I am a West Coast type of person and I can’t imagine myself walking in deep snow or taking public transportation during the winter in Ithaca… I read several comments that having a car in the campus as a freshman is not recommended. Can anyone provide their real experiences? It seems having a car would be great not only to explore around Ithaca but also driving to Canada and NYC during breaks. (I entered Cornell Engineering, so not sure whether I will ever have free time to do so…)
There’s really no need for a car, especially not while you live on campus. There’s very little parking on or off campus, and it’s fairly expensive. Almost everywhere in Ithaca is accessible by walking or by bus. Freshmen get free 24/7 bus passes, and upperclassmen get free bus passes on weekends and after 6 on weekdays. It makes more sense to get a car once you move off campus just for convenience, but even then it’s really not necessary.
The parking pass to park on Cornell north campus is $750 for the year. You’re not going to be able to drive to class, so I don’t think it would be worth it. There are also buses to NYC due to the large number of students from that area.
My older daughter brought her car up to school after her first winter break. She got a parking spot at a fraternity house. The reason she “needed” a car was because she was working off campus (teaching dance and taking lessons at a local studio). But we had an agreement that she would not take road trips with the car.
My younger daughter never had a car on campus because she can’t really drive. She has complained, but was able to get rides with her friends. Sometimes there is a down side in having a car on campus, one could become friends’ chauffeur .
Like @blprof said, you can’t drive to class. There are a couple of parking lots spread around campus, but they’re mostly around the dorms. The buildings you’ll have class in do not have their own parking lots.
You really only have two options for the winter: suck it up and walk, or plan out your routes on the TCAT buses.
@jfx246 Just a question. Where does people living off campus park their cars when they go to classes?
@KloudKoder They leave their cars at home and either walk or take the bus to class.
At Cornell, cars aren’t for getting to class; they’re for taking trips with your friends or for giving you a faster way to go shopping.
The buses in Ithaca are good enough to get around on. I left my car in AZ, and have rarely missed it. I wouldn’t bother bringing a car unless you plan to go home occasionally on weekends.
Both sons have said, “no need and do not want the car”. You can use a number of bus services to get to NYC on breaks. Its easy and direct.
It seems the Segway Kid found the best solution, then. 
Hey … A followup question. If I bring my car from California, would I need to change it to a NY license plate? I was reading that an university student is not a NY resident – so I would not need to have a NY drivers license. However, would I still need to change my plates? Would it be kind of odd to drive a California car in upstate NY for 4 years?
Don’t they have zip cars on campus?
@KloudKoder school does not give you resident status! Therefore no need to change yor drivers license/plates unless they expire and your state does not grant mailed in extensions.
@intparent I checked and Zip cars are not available in Ithaca. There is a service called “Ithaca Carshare” instead. However, I don’t think this can help most freshman or sophomore since it has the following condition:
"All applicants must be at least 18 years old and have held a full & unrestricted license for at least two full years. This does not include driving permits or provisional licenses. "
I am not aware about any State that may provide full and unrestricted license for a 16-year old… The restrictions usually go away when you turn 18… So, Car Sharing does not seem a viable option.
No Zip cars. My younger kid doesn’t have car. She uses taxi when she can’t get a ride from a friend. My older one had a car and she parked at her apartment garage or rented a space at a fraternity.
DD will have an apartment next year and is considering bringing a car, but not for classes. As others have said, you won’t be able to park near your classes so it would be a horrific waste of time to try to drive there. She could use one to go buy groceries etc. since she’ll be doing her own cooking.