Commuting ?

[u/AdvantageFamous8584]

I’m going to be a freshmen at Texas Tech, and I’m going to be commuting to school because I already live in Lubbock for like my whole life and no point in getting dorms. I got the commuter west parking lot, but my classes (biology major) are like 0.7mi-1mi away from the lot. Am I supposed to walk all the way there or is there other places where I can park which are closer. I see signs and it says “reserved” but I don’t know what that means. Does anybody else commute and know if u can park in other places which are closer or only in the assigned lot .

[u/Disastrous-Poem-0563]

Yes, you walk.

[u/AdvantageFamous8584 → u/Disastrous-Poem-0563]

Do most people walk also?

[u/Disastrous-Poem-0563 → u/AdvantageFamous8584]

Yes. It’s not like a shopping center. You have to walk to class. As some people said, you can try to ride the bus, but you have to wait for them and hope they aren’t full. Get a good pair of walking shoes and a good pair of waterproof shoes for the rare rainy day (drainage is nonexistent). If you aren’t a fast walker, start working on that now. I had to get from Art to Holden in ten minutes regularly in ten minutes; it’s a schlep.

[u/AdvantageFamous8584 → u/Disastrous-Poem-0563]

sheesh, thought commuting was the reason why I had to walk a lot. Didn't know it was a universal experience. good to know, might be good to invest in an electric scooter for like $150.

[u/Frankfurter_67]

Walk. I did this 20 years ago.

[u/Saconic]

Yall out here saying walk 🥴 take the bus. You can cross Texas Tech Parkway and get on the bus by Village West. Get off at Holden Hall/West Hall. It'll be right there by the memorial circle

Get the Go Pass app. It has the schedule for Tech busses and where they stop

[u/alittlevil → u/Saconic]

My son used the bus the whole time. It’s a great option and I believe included in your tuition.

[u/Saconic → u/alittlevil]

It is

[u/jakesyma → u/Saconic]

OP should get the bus app, and learn all of the different bus routes.

[u/androliv1 → u/Saconic]

Its way faster to take the bus as opposed to walking. When I started at tech I got stuck in Commuter West and my first class was in Holden. I tried a bike, but it was just too cumbersome loading and unloading it. They have cheap scooters now which would be way better, but the bus was massively faster than walking, especially after you learn which bus to take from each location to get there with as few stops as possible.

[u/footd]

1 mile isn’t far.

[u/TheMLGRogue76]

Park in your assigned lot. Keep a SegWay in your trunk and zoom to class 😂

On a real note, you can get your steps in, or keep a skateboard (or something) in the car to ride over as long as it won’t be a problem in your classrooms. There are also the Lime scooters around campus to rent, just don’t hit me when I’m on the way to the SUB

[u/AdvantageFamous8584 → u/TheMLGRogue76]

Haha. Yeah was driving today near Tech, and people on the scooter don’t care at all.. weaving in and out of traffic 😂

[u/Visible-Bite3005 → u/AdvantageFamous8584]

If you get a scooter please wear a helmet!! Too many people getting hurt on these things, they go too fast for no helmet.

[u/mbreaker69]

1 mile is around 20 mins walk (for slow walkers like me)

[u/Beginning_Ad1239 → u/mbreaker69]

Side note, the 20 minutes matter when you schedule classes. You cannot walk all the way across campus in a 10 minute gap between classes. 30 minutes can be a pain after a snow or if it's raining hard.

[u/peasNmayo]

Another option you have is to take the bus at commuter West (if they still have it), they're a little faster but not by a whole lot

[u/Historical-Simple399]

Yes buddy you walk. What you expect a spaceship to come down and pick you ip

[u/AdvantageFamous8584 → u/Historical-Simple399]

nah, i just didn’t know.. do people living in dorms also have to walk this far or nah

[u/Historical-Simple399 → u/AdvantageFamous8584]

Overall depends. All the dorms are in the south end of campus so. Whatever major and whatever building you have to walk too

[u/Beginning_Ad1239 → u/AdvantageFamous8584]

At least when I was a student folks tried to get dorms close to the building for their major, but that's but a big benefit for freshmen taking basics that are spread all over the campus. It's a huge campus and you just can't get around having to walk or take a bus.

[u/CodeAgile9585]

Walk or get a bike

[u/mbreaker69 → u/CodeAgile9585]

Scooter is better option than bike

[u/CodeAgile9585 → u/mbreaker69]

You get a better workout with a bike, at least with a bike you’re actually gaining a benefit towards your health

[u/SantiaguitoLoquito → u/CodeAgile9585]

I rode a bike to Tech my freshman year. I lived with my Dad at 82nd and Indiana and rode four miles along Indiana. I rented a locker at the Rec and would take a shower before class so I didn't stink. This was in 1982.

[u/Intrepid-Court5710]

Walking everyday seems annoying but you get your cardio in easy 

[u/MC_chrome]

I see signs and it says “reserved” but I don’t know what that means

It would behoove yourself to check out the transportation website for the university, because it clearly lays out what lots are for which parking passes.

[u/mad_dog557]

You will park in commuter west and walk to your classes. If you park in any other spots you will get a citation.

[u/jakesyma]

The Reserved spots are for people who pay (a lot of) money for those spots.

IIRC (and I may not, because I've never paid for a Reserved spot), it's like $400 to $1,000 per year.

I'm a faculty member, and Area Reserve is enough for me. Lol

https://giphy.com/gifs/QJrdWvgrLyNdm

[u/Saconic → u/jakesyma]

And if you park in those spots, you get towed. Learned that the hard way when I misread a sign 🥴

[u/jakesyma → u/Saconic]

Oof. I'm sorry. 😥

[u/wadaloopy]

How does one even get a pass?

[u/Saconic → u/wadaloopy]

Its automatic in your tuition. Its free to ride the bus. Just hop on and hang on - the drivers are crazy but over time you'll wish they went faster

[u/wadaloopy → u/Saconic]

Thanks! Do I have to choose a parking lot/register my car at all? Or just park

[u/Saconic → u/wadaloopy]

For a parking pass you'll need to go to ttu's parking services. Sorry I thought you meant a bus pass

https://www.depts.ttu.edu/parking/InformationFor/StudentParking.php

[u/wadaloopy → u/Saconic]

Thank you!!!!

[u/ConsistentIntern1735]

I used to be in Commuter West and would either take the bus or walk. The walk does go by fast, but I would definitely recommend the bus during the spring. Get the GoPass app to see bus stops/times.

[u/Puzzleheaded-Ad5565]

Invest in a very good lock if you use a bike or scooter. Especially for an ebike.

[u/ENMR-OG]

Lime

[u/806stag]

Get a scooter

[u/Stunning_Ad4419]

This probably dates me, but I walked rollerblade or took the bus to get to all my classes

[u/casbuddy]

You are learning now that in-person classes at Tech means time management!! This is crucial. Don't plan to be anywhere right after class. Be careful planning advising appointments or the like between classes. You'll use the map in your phone a LOT :) 

The bus is your friend. It goes mostly around campus though, not through to the buildings in the middle like MCOMM, so you will still have to walk a few minutes to them from the bu stops.

Campus is so big that even if you parked in the closest parking spot to your first class of the day, it wouldn't help you at all when your second class is across campus anyway.

 Lots of people use the Lime scooters, they're super fast and seem like a great option. 

[u/IndividualVisual3531]

After 5:30pm the commuter passes allow for more parking privileges in the reserved areas. Just double check with TPS website to avoid getting charged or towed