Transportation

I live in DeBaliviere Place, so I get to have a beautiful bike ride through the majestic Forest Park to and from school when the weather permits (most of the year!). WUSM is great, but the bike ride is certainly one of the highlights of my day. There is not much better than fresh air, Mother Nature, and getting your blood pumping around your brain before class. On my way home, I’ll often go out of my way to time my ride to enjoy the beautiful St. Louis sunset. When its too cold or snowing, the Metro is super convenient, although obviously not quite as enjoyable!

Living in St. Louis without a car is possible, at least when you are not assigned to a rotation or immersion somewhere inaccessible by transit, but it can be inconvenient. If you are not comfortable taking public transportation, I think it would be nearly impossible to get around. I use the MetroLink and the bus with relative frequency. Further, I think it would be critical to live close to a grocery store if you do not have a car. I live steps away from Whole Foods which can be expensive for some items, but this means that I have access to quality groceries all the time. For larger trips or for day trip options, there is a car share program through WashU that is only $5/hr, including gas and some insurance covered. This can be handy, if for example, you wanted to pick up small furniture items or do a huge grocery haul. It is not feasible to use this service for immersions or clerkships though, unfortunately. In general, I would say it is easy to live somewhere like the CWE or DeBaliviere neighborhood without a car for certainly the first six months of medical school, so long as you are willing to take public transport. This is plenty of time to settle in, so you don’t feel rushed to purchase a car before starting school.

Most students who park on campus park in the Clayton Garage. Although the parking website only provides a monthly rate, the cost is billed annually to your student account up front. On a yearly basis, you can expect to pay about $850. To sign up for the year, you have to go in-person to the Facilities Integrated Service Center (FISC) desk in the Mid-Campus Center (MCC) once you receive your student ID during orientation, and they will provide a very quick form to fill out. Within the next 24 hours, you will be able to access the garage with your ID. It is very convenient to park in Clayton since it is only a 5-10-minute walk from FLTC. There is also plenty of parking, but you may need to park in the upper levels as it gets later into the morning.

Having a car is great because it is easier to go to a wider variety of places. Parking is also more convenient than a lot of big cities. You do not pay after 7 p.m. or on Sundays at most public parking, and you can park for free on most side streets. On the downside, St. Louis roads are not the greatest, and drivers tend to play it fast and loose when it comes to speed limits and using turn signals. Overall, it took a little time to get used to driving in St. Louis, but I like having a car because it gives me more options for groceries, going out with friends, and exploring the city. (Sidenote: If you have a Kia or Hyundai, make sure you invest in a steering wheel lock because those can get stolen if you park on the street).