Having the luxury of attending college in the greatest city of the world is not something I take for granted. I love every last thing about going to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, from the proximity to Central Park to the variety of local restaurants and shops around Columbus Circle. Given a second chance, I wouldn’t change a single thing – except for maybe all the problems that come with being a commuter student.
As all the New Jersey commuters already know, NJ Transit has decided to raise the bus fares to the Port Authority by an average of nine percent. For a monthly bus pass to come to Fordham, the price has increased 12 dollars. For those keeping score at home, that’s about the price of four tall Caffe Lattes from Starbucks. Also, MTA subway fares are expected to rise again in 2017, much to the dismay of all the New York City commuters.
Beyond the problem of money is the issue of time. Public transportation is vastly unpredictable. What is usually a 45 minute bus ride to 42nd Street can easily turn into over an hour commute at the first sign of a “disabled bus in the Lincoln Tunnel,” which happened twice since the start of the month.
It is also important to note that you cannot just jump on any train that you think might possibly take you to where you need to go because the A and the C lines are “experiencing major delays.” As a student attending school in New York, especially as a commuter, it is vital to know the difference between the subway lines and which ones will take you where you need to go.
It is also important to note that where you stand on the platform matters. Walking just a few feet away from the subway entrance and getting on a train cart closer to the front can mean the difference between walking through a windy tunnel at 58th Street before crossing a series of streets and walking out of the subway and walking down one block to get to campus.
While we are on the subject of the A and the C lines, I’d like to pose a serious question that has been pestering me for a while now: Why on Earth does the local C train take less time to get to 59th Street than the A train on the express track? What is constantly causing the A train to temporarily delay between the 50th Street stop and Columbus Circle, while the C train breezes by?
Primarily, the main ideal concern of every commuter student is the fear of missing out. Unfortunately, a commuter is restrained to strict transit schedules, forcing the student to potentially leave an outing prematurely. Because a commuter cannot walk across a campus to get home, he or she cannot stay out too late.
Fortunately, Fordham makes many efforts to get commuter students involved. With a friend in the residence halls, a commuter can easily sleepover for a night and with the Commuter Freshman Mentor Program, many fun events are scheduled during commuter friendly times, such as the Commuting Students’ Association Game Nights, which end approximately at eight p.m.
In addition, for all New Jersey commuters, be sure that you are taking advantage of the NJ Transit student discount for 25 percent off your monthly bus pass. This discount can be accessed through your Fordham portal.
Ultimately, despite the many “probz” associated with being a commuter student, I am grateful for my daily commute, for the driver who wishes me a good day as I get off the bus and the people handing out newspapers outside Columbus Circle, if it means that I can attend the greatest university in the greatest city.