7 things to love about living in a college town in the summer

Columbia moves at a different rhythm during the summer. The days are placid and quiet, mostly due to the absence of 33,000 University of South Carolina students.

It can be a strange thing to inhabit a college town when college is not in session. However, there are perks. The youthful vibe and boisterous energy may be gone, but so are the crowds, traffic and general debauchery that tends to follow 20-year-olds wherever they go.

For any college students reading this, we’re not saying we don’t love you. But here are some of the things we love about you being gone:

1. Parking is easy

How wonderful is it to grab lunch in Five Points or dinner on Main Street without having to drive around the block six times in search of parking?

“In general, parking in and around campus is a lot more available” in the summer, said Paul Pendley, Parking Operations Supervisor for the City of Columbia Parking Services Division. The city issues less parking tickets in the summer, “primarily because USC is out of class,” Pendley said. “Theyre a big source as far as usage of parking meters and parking tickets.”

There are 646 metered spaces and 1,007 hourly spaces on campus. Last year, USC issued 23,048 parking permits. Not to say that everyone is out driving in Columbia at once, but those are a lot of cars for a few parking spots. Thank the parking gods if you manage to snag one when classes are in session.

2. Bars and restaurants aren’t crowded

If you want to sidle up to a Five Points bar without hassle, the time is now. You’ll have a much better chance of someone not spilling beer on your shoes and of finding toilet paper in the bathroom.

As most Columbia residents know, the bar district becomes college territory come fall.

Restaurants also tend to be much emptier in the summer. It’s a big change of pace, especially for places that cater to students.

“Falls days are extremely busy and really fast-paced. Summers are laid-back,” Cool Beans Coffee Company owner Kitty Mirosavich said. Usually, the coffee shop across from the Horseshoe is filled with students studying or meeting friends for coffee. In the summer, there are only a few occupied tables.

The plus is “it gives us more chances to talk to customers and try out new products,” Mirosavich said. She looks forward to the students return, she added, “because that’s what we’re here for.”

3. There’s less fear of hitting someone with your car

Thousands of students hoofing it to class throughout the day make for significant foot traffic, especially near the intersections of Assembly and Blossom and Assembly and Greene. The updated crosswalks help, but they can only do so much for the zombie-like cellphone walkers who wander across roads with reckless abandon.

It’s not enough for drivers to have a green light, for what does a green light mean to a tardy Gamecock on his or her way to class? Nothing.

Same goes for Five Points after 10 p.m. on weekends. They will insist on playing human Frogger when you’re trying to drive to Cookout for a late-night milkshake. It’s not a fun game.

Driving in Columbia is much less stressful without the fear of running students over.

4. There are fewer out-of-state drivers

Forty percent of undergraduate students come from out-of-state. There are bound to be differences in driving style and etiquette (looking at you, New Jersey).

Sure, South Carolinians are said to not use turn signals, but we tend to drive slowly enough that it’s merely annoying and not life-threatening. Lane swervers and tailgating maniacs, take note.

5. The mopeds are gone

No getting stuck behind a moped going 25 mph and weighed down by a guy giving his buddy a ride to class. Watching the guy in back trying to hold on without touching the guy in front is funny though.

6. The Horseshoe is empty

Go to the Horseshoe. You can find solitude without having to keep one eye open for errant Frisbees.

You can take a walk at any time of day and not feel awkward about being older than everyone else there. You can take a seat and have the Horseshoe all to yourself.

The university just put down new sod, so there are signs asking visitors not to go on the grass, but that didn’t stop Ahad Zwooqar from lounging alone on the Horseshoe last week.

“I kinda like it,” she said of the summer vibe on campus. “You can come to the Horseshoe and read, and it’s very quiet.” The senior is taking two summer classes in addition to studying for the GRE.

“Each season at USC has its own flavor,” Zwooqar said. “In fall, there’s something going on every day. Summer is peaceful. And hot.”

7. It’s quiet

It’s not just the Horseshoe that’s quiet. A hush seems to fall over the whole city from May to July, like reverse hibernation. There’s not much going on, and the inactivity begets a sort of mellow lethargy. It’s nice, if only for a little while.

But Aug. 14 – move in day – is right around the corner.