Navigating the University can be one of the more difficult tasks freshmen have to tackle each fall. Luckily, the University is committed to helping students find their way around quickly and efficiently.

Students find many ways of getting to, from and around campus.

Daily Metro Transit bus riders can spend an average of $54 a month to get to and from class or work paying the daily fares.

But University Parking and Transportation Services offers a deal for commuting students and staff to save money while using Metro Transit. Students can pay $50 per semester for a U-Pass/Metro Pass, buying themselves unlimited bus rides.

“Our mission is to encourage alternative modes of transportation,” said Lori Ann Vicich, communications manager for Parking and Transportation Services. “This is a way to help relieve campus congestion and help the environment at the same time.”

Once on campus, students must get from place to place.

Wandering about the East and West banks on foot is a good way to get to know the campuses.

The St. Paul campus, however, is located far enough away to be difficult for students to walk from the Minneapolis campus. The University needed a solution to this problem, and the University bus system was born.

The bus system includes the Campus Connector, Campus Circulator and Washington Avenue Bridge Circulator, all of which are free of charge.

The Campus Connector bus route reaches almost all areas of campus, including the East and West banks and the St. Paul campus. On cold winter mornings many students can be found jumping onto the bus to avoid walking in the wind to the West Bank. This bus is also heavily used by students living on the St. Paul campus, many of whom have classes in Minneapolis.

A Connector is scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes at each bus stop during peak school day hours and every 30 minutes at night.

The Campus Circulators include two mini-buses traversing the East Bank and St. Paul campuses, respectively, to bring students to their classes. The Circulators run every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The WABC runs from Dinkytown to the West Bank, conveniently reaching more Minneapolis campus locations than the Connector. The bus can be accessed every 7 to 15 minutes Monday through Friday until 5 p.m. at either Willey Hall on the West Bank, or in front of Eddy Hall near Dinkytown.

All University buses are free to students and include a bike rack for students who prefer to bike in between classes.

Maggie Hessel-Mial welcomes comments at [email protected]