Is it actually easy to get around Oxford? As a student who hates paying for parking, I often take BCRTA buses or walk home, but how much harder is that than actually driving? On Tuesday, Nov 12, I documented my morning and afternoon commute to see how simple it is to get around without taking my car.
I take the bus in the morning, so I check the transit app to see when to head to the stop. I take the U3 bus route which goes to the Wells Mill stop behind the T.J. Maxx. The app shows all the estimated departure times and usually has real-time tracking for each bus on the route, but today it wasn’t working. Nevertheless, I left 5 minutes before my bus was scheduled to arrive.
At the stop I ran into my friend Cecilia Fuentes-Remington and we chatted while waiting for the bus, which pulled into the stop two minutes late. Late buses are nothing to be alarmed at and are not the norm for the bus system. Shawn Cowan, Public Engagement Director at the BCRTA, said buses run late 12% of the time and are on time 83% of weekdays.
At this point in the morning the buses aren’t crowded, and riders often have empty seats next to them. Although if the bus is crowded, make sure to have personal belongings in your lap so other passengers can sit next to you.
When the bus approached my stop, I pulled the string running across the windows to signal for the bus driver to stop. The ride itself only took four minutes, but it can take longer if the bus has to take more stops along the way.
After my classes I walked home, allowing me to run errands on the way. I started down Spring Street and stopped at CVS to pick up some prescriptions before cutting through the Miami Preserve parking lot. Walking allows you to take shortcuts through places where it would be inconvenient to drive or where bus routes don’t follow.
On the way back to my apartment, I was able to stop for boba at Yum Cha, and I passed Lane Library and other restaurants like Dunkin and Little India. It only took a half hour to get from campus to my apartment including stops, which is pretty comparable to going out and running errands with a car.
Overall, walking and taking the bus in Oxford is extremely accessible to able-bodied residents, and is better for the environment and your pocket.
Cars cause road congestion and make places like the four-way stop on Spring Street and Campus a mess, while walking and taking the bus relieves the stress of driving, finding parking and worrying about a ticket.
I hope to see more people on the buses and sidewalks.
