As a college freshman living far off campus, the transit has become a staple in my daily routine. I rely on it to get to class, work, meetings, or even just to see my on-campus friends.

But it didn’t always come easily. It took me getting left multiple times the first week of class, chasing the transit in front of my new neighbors, and having to ask for a ride, to finally master how it works. It can even be helpful to those who live on campus on days where it’s rainy, when you need to get to the other side of campus quickly, or if you’re navigating campus at night.

You should start by downloading DoubleMap Bus Tracker on your phone. If you haven’t ridden the Tiger Transit in a while, you may still have the TransLoc Rider app. Auburn no longer uses this app, so DoubleMap is the way to go.

Finding Your Stop

A good start is to find the closet stop to where you live. With 138 stops around Auburn, you shouldn’t have to look too far. If you don’t see any Tiger Transit signs at first glance, you can head to this link for the current routes and stops. Once you figure out your stop, head to the DoubleMap app, click the icon in the top left corner, then select your route to check when the buses are headed your way. You can even choose to receive alerts when the transit is close, at a specific time during the day. It’s very important to find your exact stop and be there on time, because drivers are not allowed to stop places that are not designated transit stops. I’ve been on the transit multiple times when the driver has had to tell people no if they are not at specific stops. They cannot make exceptions.                      

Taking the Transit to Campus   

Every route runs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the South Quad East Campus, which usually ends earlier. It may take some trial and error to decide what time is most efficient to get to class, but I recommend checking when the buses will be at your stop about 30 minutes before you HAVE to leave. It’s also a good idea to get out to the stop at least one minute before you think the bus will get there, so there’s no chance of getting left (I speak from personal experience). Once you’re on it, all buses drop off at the Student Center, Mell, and some even take you to Lowder!

Taking the Transit Home

Some buses do loops on campus instead of off campus. For the off-campus buses, there are three different sections for pick-up at the Student Center, and every bus is assigned to stick to their section. When on the transit routes website, it will say Student Center 1, 2 , or 3, which signals where you need to look for that bus. There are also signs at each of the three stops that list which buses come to that stop. If you’re confused about which bus to take, you can view the route on the DoubleMap app, or just ask the driver.

The transit may seem scary or confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, its super convenient and can save you gas (or energy, if you walk)! Don’t forget to be respectful of others on the bus by leaving the front seats open for those who may have special needs, and ALWAYS thank your driver as you’re getting on and off. You never know, a quick thank you could determine whether or not they wait an extra minute when they know you’re normally on the 7:45 bus and running late.

Be safe and… 

Be well, Auburn.

 Photography: Morgan G.