Commuting in the Winter

The winter months are a slog for most of us. True, there are many highlights, such as fun winter activities and serene scenes of late night snowfall coating the streets and houses in a peaceful blanket, ushering us to sleep. But then you wake up,  it’s Monday, and you have a class at 8:30 in the morning. So, let’s say that you live somewhere in the vicinity of 3 kilometres from campus, how are we getting you to class?

Let’s look at the first, and most luxurious option.

Let’s look at the first, and most luxurious option. Your very own automobile. This is the most expensive option on our list today. You need to first buy a car, then get the car safetied, then you need to get the car registered and insured, and then you need to keep putting gas in the thing. Now, if you can make your car make money for you like many students do, by driving to work or doing delivery work then this can be a great option. It’s warm and private, but also self-explanatory. So we won’t spend more time on it. Just note that it’s expensive, and not practical for many, many students.

Next, is the public transit system.

Every Lakehead student gets a free bus pass when they pay their student fees. This is a great thing, considering that many student accommodations are not within walking distance. The only real problem with the public transportation in Thunder Bay is the general public. There have been many horrific stories of international students experiencing unacceptable and crude behaviour while on a bus in Thunder Bay. This has led many students to choose another option where they do not feel unsafe. 

This brings us to the most utilitarian option, walking.

As previously mentioned, walking in the winter can be a punishing activity. Walking is slow, and doubly so in the winter. So, if you are making the theoretical 3 kilometer journey to Lakehead, you may need to leave well in advance to get to class on time. Then there’s the elephant in the room, the freezing cold. In Thunder Bay especially, we can experience winter temperatures of forty below zero. This makes a good winter jacket, layers and boots essential for any student living here, especially if you are walking. The other main issue with walking is the matter of accessibility, this is a whole other problem deserving of its own article but it would be remiss not to mention it. Walking is a very daunting task for many of us. The sidewalks are not always cleared, the walkways on campus have obstacles, and walking can be over-exhausting for students who are then going to spend considerable energy participating in class. 

So, what is the point of all these considerations? Well, many new students are working towards applying to Lakehead in the coming months, and many of these students are applying from out of town. While there is lots of discussion around traditional topics like housing and academics (and rightfully so) we also need to bring up the more nitty gritty topics of conversation like how we get to campus, as we live in a place with often harsh conditions that deserve to be considered. So if you are considering moving here for school, or if you know someone who is. Having some thoughts and conversations about these things helps you enjoy the hostile winter months more, and get to class on time.