Summer in Savannah: three ways to get around town

Column by Kendall Shepard

The weeks between quarters feel like a hazy time in Savannah. Finding transportation at the height of tourist season can be difficult for students, especially those without cars. However, Savannah has a multitude of ways to get around the city.

1. Car

If you do have a car, traveling around the city can be very easy. But with the amount of those who head into Savannah for vacation, traffic and parking become a great challenge.

If you are new to having a car in Savannah, find the closest parking to you. Some apartments have resident parking in garages or designated spots whereas others don’t offer it and require residents to park on the street. In these cases, it’s best to look at signs for street sweeping times and then find alternate places when parking isn’t permitted. Don’t forget, failure to move cars can result in tickets.

For students who live downtown where parking is usually paid per spot, there are residential parking permits that can be applied for. Savannah also has city parking garages with daily rates. The maximum for most city parking garages is $10 but can range higher in other places.

2. Bike

Savannah offers many streets for bikers. On streets such as Barnard St. and Habersham St., bikers can take up the whole lane. Bikers can also head north using the Lincoln St. bike lane or south on the Price St. bike lane.

Most SCAD buildings have bike racks that are still accessible to students over the summer. SCAD also has Bike Share available to students to use whenever, however, some of the bike ports are unavailable between quarters, such as the Hive.

Students should also be reminded that bikes are considered vehicles in Savannah. Biking in squares or on the sidewalks can result in a fine up to $100.

3. Bus

SCAD buses still run over the summer, but know that fewer buses run and change routes. Students can track bus routes on the Rider app. It’s good to know what stops are skipped over the summer, like O-House, and how long it may take to get to a stop. With longer routes and fewer busses, it can take some planning ahead to get from different areas of town

CAT buses operate all the time in Savannah. Different routes can be taken to get to many parts of town. Passes for CAT can be bought at the Joe Murray Rivers, Jr. Intermodal Transit Center on Oglethorpe St. Students can also pay per ride; a one-way ride costs $1.50.

The Dot bus is a fare free service that operates on a downtown Savannah loop and a Forsyth Park loop. Buses arrive at one of the 24 stops every 10 minutes and run late-night most nights. The Dot service also features the free ferry service, taking visitors from River Street to Wilmington Island.