Portland State pushing alternative Transportation

Portland State recently approved the construction of the College Station Apartments, which will inevitably bring an increase in students living on campus. The university is hoping to prevent as many of its new students from driving as possible.

Luckily, most new students don’t have cars anyway, and generally most students living on campus don’t, and that’s okay.

According to Nikki Kress from Transportation and Parking Services, the department has been more active than ever at new student orientations in trying to reach out to new students with alternative means of getting around.

The school is working to promote student use of public transit systems such as the buses, the MAX and the Portland Streetcar operated by TriMet, as well as other means of transportation like bicycles. Once on campus, most buildings are already within walking distance of one another.

Less than half of PSU students drive to begin with, according to Kress, and TAPS is working to make student transit passes subsidized as well as to build additional bicycle parking spaces and increase bicycle services on campus.

With growth in the student population, obviously the university needs to recognize the need for parking, since not all students and staff are going to be able to rely solely on public transit, walking and bicycles all the time.

As students progress through their college careers here at PSU, they may one day find they need, or want, a car to make getting around fast and on demand. Many students who live on campus eventually choose to move off campus, and that sometimes comes with the need for a vehicle.

Yet the attempt to keep the school from becoming car-dominant is a trend that PSU should be proud of and continue to try and maintain. It’s a good thing, especially if PSU wants to continue to promote sustainability.

PSU should be commended for its efforts not only to promote, but also to actually support a car-free lifestyle for students living on campus.