How to Get Around at University of Florida

By Jared Hart

University of Florida is a large campus spanning approximately 2,000 acres, which can be a tough task to conquer on foot. While walking is a good option on campus, there are other good options that are accessible during the day and nighttime hours. Some students may decide to drive to campus, but beware because parking is very limited during the day on campus and the police department loves to ticket those without decals. Others may use other forms of transportation such as biking, scooters or the bus. Luckily, there is a plethora of convenient ways to get to and back from campus.

Here are some of the most common ways of transportation at UF:

Biking

If taking the crowded bus in the morning is not your thing, look to invest in a commuter bike. Biking is one of the best ways to get to and from campus and is a great form of exercise also. Gainesville is known as one of the most bicycle friendly towns in the country, with bike lanes almost everywhere. Make sure to obey all traffic laws as campus police won’t hesitate to pull you over for not following the rules. Plan to lock up your commuter bike on campus during classes as bikes are typically stolen on campus.

SNAP

Out late at night and don’t have a ride back to your dorm on the far side of campus? Available starting at 6:30 pm to 3 a.m., this free on campus van will pick you up and drop you off anywhere on campus. Using the number 352-392-SNAP, type in your pick-up and drop-off locations and SNAP will send a van equipped with two highly trained student drivers. Sometimes you may have to wait a bit, but having multiple vans on campus usually speeds up the process. Vans can sometimes fill up quick and people end up sitting on the floor or sitting on someone else’s lap, so keep this in mind.

GOTCHA Ride

Similar to SNAP, this free pick up and drop off service takes you off campus also and can seat up to 8 people. Although it is free, tips are usually appreciated and getting to know the GOTCHA driver(get their personal phone number line) can save you time in the future if you need a ride as nobody usually picks up if you call the main line.

RTS Bus Service

Buses run all around Gainesville and free for students with your Gator I.D. card on hand. There is a free app available called Transloc, where you can see the buses location and gives you up to date estimated time of arrivals.

Scooters/Mopeds

If you don’t mind spending quite a bit of money on a reliable scooter, then it can be a convenient investment, allowing you to get to campus quickly. Parking is also limited on campus for them. Scooters are very popular on campus, but think about wearing a helmet when occupying one. Safety always comes first!

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