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This section describes the local transportation options available in most cities. Traveling from a foreign country to the United States is discussed in a separate section of this site.
Traveler's Aid International
is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to help
travelers in need. They have Traveler's Aid desks at every major
airport, bus station, and train station. They do everything from
answering traveler's questions, to serving as a lost and found, to
helping the homeless. The Traveler's Aid web site includes a
directory
of local Traveler's Aid societies.
For more information about Traveler's Aid, send email to
travelers.aid@worldnet.att.net.
You probably don't need to own a car during your stay in the United
States. A car is certainly convenient, but only cost effective if you
use it almost every day. If you live near school, you will find
walking, biking, and public transportation to be reasonable alternatives.
If you decide to purchase a car, you can get a 10-year-old used car
for $1,000 to $2,000 and a 5-year-old car for $5,000 to $8,000. It
will probably need to be repaired frequently, but the total cost will
be less than a new car. Used cars are advertised in the classified
advertising section of the local newspaper. After you take the car for
a test drive, you can usually bargain with the seller, knocking 10% to
15% off the price. If you haven't previously owned a car, bring along
a friend who knows something about cars. You may want to pay a
mechanic at the local gas station to inspect the car for you before
buying it. An alternative is to buy a used car from a car dealer. Such
cars often come with a 90 day guarantee, but cost more than the ones
advertised by individuals.
If you want to buy a new car, ask friends
about their experiences with different automobiles.
Consumer
Reports regularly reviews new and used cars, and is one of the
few consumer magazines worth subscribing to. You can also read it in
the local library.
You can also find new and used cars for sale on the World
Wide Web. Some of the more popular web sites include
Autobytel,
AutoConnect,
AutoVantage,
AutoWeb,
CarSmart,
Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guides,
and
Microsoft CarPoint.
We strongly recommend getting a local driver's license instead of
relying on an international driver's license. Traffic laws and driving
habits in the US differ so much that it is best to take a driving
class and get a local license. Some states will require you to get a
local license. (If the state doesn't require it, the insurance
companies probably will.) If you decide to get a local driver's license, leave
your national and international driver's licenses at home. Otherwise,
you will have to turn them in when you receive a local driver's license.
Check the Blue Pages in the telephone book for the location of the
nearest driving test facility. Sometimes these are located at State
Police offices, and sometimes they are collocated with the AAA offices.
They will give you an instruction book of the local driving laws,
which you should memorize. You will be given a written or oral test of
the driving laws, an eye test (bring your glasses with you to the
exam), and a road test. The road test will involve both tests of
driving skill (e.g., doing a three-point turn or parallel parking on a
hill) and of practical knowledge of the law (e.g., if the examiner
tells you to take the next left and you turn onto a one-way street the
wrong way, you will fail). Don't forget to bring your vehicle
registration and proof of liability insurance to the test.
You will also need to bring your passport or a copy of your birth
certificate.
If you do not already know how to drive a car, you will need to get a
Learner's Permit. This allows you to learn how to drive while a
licensed driver is in the car with you. After you've learned how to
drive, you will be able to take the driving test. We recommend
learning to drive through a driving school such as Garber's, since
you will be more likely to pass the driving exam after taking driving
lessons.
Driving laws differ somewhat from state to state and considerably from
what you are accustomed to. Here is a list of some of the more
significant differences.
International students often find that many
insurance companies will not issue them a policy because
they don't have a driving history in the state and they also don't have
an existing insurance policy from another state. If
you do succeed in getting a policy, it will probably be through the
state's assigned-risk program, which automatically classifies you as a
high-risk driver. If you are under age 25 you will also be classified
as a high risk driver, especially if you are male. So your premiums
will probably be fairly high.
If you're lucky, you will find an insurance company that will
allow you to transfer your driving history and insurance record from
abroad. Often they will require you to have a clean driving record
with no accidents. Ask other international students for suggestions,
since they will know which insurance companies are best for
international students. Another possibility is the AAA, since they
offer their own insurance program and may be able to recommend other
insurers.
You should become a member of the
American Automobile
Association (AAA, pronounced "Triple A").
The cost is modest, and they offer numerous services that make it
worthwhile. They offer free maps and guidebooks, will transfer a car
registration without a notary fee, and provide a free emergency road
service (including a tow if necessary), among other services. They
also sell American Express traveler's checks without a commission. Call 1-800-AAA-HELP
(1-800-222-4357) for more information.
Some states have unusual driving laws and customs. You should ask a
local driver for information about any driving laws and customs that
are peculiar to their state. Here's a sampling.
