With more than half of all students living on or within two miles of campus, it’s not surprising that 80% commute sustainably, with most walking, to classes, according to surveys by Cornell Transportation. But Cornell also supports a range of other sustainable commuting options as well.
Biking at Cornell
Cornell’s Ithaca campus is built for biking — Cornell and Ithaca have been recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bike Friendly University and Bike Friend Community. With over 1,000 bike parking stations, approximately seven miles of bike lanes, and two miles of shared paths on campus, cycling is an excellent way to reduce carbon emissions and enjoy some exercise at the same time. Every bus in the local Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit fleet has a front-mounted bicycle rack to help cyclists tame the hills and weather of Tompkins County — with no additional fare for using the bike racks.
Bike Walk Tompkins maintains a list of places for tune-ups, rentals, and purchases, as well as resources to help you map your trip, connect with biking groups, and prepare for Ithaca weather year-round. They also have resources for e-bikes and bike sharing. Just remember: learn the rules of the road and how to bike safely — and be sure to wear a helmet.
TCAT
Cornell’s subsidy of TCAT is part of the University’s longstanding commitment to public transit and sustainable transportation, and nearly a third of students use TCAT as their primary mode for getting to campus. Since 2005, bus fare has been free for the first year for all new students. Registered doctoral students and graduate assistants now receive free TCAT passes as well. All other Cornell students receive free, unlimited rides on all TCAT buses after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and anytime Saturday and Sunday. For unlimited access to all county bus routes, consider an OmniRide pass at a discounted rate. TCAT also recommends several apps that could enhance your rider experience.
Green Vehicles, Carsharing and Ridesharing
Cornell supports sustainable transportation through access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and preferred parking for low-emission and alternative-fuel vehicles. If you only occasionally need a car to get around, maybe carsharing is more your speed. Cornell has partnered with Ithaca CarShare to offer students discounted memberships. Finger Lakes Rideshare has options to improve your commute, including an online network board for commuting or occasional ridesharing and a public transit trip planner to simplify your route and schedule.
Thanksgiving Break
Traveling for Thanksgiving break? Carpooling with others is almost always more sustainable — and cost effective — than solo car trips. Depending on your schedule and destination, the Cornell Campus-to-Campus bus runs twice daily to and from New York City, or you can take Amtrak out of the Syracuse Regional Transportation Center.
Looking to go the extra mile? You can calculate the carbon emissions associated with your trip and offset them locally through the Finger Lakes Climate Fund, which funds clean energy projects and supports local families in need.
However you get around campus and explore the Ithaca area and surrounding region, please do so safely, responsibly, and — ideally — sustainably.
Reed Huegerich is the assistant director of transportation at Cornell University. He can be reached at rgh98@cornell.edu.
