Should I Take My Car to UW?

[J1M]

Will I need it? Or should I leave it in BC?

[hollaholla]

It just dependz if U need to use it. If U gonna stay @ the res and only in the Waterloo area all the time, U can take the public transit if U like. But If U wanna hang out all da time especially going to Toronto once in awhile, I suggest U drive, at least U can go anywhere anytime U want without gettin' stuck in snow in da Winter

[coolman217]

i've heard of friends heading to Ontario from BC and you might consider taking a car. Doesn't mean you have to use it often or not but it's more of a convenience. I'm heading in that direction and I'm taking my car, since I know I will be stuck in the town without a car. With a car, at least I can do some grocery shopping as well as drive to work.

[shear_force]

A car is a nice convience at UW. All the large groccery stores (Sobey's, Zerhs, Food Basics) are a good distant away. Not so far that you cannot ride your bike or walk, but that would be annoying when tryinng to carry grocceries.

I have always had a car at UW and I liked it. It is a nice convience to have, but I didn't use it very often.

If you are concerned about break-ins, When my friend was living in UW Place, his car was targeted twice, but that is the only one I have heard of. Mine was in the Village parking lots and it wasn't touched once.

~Val

[Nyte]

Definitely bring it if you are able to.

[Killer~Socks]

if you are living in res i suggest you dont bring ur car, everything you need is within walking distance, u will have a meal plan, and all the restaurants are right on the corner of campus! If you are living OFF campus, then u will need a car for grocery, etc, etc.

WELCOME Frosh 2005!

[ashpanash]

i agree with it depending. If you live on res dont bring it cuz you'll be paying through the roof to park it somewhere. If you are living in a house i would recommend it because there are a lot of places that are not on the bus route. I had a car when i was at laurier and it was such a god sent.. plus if you wanted to get a part time job, you can afford to go farther to get decent pay like i did rather to have one in walking distance for minimum wage.

[Nyte]

if you are living in res i suggest you dont bring ur car, everything you need is within walking distance, u will have a meal plan, and all the restaurants are right on the corner of campus! If you are living OFF campus, then u will need a car for grocery, etc, etc.

WELCOME Frosh 2005!

Probably, but not necessarily. Even in res, its very nice to have.

It will definitely cost you for parking, but if you're considering bringing it, I would assume that isnt an issue. Speaking of which, I need to buy myself a UW permit for next term.

[Killer~Socks]

In the Villages the meal plan is mandatory so yea, you should know where u are living by now, and if u have a meal plan or not. and Unlesss you are super rich, you shouldnt be bringing a car, its going to cost like hell, espcially since gas right now is 105.6+ and parking is going to eat all your $$$. and also B/C u are from BC and wont be driving back to BC for weekends (whereas If u are from Toronto or somewhere close and u want to drive back for the weekends, you may want to bring a car)

Probably, but not necessarily. Even in res, its very nice to have.

It will definitely cost you for parking, but if you're considering bringing it, I would assume that isnt an issue. Speaking of which, I need to buy myself a UW permit for next term.

[Tharyn]

I had my car with me whenever I'm on campus, I kinda need it for groceries and whatnot since I'm kinda in the middle of nowhwere, and a couple minutes from the school.

Above all, parking is cheap, only $100 for a term, compared to other Uni's like UofT and such, so you can't complain, and you'll be able to go in/around town really easily, and it works well if you and your friends want to carpool to go go see a movie or get groceries (the university plaza gouges you for money, so your best bet is out at Sobey's.

Honestly, I don't see how it'd be a bad thing, the most costly would be brining it over from BC, but it's useful.

Or jsut make friends with someone who's got a car!

--Mark

[Ron]

Or just make friends with someone who's got a car!

Mark, wanna be my friend?

Where does one go/surf to get a parking permit for UW?

[shear_force]

Where does one go/surf to get a parking permit for UW?

http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infopark/

You can apply for a permit online (left hand side) and pick up the permit when you get to campus. Although buying your permit online doesn't make things any faster for you, only for the workers at the parking office. It just helps them out to have them pre-purchased. The line will be very long the first few days of lectures when all the upper years not helping out with frosh week come onto campus. Try to go pick it up during frosh week would be my advice.

~Val

[Tharyn]

Mark, wanna be my friend?

Where does one go/surf to get a parking permit for UW?

Hah, if I had a nickel every time someone asked me that in 1st year, hell I'd have like 30 cents... but seriously, it all depends, there's not ALOT to do outside of the campus area and most things are well within walking distance.

Although for other things like the Mall's or Movie Theatre's, you'll need to take a car or a bus, so if you're cool with buses, then you're set and no need to bring the car.

--Mark

[hollaholla]

If U like to go clubbin' or goin' out VERY late... then U definity need a car~~ and pick up galz too???

[supernerd]

Just remember, for most students (and many ppl in general), the "need" usually means "want"

Having a car is a convenience. Unless your livelyhood depends on driving, you can always walk/rollerblade/bike/bus to whereever you need to go. Considering the price of gas and insurance and parking, the alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive.

But in any case, I've crashed at a friend's place at waterloo for a week once... the only time we used the car was when we went into kitchener or went to some club... otherwise, everything we needed was within walking distance from campus.