<p>I promised my previous question would be my last one before move in but I lied :P I couldn't resist!</p>
<p>I was wondering how the bus system in Chapel Hill was.I heard it was free, but does it run outside of campus? Can I get to places like the mall, bookstores, target, etc? Where could I find routes?</p>
<p>I tried searching for stuff online but got really confused with all the routes...</p>
<p>It is free and runs all over downtown as well as to several of the malls/shopping areas. I think I remember hearing about special runs to Southpoint Mall (and maybe others) on Saturdays but I could be wrong there. Any current students care to comment on this?</p>
<p>At night (late night) most students use the P2P which picks up and delivers to your dorm etc.</p>
<p>There will also be people with cars that you will know and will be able to catch a ride to malls, Target, theaters etc. You aren't going to feel isolated and stranded.</p>
<p>eadad is right--there's free bus service on campus and around the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. (Both UNC and the town governments subsidize the service.) You can find the bus schedule at the Chapel Hill Transit website:
<a href="http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.asp?NID=397%5B/url%5D">http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.asp?NID=397</a></p>
<p>Bus service outside of Chapel Hill is available through the Triangle Transit Authority and costs something like $2 per trip:
<a href="http://gotriangle.org/Bus/ttaMapsAndSchedules.html%5B/url%5D">http://gotriangle.org/Bus/ttaMapsAndSchedules.html</a></p>
<p>And some folks don't know that there's a free express bus running back and forth between UNC and Duke as part of the Robertson Scholars program:
<a href="http://www.robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=static&source=68%5B/url%5D">http://www.robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=static&source=68</a></p>
<p>Just got back from dropping D off. The place is absolutely amazing! The ONLY problem was transportation... The campus buses stop running at 7:00 pm and then you wait and wait and wait until the P2P comes by... yes, it's free.
I rented a car, but no parking spots on campus. You end up parking at a parking lot (1.25/hour) and taking the bus. Very hot and humid and waiting for the bus is no fun.<br>
We got lost an awful lot, too. Poor street signs when you go off campus. Don't try dooing this in the dark... we were lost for an hour!
However, EVERYONE at Chapel Hill is super-friendly and helpful! Very, very nice people!</p>
<p>We just returned from CH as well! And RioMom is right...it is an amazing place in which it is very easy to get lost...lol! We did slightly better this year than last since this is our third trip there...but we've yet to find that darned Gimghoul Castle. However, we finally understand all the forks in the roads (Franklin vs. 15-501 and the two splits in Carrboro.) Our most interesting 'jaunt' was when ldgirl and I drove to the airport to pick up my husband. (She and I made the drive and he flew due to business conflicts). I-40 was under major construction from Raleigh to CH, so we opted to swing through Durham instead of taking the interstate back. Wow...Durham is kind of sketchy at midnight I have to say.</p>
<p>Kenan is an absolutely beautiful dorm (I think someone else mentioned they moved their d in at Kenan as well), and ldgirl and her roommate did a great job decorating their room. The hardwood floors, carpeted hallways, raised panel doors, walk-in closets and 'Southern Living' foyer/lobby made the place feel so much like a real home. Only problem...forgot the camera and have no pictures! And it WAS unbelievably hot. Whoa. Who would have thought there was a place and more hot and humid than Houston, Texas.</p>
<p>Btw....RioMom...were you there for the last CTOPS? Would they not let you park near your d's dorm in 40 minute parking? We did this...and they never actually enforced the 40 minute rule. (We also did a large part of the unloading at night when there were few cars.) When we did the CTOPS portion, we parked free at parent parking on South Campus and a dedicated P2P bus to the CTOPS sessions.</p>
<p>ldmom, we've been out of the country, just got back last night, and only just moved in our daughter tonight! I think it's actually cooled off some now from what it was a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>About Gimghoul Castle-- I have a friend who lives on Gimghoul. So if you know Kenan, then you know where Country Club Road is, and Gimghoul is a residential (dead end) street just off Country Club Rd. If you keep driving, Gimghoul Castle is at the very end of Gimghoul Street, hidden in the woods. Check it out next time you visit. Can't believe you were driving around Durham at midnight and lived to tell the tale. Yikes. (Just kidding-- well, just a little). ;)</p>
<p>jack...yes I know where Country Club is...it's my favorite street on the whole campus I believe. Beautiful shady curving lane where Jackson and Cobb are located, intersects with Battle Lane where Kenan is located, am I right? Cannot believe we were that close to Gimghoul and missed it!</p>
<p>My d told me it was raining hard after we left, so I figured things had cooled down there in the last 24 hours. Last year, it was VERY nice during CTOPS and move-in weekend....actually cool and crisp in the mornings. This year....almost 90 degrees at 8 a.m.</p>
<p>Btw...to all here for future reference...I highly recommend the night move-in thing. Much cooler, less commotion.</p>
<p>ldmom: Yep, that's it; you were so close. Check it out next time you're in town. Still somewhat difficult to actually see it from the street-- hidden so well by trees-- but worth the walk through. </p>
<p>We did get a huge thunderstorm last night-- or maybe it was very early this morning. Very cloudy now, and it has cooled off some.</p>
<p>Idmom, I had to laugh when I read your post. I went over last week to CH to move son into an apartment (he is a junior transfer). We wanted to go to a store that ended up being right off I40---however when I entered it into GPS, the routing was set on "shortest mileage" or something. It routed us through these back roads of Durham (early evening though) and you're right there are some interesting areas!</p>
<p>Son is loving the town so far. He is about 1.5 miles from campus and has walked it and taken the bus. He bought a used bike and is using that some too. </p>
<p>He has found that people have been very friendly and welcoming. And he has found a 24hr. gym to work out in so that has made him happy too.</p>
<p>mkm - lol...interesting to say the least. I have to say it is always such a relief when we get back on the 'right' side of I-40 after a Target run. Nothing personal against Durham, or that other school 'over there', but what a contrast! Beautiful, historic Chapel Hill with with its winding path-like streets lined with shady trees and low stone walls, vs. typical ugly urban sprawl. </p>
<p>No contest! ;)</p>