With the expansive IU campus, students might feel overwhelmed when it comes to getting from one place to another.
Thankfully, the campus is well equipped to help your incoming student make it class on time. Here are some resources you’ll want to help them consider.
BUSES
IU offers four campus busses that will take students anywhere they need to go, the A, B, E and X routes.
For students out late, the Night Owl bus runs from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. so your student doesn’t have to travel on foot during late hours. For more information on the campus bus service, check out iubus.indiana.edu.
Additionally, Bloomington Transit serves the greater Bloomington area, including much of campus. This connection will allow your student to go off campus for food or entertainment. There are at least 14 different routes that stop at apartment complexes, the College Mall and the downtown area.
With a student ID, your student rides free. Check out more information at bloomingtontransit.com.
CARS
Bringing a car to campus is something many students consider as freshmen. A car can be useful if your student wants to leave campus for food or entertainment.
For example, the movie theater on College Mall Road is a further distance, but the bus can do the job.
There are also a number of cab companies located in Bloomington as well as services like Uber which offer rides anywhere students may need to go.
Students who bring cars have the option of purchasing campus parking permits or residential parking permits.
Campus permits only allow your student to park in designated spots on campus that are marked with the same letters that appear on the pass. Generally, freshmen will be given a permit to park in the football stadium parking lot. Parking here requires that all student cars be moved in advance of game days.
Residential parking permits allow parking at residence halls, however students usually have to add their name to a waiting list to obtain these.
Parking spaces are limited, and spaces near academic buildings are almost never offered to students.
For information about parking permits, spaces and other rules about having a car on campus, check out parking.indiana.edu.
BIKES
Bikes are a great option for traveling to and from classes. They can be locked up outside many campus locations, including most academic buildings, residence halls, the Indiana Memorial Union and the Student Recreational Sports Center.
Bikes on campus must be properly registered through IU Parking Operations.
Those parked in campus racks also need a properly-displayed bike permit, which can be purchased for a one-time fee of $10.
Bloomington is bike-friendly as well. Several roads have bike lanes to increase biker safety so as to avoid pedestrians on the sidewalk.
AIRPORT TRAVEL
Shuttle services are offered between Bloomington and the Indianapolis airport for students and residents, which stop at the IMU and residence halls among other locations multiple times per day.
Both Go Express Shuttle and Star of America Shuttle offer trips from Bloomington to the Indianapolis International Airport. For more information, visit goexpresstravel.com and soashuttle.com.
