Travelling within Michigan

Being in a new place can always be overwhelming. Upon that, figuring out a way to get to places while keeping your budget in check and not being late to class can be daunting at first. But eventually, you get used to navigating your way around. In Ann Arbor, there are mainly two public transport options available. The first one is the Magic Bus, more commonly known as the Blue Bus. This is a free bus service that goes around campus on multiple routes. Initially, I stuck to only a few bus routes but as I explored the campus more, I got a better understanding of how the buses work. Having said that, I have also lost my way a few times while navigating through campus. Even though they have fixed routes, sometimes they don’t stop at all their designated stops. To make sure you don’t miss your stop, pull on the red wire that goes around the bus to let the bus driver know you want to get off at the next stop. I find the bus drivers to be very accommodating and friendly -- some of them are students working part-time actually. The bus timings vary from weekdays to weekends and not all routes’ buses operate on the weekends. To keep a check on the routes that are active, be sure to install the UM Magic Bus application. 

“The Ride '' is the other public transport system available free of cost to the University of Michigan students if you have a valid M-card (the student identification card provided by the University). This bus can be tracked through the live tracker on The Ride website as well as through the “Transit” application.

In addition to these, I also use the Amtrak trains when travelling interstate. The Amtrak station is very close to the Ann Arbor campus and there are a lot of routes and timings for convenient travel within Michigan as well.

I would also recommend getting a driver’s license, as this gives a lot of flexibility while travelling. There are multiple car rental options at affordable prices like Hertz for longer duration or ZipCar for shorter durations. ZipCar is a very convenient car rental service that requires you to create a monthly or yearly membership card. You can reserve a car for a few minutes, hours, or days for an additional car reservation charge. Getting a driver’s license would also serve as a proof of identification. As an international student, this would come in handy as you wouldn’t have to carry around your passport with the fear of misplacing it.

Finally, there is Uber and Lyft which are like taxis. You can hire a vehicle as per your requirements through the respective applications. There are safe modes for these services in case required.

Written by Dharivi Bansal

Summer Orientation Peer Advisor

Undergraduate Student

India