<p>Some campuses are the type where all you need to do is a lot of walking. Some are larger, but have an efficient public transportation system. Others absolutely require a bike or car. Where does Rice fit in to these? What about the city of Houston?</p>
<p>Rice has some buses around campus, but I'm not sure how often they run. Houston used to be rated one of the worst cities in the country for public transportation, but now the light rail has been installed (funny thing, lots of cars got into wrecks turning left in front of it...) and I think students get free passes on it because no one is riding it. There is a stop adjacent to the Rice campus, and I think it runs to the theatre district and the museum district and several stadiums.</p>
<p>Rice is near a very dense area of Houston. However, there are many little outcroppings of towers in Houston- it's a very spread out city. I think a bike would probably be a good idea, and maybe a car.</p>
<p>Don't bring a bike unless you really, really hate walking. Bike theft is, unfortunately, a major crime at Rice.</p>
<p>We do have shuttles around campus, and they run pretty often, especially during the day, but the campus isn't too big to walk. To walk across the entire campus would probably take ~20 minutes, and to walk from your dorm to class takes 5-10.</p>
<p>In terms of off campus transportation, a car is nice but not necessary. I don't have a car and it's been fine. The light rail, rice shuttles to target, and other people with cars will take you where you want/need to go.</p>
<p>As a side note, parking on campus is plentiful, but not cheap or close to stuff.</p>
<p>very informative. thanks!</p>