New transportation options available on campus
Carshare, bikeshare comes to UofSC
Posted on: November 14, 2018; Updated on: November 14, 2018
By Koby Padgett, kpadgett@sc.edu, 803-576-6701
There’s a new way to get around campus, the City of Columbia and even the state with new services offered through carshare and bikeshare partnerships brokered by Parking and Transportation Services.
A new hourly car rental service has been launched in conjunction with Enterprise Rent-a-Car and run through the university’s Parking and Transportation Services. Members of the university community start the process by signing up at enterprisecarshare.com/usc. After being approved, renters can download the Carshare app (Google Play, Apple) and start the rental process.
Signing up for the service costs $32, which will be turned into credit towards any rentals made. Cars are available for an hourly or daily rate that varies between weekday or weekend use. The renter won’t be responsible for gas costs; each car has a gas card that the driver would use to fill the car if needed.
Unlike normal car-rental services, students 18-20 years old can sign up and be approved to rent. Available cars can be reserved on the app or the app can be used to unlock and take an available car from a designated parking area, now at the C2 lot behind the Byrnes Building. Full details can be found on the carshare website.
Also on campus now is the Blue Bike SC program launched by the City of Columbia and Bewegen Technologies and sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
Two stations are on campus: at Lincoln and Greene streets near Colonial Life Arena and outside the Parking and Transportation Services office on Pendleton Street. A third campus location is planned near the Thomas Cooper Library.
To use the Blue Bike program, renters must register at bluebikesc.com and download the BlueBikeSC app on their mobile device (Apple, Google Play). Prices for a day pass, a single trip, monthly or annual memberships can be found on the Blue Bike SC website.
Campus community members can also get around campus easier by using the Transloc Rider app (Apple, Google Play) that tracks campus shuttles and the Passport Parking app (Google Play, Apple) that lets users pay for parking meters using their smartphones.
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