The University of Michigan's Commuter North route runs Monday through Friday year-round. The route starts in a modest waiting shelter with a view of the magnificient new Michigan Stadium and Crisler Arena, goes through the new Central Campus Transit Center at the old exhibit museum/C. C. Little stop, stops at the U-M medical center, goes through North Campus and ends up at the Glazier Way parking lot on North Campus.

The route runs frequently enough between 6:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. during the week that you don't have to plan or schedule your way around bus trips; you just show up, wait a little bit for the next bus and go. The route doesn't run Saturday or Sunday, so, alas, it's not the way home from the football game.

If you plan to take this route, either as a university commuter or as a visitor to our fair city, here are some of the highlights along the way.

Transpo gate

This gate on Kipke Drive is the entrance to the university's bus garage and auto shop. There are always vehicles of interest that are part of the university fleet that a young or old industrial automotive enthusiast would find of interest.

Take care to stay on the narrow sidewalk, or just view the garage from the bus, to see this area. There is not very much sidewalk to walk on, and vehicles come and go all the time.

Intramural Sports Building

Built in 1928, the Intramural Sports Building was the first collegiate intramural sports building in the U.S. It's used for the intramural program, the drop-in program and club sports events and connects to the adjacent Cliff Keen Arena, Canham Natatorium and the varsity track buildings. It's a beautiful building from the outside, but I've never been in it.

Michigan Union

The Michigan Union first opened its doors to men in 1919. It has a ton of student offices, a billiards room and a computing center in the old bowling alley downstairs. You could easily spend an entire day getting lost in the union and finding interesting things to do or see. Alas, the pinball machines that were there back in the day when I was in school are gone.

Natural sciences building

If you are into science this would be a good stop; walk the hallways of the E. H. Kraus Natural Sciences Building looking at the professors and the posters on the wall from research presentations. The building was completed in 1915, and was designed by architect Albert Kahn of Detroit.

Central Campus Transit Center

The CCTC is brand new and not done yet, and traffic has not yet adjusted to it. Signage at the site yesterday when I got off was non-existent. When it's done, it will be great, with big screen displays showing bus locations for both AATA and U-M buses.

FXB

The Wave Field, an awesome earthwork by Vietnam Veteran Memorial architect Maya Lin, is tucked behind the FXB building on the University of Michigan North Campus. Parking on North Campus is as close to impossible as you will ever find without a local guide to guide you, but it's an easy bus ride from Central Campus and worth the trip if you only visit one destination.

Links

• Magic Bus information about Commuter North
• Intramural Sports Building, 606 E. Hoover
• Michigan Union, 530 S. State St.
• Natural Sciences Building construction photos and information.
• Commuter North map
• Art:21: Maya Lin, PBS.