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Okay, so you've arrived
in the United States, and made your way to Kirkwood Community
College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Thus far you've probably been
doing all of your transportation by airplane, tour bus, or taxi-cab.
And you've probably noticed that while this may be a convenient way
to get around, it's certainly not a very cost-effective way of
transportation.
The City of Cedar Rapids
is a fairly large place, with lots of things to do and see.
The problem is, how to get there, especially if you lack your own
mode of transportation. And don't think for a minute that a
bicycle will cover you, unless you can figure out a way to ride
across town in subzero temperatures, with 2 feet of snow on the
ground! After all, this IS Iowa, the land of ever-changing
weather, so some form of covered transport is almost a must.
Unfortunately, while
Kirkwood is a large college, the city really has not grown to the
point where many of the shopping centers and food places are within
walking distance of the campus. Finding a place to buy clothes
or groceries, or just to go shopping in
general, can often involve a trip across several miles of city
streets and busy roads. And with some of the crazy drivers out
there today, that can be a hazardous proposition if you plan on
walking or biking to your destination!
Carpool With a Friend
There are a couple
ways you can go about getting yourself around the city in a safe,
efficient manner. The first, and most cost-effective way, is
to find someone who would be willing to drive you to and from where
you need to go. Often times this could be a friend who you
hang out with anyways, so you would be able to carpool to social
events and entertainment venues together. While this option
still leaves you reliant on someone else's schedule, it still allows
more freedom than taking a bus, and is much cheaper than calling for
a taxi.
Five Seasons Bus Transportation
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Another way to get
around Cedar Rapids is to use the Five Seasons Transportation
bus system. The city has a great number of routes that
run to just about every corner of the city. Though you
may have to switch buses once or twice, taking the bus can get
you nearly to the doorstop of your destination. Of
course, this option does have a couple drawbacks: First
off you are totally reliant on the bus schedule to get a ride,
and if you miss your bus you may be out of luck for several
hours. Also, the bus system does not operate after
normal working hours, so finding a ride to the mall on Friday
night just isn't going to happen if you want to take the bus. |
To check out
bus fares, and see the maps and times of routes in Cedar
Rapids, click
here. |
Getting a Driver's License Finally, you can get
your own drivers license and vehicle. If you are over 18 years
of age, in Iowa you must simply go to the
Cedar Rapids Driver's License Station
directly across from Lindale Mall:
K-Mart Plaza
152 Collins Road NE
Cedar Rapids, IA
52402
In order to receive your license you will
be required to prove your identity (so bring some form of an ID,
birth certificate social security card are recommended), also be
sure to bring any of your immigration papers as they will have to
verify that you are here legally before issuing you a license.
Once there, you will be required to pass a written exam as well as a
driving test with one of the DOT officers. Both are rather
easy if you have read the DOT Handbook (available for free at the
Licensing Station) and if you know how to drive a car safely. |
