Everyone says it, and it’s no joke—college is expensive. And I’m not even talking about tuition; the college lifestyle is one of materialism, of spending and buying goods and services that you don’t even really need anyway. In order to be able to fund such a lavish and frivolous commercial lifestyle, you have to learn to conserve funds wherever else possible. Here is a list of the top three ways to get around the city without spending a fortune on taxis, Ubers or Lyfts.
#1. The GUTS Bus
The Georgetown University Transportation System Bus (or GUTS Bus, for short) is the top FREE resource for traveling throughout the city available to GU students. Riders can be picked up at the bus turnaround near the front of campus and can be transported to Dupont Circle, Rosslyn, Wisconsin Avenue, Arlington, and the Law Center. Each bus route runs at different times, but most are available at any time of the day or night that you may need them. Did I mention that it’s free?
#2: The Metro
If you’ve ever been to D.C., you probably have seen these signs sticking up randomly throughout the streets indicating the presence of a Metro stop. This underground train system is highly convenient and easy to navigate even for first-time riders. Although there is not a stop in Georgetown itself, there are stops in Dupont Circle and Rosslyn (to which, as mentioned before, the free GUTS bus will take you) as well as on the George Washington University’s campus in Foggy Bottom, which is about a 20-minute walk from campus. There are also various (aboveground) stops where you can even catch the Metrobus or DC Circulator. The Metro can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go, and is easy on the wallet, too.
#3: Capital Bikeshare
If you are a health-nut or just are feeling like you want to burn some of the calories that you ingested in the dining hall, hop on one of these shared bikes at any location around the city and pedal away. There is a Bikeshare station right outside the front gates, at the intersection of 37th and O Streets, which is super convenient if you need a quick ride. There are some rules to this service, but for the most part all you need to do is pay $2 and you can ride to any other station in the city and drop the bike off before your 30-minutes is up. So, this mode of transportation not only provides relief for your wallet, but it also offers you a chance to stay fit and get your daily dose of vitamin C.
Uber is great, and I’ll admit that I do use it often enough in a pinch; however, do not solely rely on services like this when you have great forms of public transportation available to you at little to no cost. Your bank account will definitely thank you and, as you start to blend in with the locals, D.C. will finally start feeling like your home-away-from-home.