University of South Carolina - Transportation

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The public transportation system at USC is, all in all, not bad. Students frequent the on-campus shuttles much more than the Columbia bus system, but both provide comprehensive routes. The Carolina Shuttles run Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with night shuttles starting at nightfall for safe and efficient transportation on campus. Although the campus is larger than 350 acres, the vast majority of one’s classes can be reached with a 15-minute walk. On the weekends, Cocky’s Caravan transports students to and from the bar districts of Five Points and the Vista free of charge. Columbia’s bus system is almost neglected by students. This is because many of the students do have cars, can easily walk to grocery stores and restaurants, and are unsure of where the bus stops.

To get out of town without a car, there is an Amtrak station, a Greyhound bus station, and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, all relatively close to campus. Students find these convenient, especially if they live far away. There are shuttles that run to both the Columbia and Charlotte airports, offering a convenient alternative to expensive cab rides. The easiest way to get from around campus is to walk or ride a bike. Bike racks are located outside almost every building on campus. Both on- and off-campus transportation is pretty safe, though one should always use caution in such settings.

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Students Speak Out

SCBT says: University of South Carolina 2015 English Language and Literature

Public transportation is certainly... Public transportation is certainly reliable for getting to the bars and safely back to your dorm via the Cocky Shuttle. Being that the University is urban, nearly everything worth visiting is within walking distance, including Ergo, the Vista and Five Points. 12345 Transportation: February 21, 2009 Report

SCaz says: University of South Carolina 2013 Communication and Journalism

The city of Columbia itself is... The city of Columbia itself is pretty lacking in public transportation. There are buses that run, but there's no master schedule published, so it's hard to catch. USC itself has a good system. They use a service called Next Bus, and you can have arrival times texted directly to your cell phone so you'll never miss it. 12345 Transportation: February 20, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

The transportation system is okay,... The transportation system is okay, I guess; they really need more shuttles. If you miss it, then you’re going to be very late. 12345 Transportation Report

Anonymous says:

I would only recommend using the... I would only recommend using the USC shuttle, which reaches every corner of USC’s campus that spreads across downtown Columbia. As for traveling around Columbia in general, it’s almost necessary for an individual to have access to a car for a Wal-Mart run or even just to get to the coffee shop. If you live on campus, this normally isn’t a problem if someone on your hall has a vehicle. 12345 Transportation Report

Anonymous says:

The school has about four... The school has about four different buses all around campus that make different stops for classes, dorms, and all that. I don’t really know about city transportation since I’ve never taken it. 12345 Transportation Report

Did You Know?

A shuttle runs from USC to the Douglas International Airport in Charlotte for a $49 fee. Reservations can be made at (803)783-5123.

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