Getting around with (or without) a car

Having a car on campus
Bringing a car to campus can be tricky for freshmen. A parking spot near their residence hall is not guaranteed and in most cases, pretty rare. Most freshmen are granted an E parking permit that allows them to park in the stadium parking lot – a far walk for some students. Also, cars must be moved to designated spots for all home football and men’s basketball games.

Another drawback: Virtually all street and parking lot space in Bloomington and on campus requires the correct permit. If a student’s car is caught parked in the wrong area – even for five minutes – one of the campus transportation officers will leave a ticket that will be charged to your student’s bursar bill. If you’re footing the bill and your student has a car on campus, make sure you talk responsible parking.

Tickets can get hefty and are passed out frequently. (If you need proof, take a look at the enormous Student Recreational Sports Center. It’s been said that the construction was funded by parking-ticket revenue.) Also, be wary that if your student has a car, most likely there will be more than one friend asking for the keys.

If you and your student decide not to bring a car to campus, there are still plenty of ways to get around. .

To purchase a parking permit for a bike or vehicle, visit www.parking.indiana.edu or call 812-855-9848.

Car trouble
It always happens at the worst moments: a flat tire, a dead battery. Normally, you’d come check out the problem yourself, but what happens when car trouble happens when they’re away at school? You have options.

IU Motorist Assistance
The parking enforcement office offers motorist assistance to all students who have “legitimate parking business on campus.” The best part: It’s totally free up to three times a year. After three calls for help, there will be a $30 charge, payable via your student’s bursar account.

Motorist Assistance will only help with the basics: dead batteries, flat tires, empty gas tanks and keys that are locked inside a car. But, sometimes, that’s just enough. If your student’s car does need further attention, you can ask them for a good reference.

Motorist Assistance is available from 7:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays only. Call 812-844-9849 to put in a request.

Getting them to the airport
Vacations and trips home are nice, but the nearest airport is in Indianapolis. So how do they get there? Here are the options for your student:

Bloomington Airport Shuttle Service
www.bloomingtonshuttle.com
This shuttle service makes nine daily trips to and from the airport. There are five different pickup spots around campus, including two residence halls and the Indiana Memorial Union. Buses leave IU as early as 4:50 a.m. and as late as 8:50 p.m.

Buy your ticket online or on the day of travel. One-way tickets to and from the Indianapolis International Airport are $15 and round-trip tickets are $30.

And if you’re interested, you can also book a private car or limousine by calling 812-332-6004.

Star of America
www.starofamerica.com
Shuttles for Star of America depart from Bloomington nine times daily and pick up passengers from six different locations, including three residences halls and the IMU. Shuttles leave IU as early as 4:30 a.m. and as late as 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 each way and can be purchased online or at the pickup location. Drivers accept both cash and credit cards.

Also, look for special deals and extended hours around holidays and spring break.