need a car at lawrence? how's the bus?

<p>some questions on the need for a car at LU - can a student live w/o one, or does a student need one to get around? </p>

<p>Is there adequate public bus service to get in and around Appleton?</p>

<p>Finally, how do students get to chicago? car? bus? train? </p>

<p>I think I see a bus line out of appleton. Any students use this to get to chicago, or is it theoretically there, but practically not that useful (too hard to get to, too long a trip, does drop you off in the right area, for example)?</p>

<p>Lawrence's campus is right door to the downtown stores and other amenities of Appleton. Appleton's downtown is very nice.</p>

<p>The airport has flights to detroit, Twin Cities, Milwaukee and Chicago.</p>

<p>Chicago is a 3.5 hour drive, Madison 1.5 hours away and Milwaukee 2 hours away.</p>

<p>thanks. Sounds like a car to get around Appleton might not be necessary. What are the ways that the students might get to chicago (on their own, if they did not have a car, eg)?</p>

<p>They are working on getting a better van service around Appleton to the movie theater and Fox Valley mall for the students to cut back on the cars on campus. That said, there is much to do on the avenue and environs. Lots of stores, coffee shops, restaurants.</p>

<p>LU has a low pct of car ownership, per usnr - I think about 30 pct. I like the '0 distance' to the center of town. But I know the cinema and target is not a walk. I suspect that one reason they are building a movie house into the new student center is to mitigate the need to go to the off campus cinema.</p>

<p>Lawrence might start a free daily taxi service using hybrid vehicles next year. Nothing is set in stone yet but I'm working hard to make it happen. </p>

<p>We already have Sunday and Wednesday mall shuttles that take students to the mall and grocery store for several hours. I drive the Sunday one sometimes and it's very convenient for those who use it. I give all the passengers my cell number and when they are done they call me and I go pick them up.</p>

<p>that is a good idea, kassos, both the mall shuttle as well as the hybrid taxi thing. Better to have fewer cars servicing hundreds at the right times for the fewer times they need it than those hundreds having hundreds of cars.</p>

<p>also, will LU provide taxi service to chicago? :)</p>

<p>I found this ... it seems that appleton to chicago is a bus to milw, then a train to chicago, taking 5.25 hrs, about two hours longer than a car.</p>

<p>I wonder if there is a direct bus to chicago from appleton?</p>

<p>Amtrak</a> - Reservations - Select Train</p>

<p>Appleton, WI (APP) To Chicago - Union Station, IL (CHI)
Select Service Departs Arrives Duration Amenities Seats/
Rooms
$44.00 Book with train 7338 Bus</p>

<pre><code>Appleton, WI
</code></pre>

<p>(APP)
11:15 am
30-APR-08 Milwaukee, WI
(MKE)
1:45 pm
30-APR-08 2h 30m 1 Reserved Thruway Seat
338 Hiawatha Service</p>

<pre><code>Milwaukee, WI
</code></pre>

<p>(MKE)
3:00 pm
30-APR-08 Chicago, IL
- Union Station
(CHI)
4:29 pm
30-APR-08 1h 29m Checked baggage 1 Unreserved Coach Seat</p>

<p>and here is a link to the bus</p>

<p><a href="http://www.greyhound.com/home/TicketCenter/Step3.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.greyhound.com/home/TicketCenter/Step3.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Select Departure Schedule for Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Select Departs Arrives Duration Transfers Carrier Schedule
08:50am 01:15pm 4h, 25m 0 GLI 5849
11:15am 04:15pm 5h, 0m 1 LAB 0211
05:30pm 09:55pm 4h, 25m 0 GLI 5783
d=day h=hour m=minute LAB: LAMERS BUS LINE, INC.
GLI: GREYHOUND LINES, INC.</p>

<p>Select Return Schedule for Friday, May 2, 2008
Select Departs Arrives Duration Transfers Carrier Schedule
09:40am 03:20pm 5h, 40m 0 GLI 5810
11:00am 05:05pm 6h, 5m 1 GLI 5605
04:55pm 09:45pm 4h, 50m 0 GLI 5814</p>

<p>there is a student discount of 15 pct
Student</a> Discount</p>

<p>here is a fare page, too
Go</a> Anywhere Fares</p>

<p>Yea, honestly most people fly or drive home. If I had to go any farther than Chicago I wouldn't use public transportation at all.</p>

<p>So many students are from the Chicago area so I'm sure your D could get a ride with someone. I know people who carpool to Minnesota to go home for break. That is my recommendation.</p>

<p>I am just trying to hold up the template of my ideal place, which should require less number of cars, less traffic, more walking, more biking, less congestion, less traffic jams, less crazy tension, less roadrage, less carbon, more organized and economical - does it make sense to have 10 cars for 10 people, or 1 vehicle for the 10, for example?; I guess I am on the anti-car part of the continuum -maybe a closet euro-swissman, or something. your idea of a few hybrids to reduce the total cars is on the right track.</p>

<p>If a college forces you to have a car, that is a demerit to that college, under the template I just noted.</p>

<p>fyi, here is some local bus info</p>

<p>to appleton transit center from LU
from:</a> 420 E College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911 (Lawrence University: Box Office) to: 100 E Washington St, Appleton, WI 54911 - Google Maps</p>

<p>appleton transit center website
Appleton.org</a> | City of Appleton, Wisconsin</p>

<p>downtown trolley (something different)
Appleton.org</a> | City of Appleton, Wisconsin</p>

<p>Downtown trolley is way cool! But that is a summer thing, like the wonderful fruit and veggie market that closes off College Avenue every weekend during clement weather. The rest.......hmmmm. There were lots of buses wizzing by on Franklin Avenue, two streets up from College. Never got the hang of them! But then I really didn't try. I could walk to so many shops around College and do nature walks on the river that I didn't bother to try and go to the Mall.</p>

<p>
[quote]
do nature walks on the river

[/quote]
</p>

<p>where do you do such walks (see map provided here)...</p>

<p>lawrence</a> university - Google Maps</p>

<p>You walk down on Water Street by the old mills. One is operational and spins wool for quilts, past the Mill Street apartments and then cross the bridge and go back up the river on the other side of the University. There is a bike path/ walking trail that is signed. Right now you have to cross back on the Lawe St. Bridge because of construction but usually it goes on and on. Lots of water fowl! Of course the upper side of the university straddles the river and there are great views if you discount the operational mill. They kind of add flavor and bring historical relevance. I mean Appleton wouldn't have been anything and all the great Victorians would never have been built without the mills! I loved being there at a time of year when the trees were just beginning to leaf because you could see so much more....all the homes that are usually hidden in the leaves. So that is the location of the trail! You see lots of runners and walkers of all ages.</p>

<p>thanks for that detail, overseas. Do you happen to know how long the trail is or maybe what the name of the trail is ?</p>

<p>This kind of gives you an idea of the trails. I believe I was on the Newberry but I walked along other places as well. </p>

<p>Fox</a> Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau</p>