Step aside cars, for the future of transportation lies with bikes, skateboards, scooters and public transit. Last mile vehicles like Bird scooters and Lime bikes have popped up on campus in the past two years, and we should welcome them with open arms.
Automobiles have enjoyed ubiquity for a little over a century. The Ford Model T was a technological marvel of the early twentieth century, and the automotive industry has done nothing but expand in the time since. Today, personal cars greatly empower students. Those with vehicles and homes relatively close by can easily go back during breaks, for instance.
On a much smaller scale, though, cars aren’t a good fit. For students living off campus, driving to class means getting a parking pass, which is not cheap. Even with a parking pass, spots aren’t plentiful across campus. Students living on campus generally have classes within walking distance, with occasional long treks. Driving to downtown Raleigh, however, is not the most convenient arrangement. Free parking exists there, but paid parking is more common.
This is where alternative transit comes in; students today have a plethora of options for getting around. Personal bikes are quite common and reliable, though they can get stolen without a bike lock. Bike costs vary heavily, starting at $80 for lower-end models and going up into the thousands for something more high-end. Bike locks are usually inexpensive. Lime bikes, Lime scooters and Bird scooters are similar in structure to bikes, but one doesn’t need to worry about locking them up, as they can’t quite be “stolen.” All cost $1 to start.
Some students own skateboards or longboards, which are carried around when not in use, rather than locked: this portability aspect is one of their strongest selling points. Boards of both varieties typically cost under $200. Motorized longboards have also been gaining popularity, and with good reason. They’re quite fast, most run for over 10 miles on a single charge and like their foot-powered counterparts, they are incredibly portable. They’ll likely never be quite as popular as normal boards, due to their high price point of up to $700, but students with motorized boards tend to think they’re worth it.
Finally, there is the Wolfline bus system. Buses are a fast way of getting around campus, and are commonly used by students that need to reach Centennial Campus. Bus location predictions may not always be accurate, but usually the only thing between students and a ride on a bus is a short wait.
In cases where someone has the option of either driving a short distance or riding a last mile vehicle, the latter often times will be easier to maneuver around the city or campus. Paths and sidewalks allow most of the aforementioned vehicles plenty of alternative routes, while cars are confined to roads. Bike racks are typically right beside building entrances; rental options don’t need to be locked up, and, as stated, boards can just be carried inside.
From an environmental perspective, all the mentioned options are significantly better than cars. Buses still pollute, but are vastly more efficient than cars, from a perspective of passenger miles traveled per gallon of fuel used. Motorized last mile vehicles require electric power, which in some cases can be traced back to fossil-fuel power plants, but electricity is also generated by nuclear and renewable sources. Even if this was not the case, last mile vehicles are ridiculously light, compared to cars, which helps contribute to less energy usage.
Personally, I own a motorized longboard. It definitely wasn’t cheap, but I absolutely love it. I live off campus, around the northern side, and I have morning classes at Centennial Campus on Tuesday and Thursday. My longboard is invaluable for traversing this roughly 2.5 mile-long distance. If I were to walk there, it would easily be an hour. A mix of walking and taking the bus would be around 25-30 minutes.
My typical commute with my board lasts around 15 minutes. If I wanted to go to a friend’s apartment to study, hang out or anything of the sort, I could drive my car, but I’ve found myself rarely doing so. If I need to go to Harris Teeter at Cameron Village, I’ll favor my longboard, unless I know I’ll need my car’s trunk space to hold a lot of groceries. I take a lot of small back roads on my way, which has the added benefit of not contributing to traffic on Hillsborough or Oberlin roads, and I don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot when I get there.
NC State’s commitment to providing alternative transit is admirable; students without the money to spend on a personal vehicle have options for getting around and really enjoying their time here. For those able to, investing in a bike or longboard can be a great option. Regardless of how you choose to get around campus, it’s exciting knowing we live in a time and place with so many options.
