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Navigating the city

Getting around London and the Western campus may seem like a daunting task if you’re unfamiliar with the city, but there are many forms of transportation that are both speedy and cost-effective.

Bus: A single adult ticket price on a London transit bus costs $2.75, but it’s best to take advantage of the bus pass included in your tuition. With a mere flash of your pass, you can travel unlimited through campus and within city limits.
The 6 Richmond, 13 Wellington and 2 Dundas will be your most-used busses through the year.
The Richmond will take you downtown to the bars and eateries along Richmond Row. The Dundas travels along Western Road through a significant student residential area and the 13 will bring you to Masonville and White Oaks Malls.

All three conveniently stop in front of most residences and run through campus, but be forewarned: if you live on campus and choose to take a bus to class, it might pass you by if it’s full. You also run the risk of getting dirty looks from students who live off-campus and use the bus out of necessity rather than convenience. Check out bus schedules and routes by visiting http://www.ltconline.ca.

Cab: Cabs are the ideal way to travel past midnight when busses have stopped running. Cabs line Richmond Row in the evening, making it easy to hail one during last call at the bars. The starting rate for most cabs is $3.50 and it’s at the discretion of the cab driver to agree to a set rate from any location. Cabs can be a bit pricey, but dividing the cost among friends makes it less painful. London cab drivers are strict about driving only four passengers and van-cabs are difficult to come by. If you’re traveling far, ask the driver for the student flat rate, which is often cheaper at long distances.

Bikes: All residences and many buildings on campus have bike racks for your convenience. There are also several bike paths through campus and a cycle map for downtown routes can be found under Transportation on the city of London website. At rush hour bikes can be a speedier means of transportation than cabs or busses, not to mention they’re environmentally friendly. The following designated bus routes have Bike and Ride attachments, which allow you to store your bike while riding the bus: 10 Wonderland, 14 Highbury, 16 Adelaide and 17 Oxford West. Check out London’s cycling paths at www.london.ca.

Walking: Within campus walking is the cheapest and most convenient mode of transportation. A common myth you’ll hear is it takes no longer than 10 minutes to walk between any two buildings on campus. Although this may not be true, any campus building is within reasonable walking distance if you live in residence. Choosing to walk rather than bus is a good way to avoid the infamous frosh 15 and it’ll also help you familiarize yourself with campus. One of Western’s most reputable attractions is its landscaped campus, so take the time to enjoy it.

Accessibility: Western Accessible Transportation Service provides an alternative mode of transportation on campus for students with accessibility issues. Students can use WATS to travel for academic reasons (e.g. courses, meetings with professors). For more information check out the Student Development Centre: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca.
London transit also has several accessibility-friendly options including Paratransit — a service for passengers that require a lift-equipped vehicle — and Community Bus — an accessible fixed-route transit service. Certain routes of London’s busses are dedicated to being accessibility-friendly and feature ramps and securement facilities for riders using wheelchairs, electric chairs or scooters. Check out London transit’s website for more information.

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