How to BU: How to Get Around Commonwealth Avenue

A note for the newest members of the Boston University community: The academic transition from high school to college can be hard, but before you worry about your course load, you have a new factor to consider: how to get to class. With our campus stretching over a mile down Commonwealth Avenue (Comm Ave), students turn to various modes of transportation to get to class on time.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate getting to class!

Walking

Most students walk to class, and it’s a great way to incorporate some exercise into your daily routine. For anyone who isn’t used to city life, be aware that the trek down Comm Ave is fast-paced, and it can get pretty crowded between classes. It may be a good idea to track how long it takes for you to get to various places on campus, so you can time your walks and ensure you get to class on time.

The BU Bus

The BU Bus is a campus shuttle with various routes. There’s the Comm Ave loop, which goes strictly up and down Comm Ave, a shuttle to the Fenway campus, and another that goes past Comm Ave to the Medical campus. You can see these buses in real time by downloading the BU Mobile app. You can also access the bus schedules to see the approximate times and locations of when the bus will arrive at each stop. Keep in mind that sometimes the bus may be out of order and still appear on the map, so in some instances, it could be quicker to walk than to wait for the bus.

The T(rain)

If you’re not interested in BU’s transportation, you could try out public transportation and take the MBTA (or “T”) to class. To ride the T, you’ll have to pay with cash or use a paper ticket. It may be useful to look into picking up a CharlieCard, which you can quickly scan on the T and in the stations without having to pull anything out of your wallet. One app to help you keep track of the T schedule is Transit – note that the Green B line is what goes through campus.

Other

For those who aren’t interested in the first three options, consider investing in your own form of transport. Many students ride a bike (you can rent a Bluebike!), skateboard, or razor scooter to class, so don’t be afraid to pull up in your middle school whip *skrt skrt*.  

Regardless of whichever method you choose, be sure to pay close attention to traffic and crosswalk signals so you can get to class safely. Good luck as you figure out what modes of transportation works for you!

by Sara Hernandez, Questrom ’21