The Wheels on the Bus (and the Bike and the Scooter...) Go Round

Hey everyone! I'm Andrea Gutierrez, an Evaluator over here in Undergraduate Admissions. My job is mostly making sure you get credit for transferable coursework completed outside of UCLA, in addition to reading the seemingly endless supply of freshman and transfer applications every year.

Though a lifelong Bruin fan (my father was a UCLA student in the '60s), I earned my bachelor's degree at a tiny women's liberal arts college of only 800 students. You can imagine my culture shock of coming to an institution as big as UCLA. It's been like a second college experience for me, and there have definitely been some perks that blow my mind.

For example, the transportation options are surprisingly endless and relatively painless. It's no secret that parking at UCLA has long been tricky at best.

But why worry about keeping and maintaining a car when UCLA Transportation offers up a slew of alternatives?

In the '60s, they called it the Bruin Bus Tram (5 cents a ride!).

In the 21st century, we call it the Campus Shuttle (FREE rides!).

Getting around the LA region is easier than you think, with Westwood as a major hub for multiple bus lines (Metro, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver City). It's also one of only two locations in Los Angeles where the new FlyAway bus to LAX picks up and drops off ($3 each way) 24 hours a day. Most, if not all buses feature bike racks, and though Westwood sports a hilly, huff-and-puff inducing terrain, there are plenty of racks and lockers and bike lanes around campus. Motorcycle parking is free, and for those of you planning to live at home, there's always the option of a van- or carpool.

Best of all, most of these options can be had at a deep discount for UCLA students and staff. Bus passes are very reasonably priced, and Santa Monica and Culver City buses are only 25 cents with your Bruin Card during the fall, winter and spring quarters!

So get on board! Anything to not deal with traffic and parking...

P.S. To all of you applying for transfer to the School of Engineering for Winter 2008: It's less than three weeks until your application is due on August 17. Get crackin' on those apps!

Black & white photos courtesy of UCLA Library's nifty digital photo archive, Changing Times: Los Angeles in Photographs, 1920-1990.

Comments

[Mark]

I am always enthralled by scooters, simply because of its highly efficient scooter mileage.

[Vera C.]

Ingenius! I like the pics too. Makes me want to ride the bus for fun.

[HDR]

I love all of your posts, would you take a look at my stuff here: Japan Photos

And tell me what you think. It's just a small japan photo blog, not as much content as yours, but I try to keep it updated.

V/r,
John

[los angeles team building]

Wonderful post. Give's you a true sense of Bruin history. Hopefully, you'll do a series of these. :)

[Paul]

I agree with Mark, I prefer to go with motor scooters too.

BTW nice post Andrea

[shmulik]

Hello. I agree with you.