<p>Are there buses available? Is it just a short walk? Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s defnitely not within walking distance, but there should be buses.</p>
<p>Most students have their own cars. Public transport is available, just don’t take it alone… USC’s in the ghetto</p>
<p>Most students having a car seems a little high but enough do that friends typically drive each other. There is also a light rail connection right off campus that is ultimately going to connect to Vencie/Sonta Monica beaches I think. Not sure when it will be done though. USC is in a poor working class neighborhood, but I guess it depends on where your from whether its the ghetto or not. Certainly need to be aware of your surroundings but same is true in New York and other big cities.</p>
<p>make friends. you’ll find it’s pretty easy to do at sc.</p>
<p>Having a car–or knowing someone who has a car–is the easiest way to get to a beach. Without a car, your best bet is the public bus. But while the bus will get you there, it can be a long trip (around an hour and a half to Santa Monica). So it’s definitely not something that people do all the time just because of the hassle. The EXPO light rail line will ultimately go to Santa Monica, which will be incredible, but that’s not scheduled to be completed until 2015 at the earliest. And keep in mind that those sorts of projects are usually delayed a few years before it’s all said and done. </p>
<p>Honestly though, a lot of student organizations take frequent trips to the beach via a direct shuttle that’s rented out through USC Transportation. It’s really not hard your freshman year to go with some sort of club (ATPS for example).</p>
<p>So getting to the beach can take some effort; but it’s generally very doable.</p>
<p>USC also has zipcars–cars students can rent by the hour or day. Not super cheap–but if you get four friends together, pretty affordable and fun for any side trips (Disneyland, beach, Beverly Hills, Magic Mountain, Santa Barbara, San Diego).</p>
<p>the trip, there and back, on the bus will probably be anywhere from 3-3 1/2 hours not including time spent waiting for the busses which will change depending on what time of the day it is. So if you leave, leave early, before 10a, and try to get back before 5p.</p>
<p>the beach isn’t really even walking distance from UCLA (it’s like 5m; it’s definitely doable, but not something i’d do) the only cali school i know that’s really ‘walking’ distance to the beach is UCSB, where the beach is actually part of the campus.</p>
<p>i obviously don’t go to USC, but am very familiar with the area (and the bus routes on getting to the beach as well as getting there in a car.) on the freeway, the trip should be no more than 30 min. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is parking, and if you go in a group of 3-4 people, and everyone chips in a few bucks that should be no problem.</p>
<p>Join the club teams for cycling or triathalon! They bike to the beach just about every weekend from USC. They usually go in small groups or pairs so you would have some company. You may need to find a different kind of bike than the one speed cruisers that students usually ride around the very flat campus. The clubs travel all around California to compete at their collegiate events.</p>