How to get around town without a car

When you’re a college student on a budget, sometimes having a car is simply not an option. Not only are they expensive to purchase, but when you factor in high gas prices and the costs of insurance, maintenance and parking, sometimes it’s just more than your bank account can handle. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get around town that don’t require you to shell out mass amounts of cash each month. Instead of buying a car, give these alternative modes of transportation a try:

Public transit

A decidedly underrated way of getting around town, public transportation is an economical and environmentally friendly way to get to class. Whether it’s by bus, train or subway, public transit can easily get you where you need to go. Some cities will even offer you a student discount on monthly passes!

Car share

When you absolutely need a car to pick up groceries or take a weekend trip to visit friends, car share services like Zipcar and Car2Go will allow you to rent a car by the hour or day. For a small annual fee, you can have a vehicle at your disposal whenever you need it.

Bike

Get creative with the way you get around town by hopping on a bike or strapping on some roller skates. More cities are making an effort to make the streets bike-friendly each and every day, and some even have bike-sharing programs available. Now that the weather’s getting warmer, you really have no excuse.

Walk

If the distance makes it feasible, put your legs to good use and walk to class. It may take a little longer, but you’ll get to know your city better and complete a bit of exercise in the process. Plus, it’s free!