If a police officer stops you for speeding, pay the fine by mail. Do
not try to give the money to the police officer, since bribery is
illegal.
Car theft rates in the US are very high, especially in urban
areas. Don't leave valuables or packages in sight on the seat, since
that may tempt a thief to break the window. Lock valuables in the
trunk. Buy a steering wheel lock, such as The Club, and use it
whenever you park the car. Don't leave your driver's license or wallet
in the car, and keep a copy of your license plate number, car
registration, and vehicle identification number in your wallet. This
will help in case your car is stolen.
In recent years there has been a new type of car theft called
carjacking, in which an armed thief steals the car while you are in
it. For example, they might steal your car while you are stopped at a
red light.
To
protect yourself from carjacking, keep your doors locked at all times,
don't open the windows more than an inch, and avoid driving in bad
neighborhoods.
Most schools have a limited supply of parking spaces, with staff and
faculty getting priority. Graduate students are next in line, followed
by undergraduate students. If you're an undergraduate student, don't
count on being able to get a parking space on campus. The annual fee
will range from $700 to $1,500, depending on the school.
Most car rental places will not rent you a car unless you are at least
21 years old, and some only if you are 25 years old or older. If you
are a member of the AAA, the minimum age sometimes drops to as low as
18 years old. The major rental agencies include
Alamo (1-800-327-9633),
Avis (1-800-230-4898),
Budget Rent-a-Car (1-800-527-0700),
Dollar (1-800-800-4000),
Enterprise (1-800-RENT-A-CAR
or 1-800-736-8222),
Hertz (1-800-654-3131),
National Car Rental (1-800-227-7368),
Rent-A-Wreck (1-800-421-7253), and
Thrifty (1-800-367-2277).
For renting a truck, call U-Haul (1-800-GO-UHAUL).
Check whether your
credit card provides collision and comprehensive insurance when you
charge the rental to the card. Between credit card coverage and your
own auto insurance policy, you will probably be able to turn down the
CDW (collision damage waiver) surcharge.
Petrol is known as gasoline or gas in the United States. Gasoline is
much less expensive in the United States. Current prices are around
$1.00 a gallon. One US gallon is the
equivalent of 3.8 liters or 0.85 Imperial gallons.
If you don't live far from school, you may find it less expensive to
pay for an occasional taxi than to own a car.
You can find the
telephone number for the local taxi dispatcher in the Yellow
Pages. Call the dispatcher at least half an hour before you need the
cab. It is best to call at least an hour in advance, especially on
busy days.
When calling for a taxi, let the dispatcher know if you have a lot of
baggage. If you have more than 3 or 4 large bags, ask for a station
wagon.
You can also pick up a taxi at the local airport, train
station, bus station, and in front of major hotels. It is also
possible to hail a cab downtown or on major streets, but you may get a
quicker response by calling for a cab. To hail a cab, raise your hand
and arm at a 45 degree angle to your head with the index finger (the
finger next to the thumb) extended as a taxi approaches. If the cab
doesn't have a passenger and isn't traveling to pick up a passenger,
it will stop.
Taxi fares are metered in most cities and based on the distance. After
an initial "flag down" fee for use of the taxi, the meter will charge
a fixed amount per mile, typically $1.00 to $2.00 per mile, depending
on the city. There may be extra charges if the taxi driver has to lift
your bags for you. It is customary to give the driver a tip equal to
15% of the total fare.
Don't be surprised if the taxi driver hands you a business card with a
cell phone number written on it. In several cities taxi drivers have
tried to improve service by forming small cooperative groups of taxi drivers, a
kind of taxi company within the taxi company. All of the members of
the group carry cell phones and a separate set of two-way radios. You
can call your driver days in advance to schedule a pickup at a
specific time and date, and a taxi will be waiting for your at that
time. If your regular driver
can't make it, one of the other drivers will cover for him. This
provides you with extremely reliable service. (A regular taxi can take
an hour or more to pick you up.) If you travel regularly
on a fixed route, sometimes they will offer you a flat fee for the
route, saving you 5% to 10% of the normal fare.
If someone approaches you at the airport or bus station offering to
undercut the taxi fares, don't accept. These "jitney drivers" are
illegal and unsafe. They aren't licensed by the city and do not have
insurance. In some cases international students have taken rides with
strangers only to be robbed of their belongings and money, and dumped
in a remote location. Only take taxis with identifiable markings (name
of the cab company and cab number) and colors (typically yellow) at an
official taxi stand.
Many hotels have free or low cost shuttles from the airport. If a
hotel is located near the school, this can be an inexpensive
alternative to taking a taxi. Such shuttles usually leave on the hour
or half hour, but you may need to call upon arrival at the airport to
make a reservation.
