The University of St. Thomas sits in a secluded and quaint neighborhood. Although campus is in St. Paul, some fast food stops, grocery stores, and restaurants, may be difficult for students to access without a car.

On campus prices are much higher than grocery stores, and in the case of food, school supplies and other goods, the selection is limited. Although campus stores are perfect for last minute items, giving students easier access to community stores would give them a wider range of options.

Out of convenience, many students have meal plans or eXpress dollars added to their student account. EXpress funds can be used at on-campus dining services locations, stores or at some businesses off campus. Because eXpress works as a limited debit card through a student’s university account, Uber and Lyft should be able to be linked to this account. It is important for students to have access to a variety of resources, including transportation. These options facilitate safe riding habits, no matter the destination.

Parents often transfer eXpress money for students to use. By linking the Uber and Lyft apps, parents can be confident their students have access to safe rides to venture off campus if needed. Students may also add their money to the account. Currently, eXpress funds are accepted at off-campus locations including CVS, Tanworks, The Groveland Barbershop and Chipotle.

Besides public transportation and asking for rides from friends, biking and walking are the foremost options to run errands off campus. Public transportation is much more environmentally efficient, but can be tricky to learn how to use, and biking or walking in the winter is less than appealing. A partnership with these rideshare services would inspire independence among students, and give them more options when grocery shopping and attaining other goods.

Anna Hoffman can be reached at hoff0001@stthomas.edu.