Michigan State UniversityTransportation Summary

Written by Rachel McElroy

Rachel McElroy

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Students are largely impressed with East Lansing’s CATA bus system, describing it as both convenient and affordable. The CATA bus system in East Lansing caters to MSU students, with fast and reliable bus routes that run anywhere, on campus or off, to the student parking lot or the mall. Late-night bus services are also provided for students who would rather not walk. Most students would rather pack onto a warm, crowded bus in the winter months than the alternative of trudging through foot-high freezing snow. The bus systems provide a safe and reliable—if not always quick—way to get around or off campus. And though there are almost always a few shady characters to be found on the downtown buses, they are usually just eccentric and harmless. All in all, the bus system is a nice alternative to walking across campus or risking steep parking tickets.

East Lansing has many nearby options for students who want to get out of town. Lansing has a small airport that’s served by about 20 airlines, and there are both Amtrak and Greyhound stations convenient to campus. Students traveling to Ann Arbor or the Detroit Metro Airport often take the Michigan Flyer bus, which stops across the street from campus. Those without cars shouldn’t have too many problems getting around at MSU—the biggest issue is the inconvenience of waiting for public transportation. For most student needs, everything is within reasonable walking distance or is, at most, a short bus trip away.