BY EDDY SEGAL // OCT. 16, 2014 //

Have you ever wanted to get off campus without having to hitchhike or beg your friends for a ride?

We have all been there—stuck in our dorm room, wishing we had a way to get out of this red brick jungle. Luckily, leaving campus is much easier than it may seem. Here are a few simple ways for those lacking reliable transportation of their own.

One of the easiest and safest ways is the Curry Shuttle. The shuttle is actually a van that will take you to various locations, at specific times (check out the schedule, above), throughout the week. The shuttle goes to Legacy Place in Dedham, Quincy Adams T Station (Red Line), the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, and Faneuil Hall in Boston. All shuttles leave from the Student Center.

It’s free and easy. The only downside is that you’re on the shuttle’s schedule.

PHOTO BY FILIPPO/kofaku // Creative Commons

Now, what if you need to go to a specific place, like a friend’s house or a certain store? I would suggest taking a taxi. Bay State Taxi and Milton Cab are fine options. Another alternative is UBER.

I have used UBER, which is a transportation service that operates through a free app or normal website. You can request a pickup from a location and it even allows you to track where your reserved vehicle is. UBER is often a less expensive—and far less regulated—alternative to a regular cab company.

The base fare for an UBER ride is $2, and it’s then 21 cents a minute and $1.20 per mile. The minimum fare is $5, and people tend not to tip. The local taxi industry has little love for the competition, but the competition will likely help lower prices for riders.