<p>Since there is light rail adjacent to the campus, and also short term car rentals as well (if you don’t like biking around to nearby places) you certainly don’t have to get a car. See <a href=“http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/exploringlightrail.html”>http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/exploringlightrail.html</a>
and
<a href=“Rice University | Zipcar”>http://www.zipcar.com/rice</a></p>
<p>US News claims that 44% of Rice students have cars.</p>
<p>Rice is very close to the museum district, and almost adjacent to the Houston Zoo and Hermann park so there are plenty of other fun places besides the Rice Village to go that are walking/biking distance.</p>