Student Experience

Hoos on the move: 7 ways to get around Grounds and Charlottesville

At 8:55 on a typical morning, the streets and pathways of the University of Virginia Grounds are alive with activity as students rush to their 9 o’clock classes on foot, zip by on bikes and glide along on everything from skateboards to futuristic Onewheels. With just minutes to spare, Hoos are mastering the art of getting from point A to point B.

Here are seven of the most common ways students get around Grounds and the greater Charlottesville area.

By foot

Walking remains the typical college experience for many students. Fiona Goo, a second-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences, embodies this traditional approach. Her typical walk to class takes about 15 minutes, though once on Grounds, most destinations are within a 5- to 10-minute stroll.

“I like walking on Grounds because it lets me move around so I’m not just sitting in class all day,” Goo said. “Sometimes I run into friends, and it gives me a break between classes to listen to music and walk.”

The experience of walking through Grounds changes with the seasons. “I really love walking through the gardens, especially at this time of year when everything is still green and there’s actual fruit you can pick. It’s just peaceful and calming,” Goo said.

By bike

For students seeking efficiency, biking is a common solution. Ishan Bhikha, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student living on the Lawn, has been cycling since age 5 and brought his bike to UVA during his first year.

“I prefer to bike around Charlottesville because it significantly reduces my travel time from place to place,” Bhikha said. “I also like that I get small pockets of active exercise throughout the day by biking instead of walking or taking the bus.”

The University’s infrastructure supports this choice, and according to Bhikha, “The bike lanes on Grounds also encourage safe and efficient biking.”

By scooter

a UVA student riding an electric scooter

Electric scooters have transformed short-distance travel for many students. Ian Sim, a fourth-year psychology and economics student, relies on Veo scooters when other transportation options aren't available. Living far off Grounds, he faces a 40-minute walk – but scootering cuts that commute to less than 10 minutes.

Veo scooters are scattered throughout Grounds and Charlottesville on a first-come, first-served basis. Users locate them through the Veo app, then simply park and pay when finished.

“I Veo when none of my roommates can give me a ride because I live far off Grounds,” Sim said. “Veoing saves me over an hour a day compared to walking.”

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By moped

Student athletes face unique time constraints often requiring faster transportation. Lauren Kenah, a fourth-year biology major and field hockey midfielder, understands this pressure firsthand.

“I ride my moped because, as an athlete, I don’t have a lot of time to waste,” Kenah said. “Between classes, lift, practice and travel, I have to make the most of every minute in my day.”

For student-athletes, mopeds are a tool for academic success. Kenah explains sometimes she has only 20 minutes between classes and practice, making it difficult to arrive on time.

She said, “even if a student-athlete has a free hour to walk to class, they may have to use those extra minutes to get an assignment done.”

By Onewheel

Picture snowboarding on pavement – that’s essentially what riding a Onewheel feels like. This single-wheel electric skateboard responds to a rider’s balance and weight shifts, creating a gliding experience across the ground.

Tristen Lowrey, a physics doctoral student, has been riding his Onewheel in Charlottesville for six years, starting his first day at UVA as an undergraduate.

“In undergrad, it made sure I was able to be on time to classes 10 minutes apart on opposite sides of the University,” Lowrey said. “Now, it’s how I make my commute from JPJ (where I park) to my office in the physics building,”

For Lowrey, the Onewheel offers something traditional boards can’t.

“The Onewheel was designed with snowboarding in mind,” he said. “Even though I have experience longboarding, I found that I really prefer the way Onewheel rides.”

Lowrey noted that the device hasn’t gained widespread traction yet. He’s the only one in his friend group who rides one, but he is “always surprised when I see someone else on one.”

By University Transit Services

University Transit Service provides free bus transportation for UVA students, faculty, staff and visitors throughout Grounds and Charlottesville.

Chrystina Ing, a second-year chemical engineering student, started riding the bus during her first year at Kellogg House, where a stop was located right outside. Now living in Lambeth Field Apartments, she relies on UTS to reach her classes on Engineers Way.

“I love using the bus because after a long day of classes, walking up the stairs or walking all the way to classes is always tiring,” Ing said. “When the bus stops and routes are placed conveniently for my classes, it’s hard to say no to taking the bus, especially when it's free.”

For late-night transportation, UTS operates the Night Pilot service daily from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

By DART

For students with mobility concerns, University Transit Service offers Demand and Response Transportation, a service for individuals unable to use regular bus routes due to disabilities.

Katie Sponaugle, a fourth-year neuroscience major, first used DART for six weeks after injuring her knee during her first year on Grounds.

“At the time, I was on crutches and living in old dorms, so getting around Grounds was definitely a challenge,” Sponaugle said. “I was able to send them a pre-scheduled class schedule to specify pick-up and drop-off times and locations, which helped me stay on top of my classes.

“I’m glad I gave the program a chance, especially since it is completely free for UVA students,” she said.