Editor's note: All opinions, columns and letters reflect the views of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the IDS or its staffers.
Some days I wish I could teleport.
I could leave my apartment, get to class in five minutes and go wherever I want without having to check the bus schedule, open Uber or calculate whether a destination is worth the walk. Having a car would solve many of my problems, but my bank account had other plans.
As a college student living without a car, I’ve learned that getting around is like an adventure I never signed up for. A place that looks closer on Google Maps ends up being farther. And when it’s cold, raining or when you’re just tired, the idea of getting into a car and arriving at your destination in minutes sounds wonderful.
But not having a car also makes me appreciate exploring Bloomington at walking speed.
Owning and operating a vehicle can cost an average of $12,863 annually, according to Brittany Moye, about $1,072 a month. That’s a considerable amount for college students who already have to deal with tuition, rent, groceries and other expenses.
A lesser estimate of having a car in college from CollegeData comes in between $4,500 and $9,800 annually. This one also includes insurance and gas expenses, which can quickly add to our budget as students.
All those figures make me grateful I don’t have to worry about monthly car payments or even paying for parking. I can spend that money on groceries, save it for something more important and occasionally treat myself without having to worry about whether I have enough gas in my car.
Still, I wouldn’t pretend that walking everywhere is a magical solution to transportation.
The biggest perk of not having a car is the opportunity to be spontaneous. If I have a last-minute invitation, everything becomes a logistical operation. How far away is it? Is there a bus? Will I have to pay an Uber to get back? Sometimes, the hardest thing is not deciding whether you should go or not but figuring out how to get there.
But coming from Peru, where the stores were close to my house and walking was easier than waiting in traffic, I see the positive side.
Walking introduces me to see places I might pass by without a second thought. I get to experience Bloomington’s streets, shops and the changing seasons. A walk to get groceries can become an opportunity to discover a new coffee shop. A familiar route can look different with the orange leaves on the ground and the wind refreshing your face.
These are not revolutionary discoveries. People have been walking since the beginning of time. Yet it's still easy to forget that getting from one place to another isn’t always a task to be completed. Not having a car taught me to be more intentional about where I go. I sometimes combine errands into one trip, choose places I can reach on foot and think twice before spending money on transportation.
I’m not arguing that everyone should give up having a car or that walking is way better. I’m arguing that having a car shouldn’t be considered the only way. College is often described as one of the most independent experiences of our lives. We learn to manage schedules, cook our meals, do laundry and make important decisions without our family nearby. Learning to navigate a city without a car is also part of the process, even when it’s a little bit frustrating.
I still wish I could teleport when I’m tired or running late. I don’t enjoy every long walk I take, and I also don’t like waiting under the sun for the bus. But for now, I will keep doing that. I will keep discovering Bloomington, one street at a time, and maybe save money for a car.
Astrid Alomia (she/her) is a sophomore studying journalism with a concentration in public relations and a minor in marketing and dance.
