Welcome home freshman Ducks! You’re officially a college student who is ready to explore your new home. After the excitement of move-in day and Week of Welcome wear off, you’ll probably want to check out Eugene outside of campus. But, if you’re a freshman, odds are you don’t have a car to help you get around. Luckily there are lots of ways to get around town and even more to be seen. Let this be your guide to getting off of campus and seeing all that Eugene has to offer during your first year.
PeaceHealth Bikes
The blue bikes that you see all around town are available to you for little to no money as a University of Oregon student! You are able to set up an account with your UOregon email address that will allow you to unlock the bikes for free and ride them for a discounted rate. You are able to take the bikes all around the immediate campus, downtown, and Amazon areas, and can park the bikes at any designated PeaceHealth hub.
My favorite PeaceHealth bike activities:
- Bike from campus to the Willamette and go swimming
- Bike downtown to visit the Saturday Market
- Take a ride through Amazon Park or along the river on the designated bike trails
EMX
The EMX is the most convenient way to travel quickly by bus from campus to other areas of Eugene. It's even a great way to get from one side of campus to the other. The EMX runs all the way from West Eugene to the Gateway area in North Springfield. This is a great option for grocery/ essentials shopping and getting to doctor, hair, dentist, etc. appointments. You have access to a free bus pass as a University of Oregon student, you just have to claim it. You can find information about how to do this here, and the system map here.
My favorite activities near an EMX stop:
- Attend a show at WOW Hall
- Gotcha Burger
- The Shoppes at Gateway (Target, Ulta, Cinemark, and more!)
Zipcar
If you’re hoping to take a day trip with friends or do some serious grocery shopping, Zipcars are a great option. Zipcars function similarly to PeaceHealth bikes and are readily available around campus. All you have to do is set up an account and you’ll have access to a college discount and information on where local Zipcars are parked.
My Zipcar trip recommendations:
- Visit the coast! Heceta Lighthouse is a classic that everyone should see
- Dexter Reservoir! A favorite swim spot of U of O students and Eugene locals alike is a quick car ride away.
- * Portland! Whether you’re attending a concert or you’re from out of state and hoping to see the sights, you’ll most likely want to visit Portland during your freshman year. When the question of “how?” comes up, unless you have a friend with a car, a Zipcar is a good bet for getting there.
Flix Bus
If you’re planning a weekend trip home, to a friend's place, or heading to the Portland airport, the Flix Bus is the way to go. You can get on the Flix Bus daily in front of the UO Law School and will arrive in Portland either downtown or at the airport depending on your preference.
Duck Rides
If you’re ever in need of a ride between 6:00 pm and 12:00 am while class is in session, Duck Rides has you covered. Duck Rides is a student-led, university funded ride service with a mission of providing safe, accessible, and free transportation to the University of Oregon community. You can learn more about how to call Duck Rides and where they are able to pick you up/ drop you off here.