OK for the really stupid question....

nineum
Tue, 24 Jun 2014 14:03:53 +0000

I definitely wouldn’t say you can get ANYWHERE on campus in 15 minutes, but it holds true for most cases. When I compared one of the distances you gave to one I had previously (Morrill to Marks Meadow), it’s worth noting that I don’t believe Marks Meadow is even used anymore now that there is the newer science building, and starting this semester, the other new building next to the pond. The 15 minute rule will hold true for almost all in-between-class commutes though. Exceptions would be more likely to pop up if you are taking a class in a residential hall or taking courses in vastly different subjects (CompSci building to Studio Arts in 15 minutes? no way). Coincidentally, one of the examples you gave is in a residential hall as well.

A nice thought though is that once he is done with a majority of his general education classes and is instead focusing on a certain major, it’s more likely that his whole schedule will be in a small section of campus as opposed to scattered about.

As for using the bike share 3 days a week, I think it would mostly be up to him. Does he mind going there to pick up and return a bike that often? Would he rather not have to deal with repairs to his own bike that might pop up throughout the year? Think about those kinds of things.

By the way, I think you could probably make both of those distances in 15 minutes, so we may just be figuring this all out for nothing. It might not be at the speed you would walk through a park for enjoyment, but it won’t be running speed either. Just a light power walk and it should be fine. And no, he won’t look strange power walking, UMass’ huge population includes people with all walking speeds. I don’t know how some of them can tolerate walking so slow though!