Consider Bringing a Bike to College
8/7/2008
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Scholarships.com Staff
3 min read
Earlier this week, I blogged about two community colleges whose students could save money by attending college full-time on Fridays. One of the most significant savings of this program will be gas costs for commuter students. Full time Fridays are by no means the only way for students to save money on gas and car maintenance this fall, though. According to a recent article in USA Today, several colleges are getting on the bandwagon of encouraging students not to drive to campus, including several colleges that are instituting a bike sharing program, one that's moving a bike shop into its student union, and one that's giving free bikes to students who opt not to bring cars with them to college.
So now more than ever, leaving the car at home may be a great way to save money in college, and use that hard-earned scholarship money for other expenses besides gas. While policies to discourage driving have existed for years at some campuses, such as high parking permit prices ($300 is a number I've heard from students at more than one state college) and limiting access to on-campus parking through means such as parking permit lotteries and limiting parking to upperclassmen, many colleges and universities seem to be showing a far greater commitment to making it possible for students to easily get around without a vehicle.
So, freshmen, as you're starting to pack for school this fall, ask yourselves, "Do I really need a car on campus?" Furthermore, look to see what your new college might be doing to help students get around town. Is there good public transportation? Are there bike racks outside campus buildings and bike lanes on campus or around town? Does your school have a bike sharing program or a bike club or repair shop that will help you with maintenance and repairs? High school seniors, these might be good questions to ask in your college search.
With our society becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, now could be a great time to propose a fuel-saving plan at your high school or college, as well. More and more scholarships and grants are being awarded to students who create eco-friendly projects, so if you're sick of having to drive to school and you can propose a solution to the problem, start searching for available scholarships and grants to see if anyone's interested in funding your education, or at least your project. Saving on gas, looking good for college admissions, and possibly getting some money out of the deal--what's to lose?
So now more than ever, leaving the car at home may be a great way to save money in college, and use that hard-earned scholarship money for other expenses besides gas. While policies to discourage driving have existed for years at some campuses, such as high parking permit prices ($300 is a number I've heard from students at more than one state college) and limiting access to on-campus parking through means such as parking permit lotteries and limiting parking to upperclassmen, many colleges and universities seem to be showing a far greater commitment to making it possible for students to easily get around without a vehicle.
So, freshmen, as you're starting to pack for school this fall, ask yourselves, "Do I really need a car on campus?" Furthermore, look to see what your new college might be doing to help students get around town. Is there good public transportation? Are there bike racks outside campus buildings and bike lanes on campus or around town? Does your school have a bike sharing program or a bike club or repair shop that will help you with maintenance and repairs? High school seniors, these might be good questions to ask in your college search.
With our society becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, now could be a great time to propose a fuel-saving plan at your high school or college, as well. More and more scholarships and grants are being awarded to students who create eco-friendly projects, so if you're sick of having to drive to school and you can propose a solution to the problem, start searching for available scholarships and grants to see if anyone's interested in funding your education, or at least your project. Saving on gas, looking good for college admissions, and possibly getting some money out of the deal--what's to lose?