Transportation & Safety?

Recently visited Bard for Accepted Students Day. The campus felt very spread out to us - especially with acquisition of Montgomery Place property. We were surprised at what seemed to be relatively limited campus/area shuttle services. We did not hear anything about shuttle rides/security escorts for students crossing campus late at night. Evening and late night shuttle services have been touted heavily at several other school’s tours - including schools with more compact campuses. Bard Shuttle services to local towns and trains seemed limited. Wondering how safe students feel walking across campus from library or other locations late at night - at 2am for example. Tour guides mentioned run-ins with deer on the paths at night and some concerns about bicycle accidents. I read that 60% of Bard students keep a car on campus. Can anyone with experience at Bard comment on the adequacy of the campus transportation services, safety getting around campus late at night, and the need for a car? Will a student without a car - or a student without even a driver’s license have a tough time at Bard?

My son had a car in his last years at Bard, and not the first few. He managed fine, although it was simpler with a car.

http://blogs.bard.edu/transportation/ - You can find the shuttle schedules here.

It’s easier with a car, but plenty of students don’t have them. Chances are a friend will. Also, ZipCar is available to Bard students. The shuttles run late at night on the weekends (until 2am.) However, they don’t run as often as the students would like. And, yes, the campus is very spread out, so there’s either a lot of walking, or bike riding. (And bikes do get stolen.)

http://www.bard.edu/security/ Mentioned on the page: “Other campus safety measures include a student golf cart that provides after-dark cart escorts to students upon request and a student bike patrol that serves as extra eyes and ears for the Safety and Security Office.”