There’s more than one way to get around
For most students, making their way around campus is an everyday task. How they make their way around is the issue.
There are many different kinds of transportation students can choose from, including the traditional walking method, biking, skateboarding, longboarding, mountain boarding and rollerblading.
Walking is one of the most common forms of transportation on campus. According to the Utah State Alternative Transportation Web site, www.usu.edu/parking/AltTrans.htm, walking is also an excellent form of exercise and requires little effort.
Gentry Cole, a freshman majoring in art education, said she walks everywhere on campus.
Liz Draffenried, a freshman majoring in elementary education, rides the shuttle bus to campus and walks from there. Sometimes Draffenried and her roommates will use a car to get to campus, then walk to their classes.
Jeremy Wootton, a freshman majoring in music education, said he usually rides his bike, or walks on campus.
“I like my bike, because it gets me to class fastest,” Wootton said.
Hansu Kim, a junior majoring in marketing, agreed that his bicycle is the fastest way to get him to class, and easy, too.
“I come from San Juan Hall, and it is easy to just ride my bike here,” he said.
According to the transportation Web site, bicycling is not only good exercise, but it helps the environment and reduces traffic congestion.
Angelee Dean, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering, said she walks or rides her bike on campus.
She said her bike gets her to class fast on the way down, but is a little more work getting back to her apartment at the end of the day. Dean said once winter hits, she will definitely commit to riding the shuttle bus only.
Ryota Iizuka, a freshman majoring in computer graphics, rides a bicycle, too, although, he said it is not very fast for him.
Jared Shores, a freshman majoring in business marketing uses his skateboard as his way of transportation. He said he has been skateboarding for six years before he came to Utah State University, so it’s not a skill he learned just to get around campus. He uses his skateboard because it is something he loves to do.
“If there is a lot of snow in the winter, I will have to change to walking, or just get piggyback rides everywhere,” Shores said about skateboarding in the winter.
Natali Zollinger, a freshman with an undeclared major, uses a longboard as her transportation. She said it is faster than walking and fun, too.
“I will ride my longboard in rain or snow, unless there is like two inches of snow on the ground, then, I guess I will have to walk,” Zollinger said.
Landon Ashcroft, a sophomore majoring in physics, rides a mountain board. Ashcroft said a mountain board is like a longboard, but is used for “off-road riding.” The wheels on a mountain board are much bigger and have better traction. He said he’s been riding his mountain board for three years.
“I don’t have much time in between classes, and my mountain board gets me there fast,” Ashcroft said about his uniquely cow-patterned board.
Tim Campbell, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, rollerblades around campus.
“I like to rollerblade because it is easier to get here, and I don’t have to wait on the bus schedule,” Campbell said. “Although, once winter comes, I will probably change to walking, unless I can find studded tires for my rollerblades.”
-kbanks@cc.usu.edu