Options for Commuter Students in Fort Collins

 

Living off campus during college presents a unique set of challenges in comparison to living on campus. Among these challenges, one of the biggest is figuring out how to get to and from your lectures each day. Thankfully, students at CSU have several options at their disposal. 

The most straightforward solution for students that have their own transportation is to buy a parking pass. Parking pass holders enjoy unlimited parking in many places around campus, including Morgan Library, the LSC, and in both of the parking garages (just not on the first floor). However, a parking pass can be expensive, and it only applies to students that have a car.  

If you have your own transportation and just need to pop onto campus for an hour or two, you always have the free option of parking near campus in a two-hour parking spot. However, Fort Collins Parking Services are constantly monitoring, and going over on your parking time can quickly lead to a $30 parking ticket. This option is best used when you know that you will only be on campus for a short amount of time. 

Another great option for students who commute to campus is to utilize the TransFort bus system. All CSU students have a Transfort transit pass included on their RamCardgiving you access to public transportation at each of the convenient stops located throughout Fort Collins. This includes Max, which can take you across Fort Collins, as well as Flex, which can take you as far as Boulder. 

There are some caveats for the bus system as well. Firstly, they run on a set schedule which might not always fit well with your transportation needs, leaving you waiting around for your ride more than you might like. Secondly, if busses are already filled to capacity (on a snowy day, for example), they can’t stop to pick up more people and may have to send another bus to your stop, which can be very time consuming and end up leaving you late or stranded.

When thinking about whether to live on or off-campus, and how far from campus you may like to live, be sure to go over your transportation options and find what’s right for you! 

 

Article by Aaron Lynch