I won’t lie; it would be nice to have a car in college. But it’s even nicer to not have to pay for a car, let alone gas, parking, and maintenance. Cars are expensive, and if you’re like me, you’d rather put that money towards school right now. Or, maybe your college doesn’t even allow you to have a car. Luckily, you absolutely don’t need car to get by in most college towns. Here is how I survive (and thrive!) without a car.

1) Get to know the local transportation system.
I am so blessed to live in a town with a free, robust bus system. If you’re not so lucky, a lot of colleges offer some kind of a deal on the local public transport. If this is available to you, definitely take advantage of it! Even if there’s not a student discount, it’s probably worth it to get a bus pass anyway. Look at the route maps and decide if the bus is the easiest way to get where you need to go. I take the bus to go grocery shopping, and it’s so nice not the have to walk all around town with my heavy bags.

2) Make sure to plan transportation time into your schedule.
If you have to take the bus to class or another event, make sure that you leave with plenty of time! Even running small errands takes a lot longer if you have to ride the bus or walk. Just make sure you’re prepared for this.

3) Run all of your errands at the same time.
Without a car, getting into town is much more of an event, and so it’s best to do as infrequently as possible. If you need to run an errand in town, do your grocery shopping at the same time. The less trips you have to take, the easier your life will be.

4) Get a bike if you can.
They’re faster than walking, and more fun! I bike into work, and I love it. It’s good exercise, and it’s a nice way to start the day. Check out craigslist or your local classifieds if you don’t already have a bike. If you look right at the end of the school year, you can usually find a good deal on a bike that someone can’t take home with them or doesn’t need anymore. My school also has a bike rental program, see if your school has something similar!

5) Let friends help you out.
I’m not advocating using people for their cars (which is a jerk move and one you see in college way too often), but it’s okay to let friends give you rides if they offer. I have a very kind friend who offers me a ride every time she goes to the store, which is super nice and not really out of her way. If my friends are going to an event, I don’t feel too bad asking for a ride since they are going there anyway. Just be sure to thank your friends graciously and not take advantage of them. Offering up gas money never hurts either.

It’s also a good idea to be aware which of your friends or neighbors have a car in case of emergency. It never happens, but someday you might need a ride to the emergency room, need to be picked up from a bad situation or have some other emergency situation where you need a car. Knowing who you can call and ask for help is crucial in these moments.

6) Be prepared for walking.
When it boils down to it, you’re going to do a lot of walking in college whether you have a car of not. It’s really not that bad to walk in any weather, as long as you are prepared. Wear shoes that won’t give you blisters. Slather on the sunscreen in the warm months, and make sure that you have warm winter clothes and waterproof shoes if you live somewhere where it gets cold. Always always always have an umbrella on you. I had a friend who always made fun of me for carrying an umbrella on sunny days, but he was so glad I had it to share when a freak storm rolled in. Life is so much better when you’re dry!

Overall, living without a car in college is totally manageable. Do you have a car? If not, do you have any tips that I missed? Let me know in the comments!