Welcome to your next adventure, new Bobcats. As you touch down on campus for Bobcat Student Orientation, you are presented with an overwhelming amount of information about housing, on-campus clubs and organizations, hazing prevention and other well-being resources, but an often overlooked piece of the new-student puzzle is transportation.
Athens Public Transit serves Athens, Nelsonville, the Village of Chauncey and The Plains. APT services run Monday through Friday, with schedules and real-time bus trackers available online. I use Lines 2 and 3 almost every week to get groceries. I see the same passengers on most of my journeys, have a favorite bus driver and love the freedom I have to go and run a simple errand. You should become one with the bus.
Navigating the bus system might seem like more trouble than it’s worth, but even one quick ride to Kroger and back is enough to settle those nerves. The best part is each bus always comes back to Baker University Center eventually. I, admittedly, have hopped on the wrong line a time or two. Take a breath and relax. There is no shame in missing your stop or getting on the wrong bus completely. Listen to some music, strike up a conversation with a local and catch the ride back to Baker.
Whether you are coming from out of state, just across the county line or somewhere in between, learning how to get around an unfamiliar town is stressful.
I am now a senior, and I have spent no time behind the wheel of a car throughout my time at Ohio University. Campus is joyously walkable – you will get used to the hills, trust me – and Court Street is a simple stroll with a stretch of restaurants, bars and local shops. However, beyond Court Street, things are a little more spread out.
It is entirely possible to walk or bike to Walmart and other places on East State Street. The HockHocking Adena Bikeway, a scenic 22-mile bike and walking path, can lead you right to East State Street, but APT is a valuable resource if you prefer not to make such a long walk or if you are getting a few bags of groceries.
On-campus parking for freshmen is limited, and therefore many first-year students have to leave their cars at home. Only 200-300 residential parking permits are reserved for freshmen, according to a previous report by The Post. For students coming from that teenage-dream lifestyle where they drive to school every day, pick up their friends on the weekends and push their curfew boundaries on wheels, not having a car on campus does pose a strange transition; however, taking the bus allows you to explore Athens on an intimate level.
In addition to APT services, the GoBus runs seven days each week with trips from Athens to Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Marietta, Wooster, Parkersburg, Van Wert and stops in between. The GoBus has stops at Baker and the Athens Community Center. GoBus tickets cost from $5-$30, plus tax, but it is a great option for those needing to travel home or wanting to explore other cities throughout the academic year.
Bonus point for the bus: APT rides are free with your OU student ID. With gas prices in Ohio reaching an average of $4.73 per gallon, a free ride on the bus sure beats the steep price of a tank.
When you step onto campus in the fall, and you find yourself wanting to immerse yourself in Athens, make it a point to explore APT at least once. Hop on Line 2 or 3 and visit Marshall’s. Stop by Ohio Thrift or treat yourself to a Texas Roadhouse dinner with your friends. Athens, and your experience at OU, is what you make of it. Learning to love the bus can take you further. But brace yourself for a bumpy ride, buses and bricks are not always the kindest combination.
Elizabeth Talaga is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Want to share your thoughts? Let Elizabeth know by emailing her at et029322@ohio.edu.
