On campus or bust: Richmond's car-less get the short end

It's a Friday night. You've just ended a long, hard week. You're not really feeling The Cellar, and you don't know of any decent parties, so you retreat to your dorm.

There, you dwell in absolute boredom. Then you remember that you live on the outskirts of the capital city of Virginia, and maybe there's something to do beyond the lake, the frat lodges and the apartment parties - problem solved! But, the truth is that getting out of the "Richmond Bubble" is no easy task, for the car-less that is.

Richmond's campus is in a great location, sort of. It's far enough from the hustle and bustle of downtown and the Virginia Commonwealth University area to focus on schoolwork, but close enough to it to venture out every once in a while.

But the problem is getting there. One wouldn't see it as a problem because the campus sits on a main bus line. The GRTC buses seem efficient and mainstream, but looks surely deceive. Not until you get a bus schedule from Student Activities do you find out that buses stop running to and from campus at 10 p.m. every day.

This boggles my mind. Now, to find a nightclub that closes before nighttime! Or, find another means of transportation to get OUT - a ride from a friend. This is a splendid idea, but it can be very hit or miss.

First of all, you have to find a friend that is on the same page as you are, meaning that he/she also wants to go out. What happens if your closest friend at school with a vehicle is a hermit, and prefers to stay in and rest every weekend?

Then, you use your resources, I suppose, and ask around. The people who you ask at this point turn out to be acquaintances rather than friends. Yes, they had planned to go off campus tonight, but at the same time they're looking at you like, "Where the hell did you come from?" I guess the guy that sat three rows behind you in your night class that met once a week doesn't qualify as your BFF or taxi driver.

Taking a taxi is always an option. It can feel pretty nice being chauffeured around the city, but that nice feeling goes away once you get the bill. An average rate for taxis around Richmond is $1.50/ mile. Doesn't sound so bad, huh? But if your destination is 15 miles away, and you need a ride back to campus as well, you are looking at $45. This doesn't even include what you pay to get into the club. This option isn't so bad if you have money to throw away. If that's the case, call me up before you throw it away.

The university has taken action toward the lack of efficient transportation. The new bikes can't be ridden off campus, but they can take you to the bus stop. Eureka! And a way back to campus, you ask? The Richmond bus route is non-existent after 10 p.m. Maybe you can call the guy from that night class at 3 a.m. asking for a ride from Waffle House? I'm sure he won't mind picking you up!

Contact staff writer Kiara Lee at kiara.lee@richmond.edu