Imagine it is a cold day in December. There are six inches of snow on the ground and your 8 a.m. class is in the Willard Building near the middle of campus.

This would be fine, except for the fact that you live in East Halls.

Finding ways to get around campus without a car is a common concern of freshmen.

Those needing a lift can take a ride with the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA).

The Campus and Town Loops and the Link transport people around campus for free.

"The buses are very helpful to students by saving time and energy," Danielle Desantis (freshman-advertising and public relations) said.

The Loops circle the campus and downtown State College with many stops along College and Beaver Avenues.

The Link takes riders along Curtin Road between parking lot 44 and West Campus.

The buses for routes H, M, P, and U (check the overhead sign on the front of the bus) are free when riders are only traveling through campus.

Students who wish to travel beyond Loop and Link routes are charged one-way fares.

The one-way fare of an off-campus trip is $1.25, and riders must have exact change.

Riders may also purchase tokens at $1.25 each or a roll of 20 for $24. Tokens are available on campus at the HUB Information Desk.

Tokens are also available at the Nittany Mall Information Desk, the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., and McLanahan's Drug Store, 116 W. College Ave.

For students who use CATA services frequently, "onepasses" are available for Fall Semester at $195.

The pass is valid for an unlimited number of rides on all Centre Line routes.

"People do not save money on passes unless they are using the service as primary transportation, 20 to 30 times per week," said Eric Bernier, CATA director of service development.

Bernier recommends students unfamiliar with the public transportation system visit the CATA Web site (www.catabus.com).

"There, they can actually watch videos on how to use the bus," he said.

CATA serves all of the plazas and shopping centers directly outside of State College.

The V route makes trips to North Atherton Place and trips to the Colonnade shopping center, which includes Target, 315 Lowes Blvd., Circuit City, 48 Colonnade Way, and Wegmans, 345 Lowes Blvd.

Students who are interested in visiting the Nittany Mall or the Wal-mart/Sam's Club plaza, 373 Benner Pike, should get onto bus route M.

During the first few weeks of Fall Semester, freshmen are encouraged to make an effort to learn the public transportation system.

"Get familiar with the stops," said Matt Carr (freshman-engineering). "It will save a lot of time in the fall, especially if you are traveling from East Halls."