The Greening of American Cities

By Kimberly Brandes

With rising gas prices and the increasing availability of WiFi Internet access, now is a good time to look at commuting vs. online education. Why not pursue online learning instead of commuting to a traditional classroom? If you’re a student attending a traditional school, consider the cost of a daily 10-mile commute to and from class in a standard mid-size vehicle that gets 18 MPG for city driving. With the nationwide average of $3.20 per gallon, that seemingly short commute amounts to almost $1,000 a year in gas alone.

Besides the money, think about the time and energy spent driving in rush hour traffic or trying to find a parking spot in a busy city when you’re running late for class—time that could be spent studying, working or relaxing. If you live in a large city, you have plenty of reasons to enroll in an online degree program. Take your life back—spend less time driving and more time studying in creative locations where you can enjoy the sights your city has to offer.

Average gas price per gallon: $3.84

One of the advantages of working on an online degree program in San Francisco is the variety of scenic places to study. The Fisherman’s Wharf offers a beautiful backdrop to your online learning sessions, with views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

Of course, the public transportation provides extra time for studying while traveling to and from various San Francisco Bay area neighborhoods. Getting from Oakland to downtown Berkeley will take about 30 minutes on the BART, a great opportunity to read over material for your online learning course.

For free WiFi access, study at unique places such as Coffee to the People in Haight-Ashbury, Citizen Cupcake or Java Beach Café, where you can always find a place to sit outside basking in the sun and learning.

• Plan your next trip on the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)
• Check out Wi-Fi Hotspots in San Francisco 

Average gas price per gallon: $4.01

The Windy City is the fifth most expensive place to park in America, with an average of $25 in daily parking fees. Those enrolled in online degree programs can cut costs by taking advantage of Chicago's public transportation system and complete online learning course work during commutes.

If you’re meeting friends at the Cubby Bear for drinks before a baseball game, you can squeeze in a half-hour of study time on the Red Line “L” from the Loop to Wrigleyville. Or you can catch up on important reading on the Metra in the hour it takes to get from the suburbs to the Art Institute.

On those precious beautiful days in the Windy City, who wants to be stuck inside a classroom? Grab a hot dog, and attend your online learning courses outside at Millennium Park between Stetson Avenue and Columbus Drive. For the typical chilly days in the city, spend time working on your online learning courses at cozy cafes that offer free WiFi access, such as Bean Addiction, Caffe DeLuca or The Grind.

• Learn more about the Chicago Transit Authority “L” or the Chicago Metra to plan your next trip, and leave the driving to them.
• Check out WiFi Free Hot Spot –A Guide to Chicago's Free Wireless Coffee Shops

Average gas price per gallon: $3.92

New York City is known for both its excitement and its high cost of living. Many city residents don’t even own a car, knowing that the subway is the essential way to commute given the traffic congestion and the costs of owning a vehicle in NYC.

Between window-shopping on Fifth Avenue and visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you will find many unique settings where you can complete your online learning courses. Also known as the Merchants’ Gate, the southwest corner of Central Park has an outdoor free WiFi hotspot that continues through the fountain area of Columbus Circle.

For a quick bite to eat while studying, head over to the Downtown/Uptown Café on Second Avenue, which has user-friendly WiFi access. On nice days, stop in Little Italy and grab a slice of Lombardi’s pizza to enjoy while working on your laptop.

• Use the ride or drive calculator to see how much you can save every day by riding the MTA
• Ditch the car, and plan your next trip on the NYC subway or bus
• Check out WiFi Hotspots in NYC

Average gas price per gallon: $3.87

While Washington, D.C. is a great place for tourists to learn about the nation’s capital, it can also be a great city to explore beyond the National Mall. A half-hour ride on the Metro Blue Line and a short bus ride can take you from the Smithsonian to Old Town Alexandria. After studying for your online learning course during the Metro ride, continue the study session at Misha’s Coffee Roaster Coffeehouse and stay energized with a Route 66 brew.

Downtown Washington, D.C. has plenty of great places to study. At Crumbs and Coffee, an inexpensive place with good food, the front counters are lined with strips of power outlets to guarantee that your laptop won’t go dead before you’re done working. Other places with free WiFi and a relaxed atmosphere include Ebeneezer’s Coffeehouse, Murky Coffee on the popular Seventh Street and Love Café.

• Learn about the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro)
• Check out WiFi Hotspots in Washington, D.C.

Average gas price per gallon: $3.79

Going from Bellevue to the Pike Place Market on the King County Metro, you can utilize the 40 minutes of travel time to read up on your classes for your online degree program. Now that wireless service is offered on the Washington State ferries, you can bring your laptop, and take an online learning course while enjoying the breathtaking views of Puget Sound.

Famous for its coffee, Seattle also has plenty of coffee houses that offer free WiFi hotspots. Complete work for an online learning course at B & O Espresso over a slice of their Sour Cream Lemon Pie. Dog lovers can study away from home with their four-legged friends by going to Fuel Coffee, which has a dog-hitching post at the front and sells dog treats at the counter.

• Plan your next trip with Seattle’s King County Metro
• Check out Caffeinated and Unstrung – A Guide to Seattle’s Free Wireless Coffee Shops
• See Washington State Ferries WiFi Program

Average gas price per gallon: $3.65

If you're going to a Red Sox game from downtown Boston, bring your laptop and take advantage of the 40 minutes it takes to get to Fenway Park on the "T". After the game, you can enjoy the ice cream from Sluggers Dugout (a lot tastier than vending machine snacks at a traditional university) while reading for your online classes.

At the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, you can use the free WiFi access for your online learning course and also get an entertaining study break from street performers like the Yo Yo People or The Lucky Show. For late-night study sessions, enjoy some comfort food like the Chocolate Fantasy French Toast at the student-friendly (and wallet-friendly) South Street Diner, which is open 24 hours. Cafes with free WiFi access include Uptown Espresso, Sweet Finnish and Boston Beanstock Coffee Co.

• Get onboard with the “T” - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
• Check out WiFi Free Spot – A Guide to Boston’s Free Wireless Coffee Shops 

Other cities that rank high on the most wired list include Atlanta, Orlando and Raleigh.* Even if you don't live in the cities mentioned above, you can still find creative ways to make the most of your time and money through an online degree program. Why deal with the hassle of driving when online learning courses allow you to study from home in your pajamas or by the window of your favorite cafe?

_{Sources: Cars.com; *Forbes.com; Gas prices recorded as of July 2007}