Written by Lauren Toppenberg
Though it’s slow and not very dependable, public transportation is a cheap way to get around the city. Unless you want to take an expensive taxi ride or you meet someone with a car, say goodbye to commercial movie theaters, Target, and Wal-Mart. The closest are in Metairie, which is about a 20-minute drive from campus.
Streetcars are fun and new for about the first five times you ride them, but after that they’re annoyingly slow and full of giddy tourists who wear parade beads in the middle of October. Although they actually do have a schedule, you’ll rarely catch them on it—it’s best to allow a lot of extra time if you’re depending on them for anything. The fare is $1.25 for a one-way trip, and this gets you anywhere you need to go without the hassle of figuring out how much to pay. Buses also run through most of the city, and the fares are basically the same as on streetcars. Tulane’s shuttle services around campus are dependable and come around frequently. They are also big coach busses, so it’s a comfortable ride to wherever you’re
going.
Walking is always an option at Tulane and usually a pleasant one. A lot of locals jog down the St. Charles streetcar line day and night. Many students bring bikes and skateboards with them, and get around the city and campus that way. Overall, students have mixed feelings about public transportation. Everyone would love to have their own car, but you can survive without one and do just fine in New Orleans.