Getting around campus and Columbia

Posted on: 8/19/2014; Updated on: 2/10/2015
By Whitney Smith

We know that parking at the University of South Carolina is tight. To save you the trouble of trying to find a meter on campus, we've compiled some alternative ways to get around. There are even options for our off-campus students.

UofSC Shuttle

Students can take university shuttle for free to get around campus. Check NextBus to find which bus will arrive next at the stop nearest you.

  • Shuttles make stops approximately every 15 minutes along six routes
  • University Shuttle runs 7:30 a.m.- 5:45 p.m. Monday-Friday
  • Evening Shuttle runs 5:30 p.m.- 12:30 a.m. Monday-Friday
  • Late-night Shuttle runs 12:30 a.m.- 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday when classes are in session, and will pick up anywhere on campus. Just call 803-777-3351
  • APO escort- is a late-night bus sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega. Call 803-777-3825 for details

Bikes

Bikes are an efficient and environmentally-friendly way to get around campus. 

  • Register your bike online for free. This will help to discourage theft and assist in recovery if the bike is stolen
  • There are bike racks and stationary bike pumps across campus. Check out the bike rack map to view the available racks 
  • Students, faculty and staff can get low-priced bikes through Outdoor Recreation's Abandoned Bike Project, which reintroduces abandoned bikes and includes new LED lights and bike registration for $25-$70
  • Outdoor Rec's Bike Shop technicians can repair or tune up your bicycle for free, and they can teach you techniques to keep it in top shape
  • Find more bikes at local retailers in Columbia:

Scooters

Register your motorized scooter or moped and park in designated motorcycle/motorized scooter spots around campus. Retailers around the Columbia area sell mopeds and motorized scooters:

Note: driving a scooter or moped on or across a sidewalk or walkway is forbidden.

The COMET

The COMET, a new Midlands transit system, provides quick and easy access to campus and beyond. 

  • The COMET recently launched the Garnet Route [pdf]. From the Horseshoe the Garnet serves Assembly, Whaley, the Olympia neighborhood and Bluff Road. It operates 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) and makes stops every 20 minutes
  • On that same day The COMET launched the first phase of The Orbit, an internal circulator that will help move you through downtown. Routes travel every 30 minutes and are trackable on a smartphone
  • Plan your trip with Google Transit inside Google Maps

 

If you have your campus transportation covered but are planning a day trip to the coast or a weekend away, there's even an answer for that.

Hertz on Demand

Hertz on Demand offers qualified drivers ages 18 years+ environmentally friendly vehicles by the hour or the day. Members access cars using a Smart Card and only pay for the time they rent the car. Cars are available for pick-up on campus and:

Rent:

  • Rental costs are $6.50-$10 per hour depending on car type
  • Cost includes gas, GPS, Bluetooth, insurance, iPod adapter and 24-hour roadside assistance
  • Cars can be reserved by choosing USC from Hertz on Demand.

Drive: Pick up the car in the reserved parking areas: Bull Street Garage, BA Lot, and Cliff Apartments

Return: Members must return the vehicle to the reserved on-campus parking area where it was picked up

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