around UC San Diego!

Hi everyone,

If you have visited campus, one thing that you might have noticed is that in addition to being beautiful, UC San Diego is huge! So the big question is...how are you going to get around campus? There are many ways to get from place to place, and you will be able to find something that works for you.

First of all, you can walk from class to class. I have walked to classes 99% of the time and it has worked very well for me. You can make it from one side of main campus to the other in 20 or so minutes if you power walk (and not a whole lot longer if you walk at a more reasonable pace). For suggested routes from place to place, check out this map, which I have found to be quite handy and which my own Orientation Leader shared with me. As you become familiar with campus, you will discover many shortcuts and alternative routes that will shave off minutes in your commute. Walking is a good way to appreciate how gorgeous our campus is, so if you choose to get around via a different method, still try take a walk now and then. Also, if you have mobility issues, you can look into ADA transport, which will help you get around campus, free of charge.

If you are not as fond of walking as am I and would prefer to bike, you will find that you have a lot of company at UC San Diego! Bikes and bike racks are everywhere on campus, and we even have a bike shop located in the Old Student Services Center. Biking will significantly reduce travel time and can therefore be very handy when you have back-to-back classes. Be sure only to bike and secure bicycles in approved areas, and ALWAYS lock your bike, even if you are just leaving it for a minute! You do not want to receive a ticket, nor do you want your bike to be stolen or impounded.

In addition to bikes, many people choose to skateboard, or longboard in particular, and Razor scooters are also rather popular. These have an advantage over bikes in that you can take them right into class and spare yourself the time that it takes to lock up a bike. Every now and then you will even see someone on a powered scooter, a tandem bike, or a unicycle zipping around campus, so as you can see there are many ways for you to get around on wheels.

In addition to these methods of transportation, UC San Diego has a wonderful shuttle system that has stops at a variety of locations both on and off campus. The Campus Loop shuttle stops all over campus and has buses that run both clockwise and counterclockwise. Other shuttles include, but are NOT limited to, the SIO shuttle, which runs from upper campus to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the East/Regents shuttle, which transports you to several parking lots from Price Center, and the holiday airport shuttle (reserve in advance!). Be sure to visit the website for maps and details on these shuttles, and note that shuttle schedules may change on holidays. Also, if you frequent the shuttles, be sure to check out ucsdbus.com, which features both a live tracking map and a feature that tells you when each shuttle will arrive at the stop that you select. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, downloading the UC San Diego app will allow you to track the shuttles on the go.

Lastly, a discussion of transportation at UC San Diego would not be complete without mentioning the free UC San Diego Bus Zone! Once you go to the parking office and get a sticker for your ID card, just show your ID when you board the bus and you can ride these popular routes for free, courtesy of the university. If the Bus Zone will not get you where you need to be, there are many other methods of public transportation available; however, they are not free.

This ought to give you a good idea of how you can get around campus, yet I am sure that more options exist. Feel free to post a comment if you have any questions, or if you have more ideas for the best ways to get from place to place!

See you around campus!
Rachel
Transfer Orientation Group #5