Getting around in a college town: A case study of transportation barriers faced by international students at UA

TL;DR

This study investigates transportation barriers faced by international students at UA, revealing reliance on personal vehicles due to limited public transit options in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Contribution

It provides empirical data on transportation challenges for international students in small-town college environments, highlighting the need for improved transit solutions.

Findings

International students struggle to travel without personal vehicles.

Public transit, walking, and biking are often unreliable or inconvenient.

Transportation issues impact students' daily mobility and campus life.

Abstract

University students' day-to-day lives largely depend on transportation. Public transit alternatives are not widely available in the United States' small-town, rural, and suburban collegiate environments (U.S.). This study disseminated an online survey among international students studying at The University of Alabama (UA) campus, a predominantly white institution in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The objective of this research was to investigate and analyze international student travel experiences in a city with a significant college-affiliated population and highlight particular transportation issues in the area. The survey results show that international students find it difficult to travel within Tuscaloosa without a personal vehicle, as other modes of transportation, including walking, biking, and using public transportation, are not always convenient or reliable. The study findings may be of interest to transportation experts, city planners, university administrators, and college students who want to better understand travel-related challenges experienced by international students.