The University of Arizona and its surrounding areas are well known for their rich culture and engaging activities during evening hours, creating the perfect places and events to visit when a break is needed. One of the most important parts of planning these outings is knowing how to safely navigate your way back home.
Whether you’re traveling on foot, bicycle, car or using a rideshare, these tips will help ensure a safe trip home and make nighttime adventures more comfortable.
Transportation & commute
While planning fun and adventurous activities to do on your next outing, making an itinerary for transportation can not only save time and money but can also create peace of mind when heading home in late hours of the night. Include how long it will take, the schedule for public services and any fees that may be included.
It’s also important to keep in mind that these plans may change as the night progresses, so being comfortable with spur-of-the-moment changes and having back-up ideas are key to finding your way home safely.
Buddy system
One of the safest ways to navigate Tucson in the evening is by traveling in groups. However, if you plan to travel alone, always make sure you have a trusted person you can contact in an emergency.
Many rideshare and location tracking apps have a location-sharing feature (i.e. Uber and Life360 collab) that allows you to share your ride with a family member or trusted friend. The UA SafeCats App also has this feature, called Friend Walk.
Know your resources
On a similar note, there are so many resources available to students in Tucson to make sure solo travel is a safe activity.
SafeCats is a mobile app filled with different features such as Campus Maps, Getting Around, which shows parking, bicycling and transportation information, as well as safety features such as Social Escape, for when you need a fake excuse to leave a situation.
There are also Emergency Blue Light Phones surrounding all parts of campus, which are highly useful to report accidents, suspicious behavior or activities, medical emergencies and more. The UA also offers its Safe Ride program, providing late-night transportation services that makes traveling home as safe and comfortable as possible.
Stay alert
As students, putting on headphones and listening to music while walking has become a popular trend that some may say tunes out the hustle around them. However, it can also block out noises that are especially important to notice when traveling alone.
If you are using a transportation source or simply walking the streets, keep both ears free of noise to stay fully alert to your surroundings. If earbuds have become a habit, keep one listening device in your ear and save the other ear for listening to traffic, people and signals.
At the same time, always place your bags and personal belongings in close proximity to yourself on public transportation, as this is considered to be the safest option for managing your personal items, according to Loyola University.
Similarly, keeping items in your front pockets or across your body while walking can help prevent easy theft.
Traveling alone, especially at night, can feel nerve-wracking. However, part of the college experience is getting out and exploring your new home as a Wildcat. Using these tips while experiencing nightlife can help create a safe, fun and enjoyable environment for everyone.
