Heels and wheels: How to get around UNC's campus

UNC students use a variety of personalized transportation options based on their schedules and where they are headed on campus, and in the surrounding Chapel Hill-Carrboro area.

Chapel Hill Transit

Students at the University use Chapel Hill Transit, a public transportation service that operates throughout Carrboro, Chapel Hill and UNC's campus. The buses travel 20 routes on weekdays, allowing students timely, fare-free access to parts of campus and the town.

Emily Powell, the community outreach manager of Chapel Hill Transit, brought up how public transportation can be daunting to use for the first time. She said that the transit system eases anxiety around public transportation with easy-to-use features on the Transit app, and the elimination of financial risks.

All Chapel Hill Transit buses are ADA accessible, including ramps and a kneeling feature to aid those with disabilities.

“With the right planning, we think that the bus works for everybody,” Powell said.

Biking

UNC is nationally recognized as a silver-level bicycle-friendly university due to their implementation of cyclist-oriented features, namely bike racks and repair stations. According to the UNC Transportation and Parking website, registration is required for bikes on campus. 

A popular gathering for UNC cyclists is Cyclicious, which occurs in late August. Bikers flock to the Pit to enjoy free bike checks, bike lights and other gear while learning more about cycling resources.

Critical Mass is a leaderless bicycling group originally founded in San Francisco in 1992. UNC students organized the Chapel Hill chapter, which is unaffiliated with the University. The group holds mass bike rides to promote safety for cyclists.

“The idea behind [Critical Mass] was just to let bicyclists know that they're not alone out there, that there is a community, and that there's safety in numbers [and] that we can control the streets,” Critical Mass organizer Luke Cimarusti said. “We can be safe out there if we work together.”

For those who don’t own bicycles, UNC has partnered with Spin to offer Tar Heel Bikes, supplying the campus with 100 bikeshare bicycles that students can pick up, ride and leave whenever they need. Through the Spin app, students are able to have access to these vehicles for $1, and an additional $0.29 for each minute they ride.

Skateboarding and Scootering

A smaller portion of students at UNC employ different wheels for transportation, such as skateboards and electric scooters. 

UNC’s skateboarding scene is largely centered around Skate Club, a student organization that meets weekly to skate at the Pit. 

Former Skate Club President and founder Ben Flora spoke about how his organization created an open environment for friendships to blossom. He also said that the club is a great place to get comfortable with skateboarding as a way to get around campus.

“I wouldn't go to class your first time riding a skateboard, because you will have to navigate around people. Skate Club would be pretty cool to practice just riding around and getting some maneuverability down,” Flora said.

E-scooters are also present at UNC, allowing students to get across campus quickly. First-year students are not eligible for a motorcycle or scooter permit unless registered through Hardship Parking, which provides a limited number of parking permits for students with extenuating circumstances.

According to an article on the Carolina Housing website, lithium-ion batteries found in electric scooters are highly flammable at room temperature. Additionally, scooters are not permitted in residence halls or other University buildings. 

“Students that choose to utilize these vehicles should be aware of the risks and follow proper usage guidelines to decrease potential harm,” the website said.

Walking

The most popular way students get around UNC is walking. The University and its surrounding town of Chapel Hill are heralded as conveniently walkable. 

For those who feel unsafe walking alone at night, a student-run and University-sponsored organization called SafeWalk safely escorts students to their destinations during the school year.

If you happen to be up late studying at the library, you can schedule a SafeWalk from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. A pair of students trained by UNC Police will walk you wherever you need to go, free of charge.

@reganxbutler

@dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com