<p>I heard somewhere that they are not...is this true?</p>
<p>No, unfortunately… according to their website:</p>
<p>"Can first-year students have cars on campus? Is there public transportation? </p>
<p>First-year students can’t bring cars to campus. Upperclassmen may apply for a limited number of on-campus parking permits. Most students find that they do not need a car on campus. The campus is highly pedestrian oriented, and the vast majority of the classes for undergraduates are located in a concentrated area just a short walking distance from dorms. The University provides a number of highly efficient transportation options for traveling longer distances and providing safety at night. Point-to-point shuttle buses and vans that circle campus and SAFE escort, running from libraries to residence halls, are two of these options free of charge for students. The Chapel Hill transit system provides excellent transportation for campus and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. A free bus runs a scheduled route around the campus, while separate bus routes accommodate residents traveling to other places in town such as the local mall."</p>
<p>Anyone got an idea where one could possible park off campus w/o catching a towing or parking ticket?</p>
<p>There are some churches and other organizations that will rent you a spot in their lots for the year, but you’ll generally hear about those through the grape vine…</p>
<p>You really don’t need your car that much, though. Most places will have a bus that goes there directly, and upperclassmen are usually really willing to drive you anywhere you need to go (don’t forget to give them some gas money!).</p>
<p>Underclass student: “Hi fellow upperclassmen, I was wondering if you could give me a ride to the mall?”</p>
<p>Upperclassmen: “Even though I don’t know and your holding a knife, sure underclassmen I’ll give you a ride.”</p>
<p>There’s tons of people who rent out parking spots close to campus. Just look on craigslist this summer, and you won’t have a problem finding something. It can be kind of expensive though, depending how close it is to campus, but on campus parking is expensive too.</p>
<p>Just live in Granville, and you can have a car at one of the best locations on campus.</p>
<p>How much is Granville? And is it far from campus?</p>
<p>Granville is pretty expensive when compared to the dorms. I’m not sure how much it is exactly; I would just google it. And no, its pretty close to campus. Closer than a lot of the dorms are.</p>
<p>I can understand the desire to have a car on campus, but it really is not necessary. The bus system on campus is really good, and free. Beyond that, you will find friends that have access to cars when you need it.</p>
<p>If none of that appeals to you, I would recommend becoming a member of zipcar. For $20 a year, you can rent 6 cars on campus for $5 an hour. You don’t even have to pay for gas. So unless you are planning on driving home every weekend, you really do not need a car at all.</p>
<p>I would say that cars are definitely used for more than just “driving home every weekend”. For instance, if you plan on visiting Southpoint, Finley Golf Course, Raleigh, etc. then having a vehicle really helps out.</p>
<p>that’s kinda annoying :/</p>
<p>It’s seriously not a big deal. It seems like a big deal - it isn’t.</p>
<p>My son’s roommate freshman year had a car. He found a parking spot near downtown that they paid dearly for. That spot is no longer available because of new construction. Most people find that affordable parking is a good distance from school and more times than not can be a hassle getting to and from the space. In his roommate’s case he had to move his car on football Saturdays which complicated things even more.</p>
<p>As other have said, it really isn’t a big deal not having a car the first year.</p>
<p>if you live in granville you can have a car. </p>
<p>i live on campus and am a freshman, and i have a car. i park it just off franklin street. it was a little expensive but not too bad and definitely worth it. </p>
<p>you don’t really need a car, but it’s really nice having one to go grocery shopping or to visit friends at other schools.</p>
<p>Hovercrafts? I have never, ever, ever, seen a hovercraft at UNC.</p>
<p>Who knows, maybe its in the budget for next year. Doubt it though.</p>
<p>We do have Carolina blue helicopters with a Tar Heel logo painted on the bottom, but those are usually reserved for people on the brink of death and typically offer one-way trips.</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t. I can’t see a hovercraft doing too well on UNC’s campus (don’t you need a large body of water?). As I said, though, we have other “hovercrafts” that will come pick you up if you find yourself miles from campus and seriously injured. People usually don’t enjoy those rides though.</p>
<p>vespas?</p>
<p>close enough, right? haha</p>
<p>For some people, not having a car can be a big deal. For example, I horseback ride and the barn I will be training at is a 20 minute car ride from the campus and I will need to be there daily. Often I will also have to drive out of state to horse shows, so I will NEED a car. Unfortunately, Granville is sold out of all rooms other than their standard double-double:/ Worst case scenario, I will rent a parking spot. I just can’t stand it when people say “its not a big deal to not have a car” because it can be a very big problem.</p>