During each semester, there comes a time when students need put down their vices, take off their party pants and pick up the crisp blue pages of their Study Edge packet.
The average amount of alcohol you consume will be replaced by highly caffeinated beverages, and any free time you once had will become a fond memory. Gators, get ready to move out of your home and into Library West. This, my friends, is finals week.
The all-too-familiar scene: You spend 20+ minutes (if you’re lucky) driving in circles trying to find a parking space. You slowly stalk helpless people in the parking lot with the hopes they’ll get into a parked car only to find out they’re just going to their dorm. You curse them under your breath and keep circling. When you’ve given up hope, you drive your car back home and and beg for your roommate to drop you off.
Once you finally make it inside the overcrowded hell of the library, you decide it’s a good idea to wait another 20 minutes in the Starbucks line. You screw around for a little, trying to get organized and get in the zone. You switch study playlists, shuffle around your papers, scroll Instagram, scope out who’s sitting around you and then finally get to work.
Fast forward, and you have completed your discussion assignment, your eight-page research paper has been submitted on time, but you’re still haven’t made it to the finish line just yet. It’s 1 a.m. and you’re just beginning to study for one of the hardest finals you have. By 4 a.m., sleep deprivation begins to kick in and you realize you have been drooling on your notes. When it’s finally time to break free of the books, finding a safe way to get home is crucial.
You can’t call your roommate again because everyone knows you’re only really allowed one “please give me a ride” per day. SNAP doesn’t take you to your place off campus. You don’t want to waste time figuring out the bus system and then waiting around at the stop. Walking home in the wee hours of the night feels like a huge gamble.
UF Student Government has brought Uber to Gainesville to solve that fateful dilemma. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Uber, it’s a simple ridesharing service that is activated through a smartphone app.
1. Download the app. The set-up time is minimal, as it even has the ability to scan your credit card like a QR code.
2. Set up your account.
3. Input your pickup location and destination, and a driver in the area will select your ride. Once selected, you will receive information on your driver, including their name, photo, rating, vehicle make and model, and phone number. The app even has an active GPS that allows you to track your driver’s progress.
4. Relax in a safe, efficient ride home.
The standard cost is much less than taking a cab, and in my experience, the average is about $3 to $5 (less than what you spent at Starbucks). The transaction is paperless, as the payment is taken from the card you used during set-up. In the spirit of safe commutes for finals, Student Government is offering new Uber users a free ride. Simply use the code “UFSG.”
While most people associate the service with drunken late night rides home, it’s perfect for transportation during the bleak nights of studying.
Uber is a system of transport that is for the community, by the community. UF Student Government maintains that the safety of the student body is of the upmost importance and encourages you to utilize Uber’s services. Don’t take an unnecessary risk, don’t walk alone and don’t make transportation another stressor on your list.
Keep calm and call Uber.
Good luck on your finals, and stay safe, Gainesvegas.
Featured photo courtesy of: osxdaily