Many students survive with just a bicycle. It is economical, can
provide transportation over short distances, and provides a good
source of exercise.
A regular ten-speed bike will cost around $100 new, $65 used. If you will be living in the
snow belt, we recommend getting a mountain bike with
puncture-resistant tires. It will cost more
($150 to $200 new, $100 to $150 used), but is safer. Cities in the snow belt put salt on the
roads to melt the snow. This, combined with the freeze-thaw cycle,
produces potholes. A mountain bike can ride over a
small pothole without problems, while a regular bike might have
problems.
In addition to a bike, buy a bicycle helmet. If you're in an accident,
a bicycle helmet can help protect you from a concussion or worse.
Don't buy too expensive a bike, since bicycle theft is very common,
especially around college campuses. We recommend buying and using a
good bicycle lock. The U-shaped locks
with cylindrical keys are best, since they are harder to cut through
than chains and padlocks.
To indicate a left turn, extend the left arm horizontally. To indicate
a right turn, extend the left arm and bend it up at the elbow (or
extend the right arm horizontally). Similar
signals can be used from a car if your turn signals are broken.
Most major US cities have two forms of public transportation: buses
and trolleys. Trolleys are also known as the subway, underground,
streetcars, metro, or
light rail, depending on the region of the country. (Not all trolley
systems use underground tunnels or overhead powerlines. The
distinguishing characteristic is buses are wheeled vehicles, and
trolleys travel on rails.)
Public transportation tends to be fairly reliable, with buses arriving
within about 5 minutes of the scheduled times. We recommend getting a
system map and the map for your local route, as the routes will be
confusing until you become familiar with them. (Bus routes often
overlap, so there is a possibility that you will accidentally get on
the wrong bus until you learn the routes.) Some cities use numbers to
identify routes, some use letters, some use colors, some use the name
of the community or street at the end of the line, and some use a combination (e.g.,
"D Riverside" in Boston is part of the "Green Line"). The route number
will be displayed in or above the front window and side window of the bus.
Bus fares range from $1.00 to $2.00 for a one-zone ride, depending on
the city. If you need to change buses, transfers can be purchased for
25 cents in most cities. You give the transfer to the driver on the
second bus instead of paying a second fare. Transfers can be used for a return trip, if
you will be returning within the time limit (typically three hours). Bus drivers do not carry change, so you will
need to bring exact change with you when you get on the bus. Most
cities also sell monthly bus passes, which provide you with unlimited
travel for a set fee. Bus passes will save you money only if you take
the bus every day. Bus passes can usually be purchased from the local
grocery store or supermarket.
Some subway systems use tokens or farecards, which
are sold at the station. Subway fares may depend on the time of day or
the distance traveled. For example, the Metro system in Washington,
DC, uses farecards, with higher fares during rush hour. (Rush hour is
the peak period during the day when most people travel to or from
their place of employment.)
Some cities have you pay as you get on the bus, some when you get off
the bus, and some depend on the time of day. Some will have different
rules depending on whether you're headed inbound (to the downtown
area) or outbound (away from downtown).
If the bus driver puts his hand over the pay box as
you enter, it means that you should pay when you get off the bus. If
you're confused, ask the driver.
Just before the bus reaches your stop, you should alert the driver by
activating the "stop requested" signal. Otherwise the driver may skip
the stop. You can activate the "stop requested" signal in most buses
by pulling on the horizontal wire above the windows. Trolleys don't
have such a mechanism because they stop at every station.
If you need to travel from one city to another within the United
States, there are four options:
For intercity bus timetables and fares, call
Greyhound at 1-800-231-2222 or
send email to
faresandschedules@greyhound.com.
Greyhound offers
Ameripass
to international visitors for unrestricted travel on
Greyhound. Prices range from $179 for a 7 day pass to $539 for a 60
day pass.
For information on Ameripass, fax 1-212-967-2239 or send email to
intlameripass@greyhound.com.
For train schedules and fares, call
Amtrak
at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or send email to
amtrak_p@ix.netcom.com.
Ask about the USA Railpass and All Aboard America fares.
Amtrak gives a 15% discount to students with a Student Advantage Card
($20 from 1-800-96-AMTRAK or 1-800-962-6872).
Train travel in the US is not as high quality as in Europe, although
it can be more comfortable than traveling by bus.
The Amtrak web site includes a list of
international sales offices.
Traveler's Aid
Cars
Taxicabs
Bicycles
Public Transportation
Intercity Buses and Trains
Taking a bus or a train is usually much cheaper than taking a plane,
and much less stressful.
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