When I decided on UCI as my graduate school, I was less worried about traveling to Irvine than traveling within Irvine, and for good reason. It is extremely tough to miss a stop when you are on the flight, but when you are on a bus and already late for class, missing your stop entails a long walk back to campus under the unforgiving sun. So, I will try to familiarize you with the public transport system in Irvine thus decreasing the number of excuses you can use for being late by one.
The two most common systems of public transport in Irvine are the Metrolink and the OCTA buses. Both are run by the Orange County Transportation Authority. In essence, you will only be using the OCTA buses in your daily life especially if you plan on using public transport to commute to and from UCI. The OCTA buses have a regular schedule and are on time for the most part.
Your typical OCTA bus
As you can see from the picture, every bus has an LED board in front which indicates the bus number and the stations it runs from and to. The bus stops will have the OCTA sign on the sidewalk as well as information on the buses that use that particular stop. In case you bring your bicycle with you, the bus has a bike stand in front with space for two bikes. Once you get into the bus, you will pay in front or swipe your card before taking your seat. The bus has an announcement system which tells you the next stop as well as the connecting buses in major intersections.
More information on the bus routes as well as a trip planner can be found on http://www.octa.net/Bus-Transit/Overview/. Keep in mind that not all routes run on the weekends. The typical cost for a one-way ticket is $2 and a one-day pass is $5. In case you think you will be using the public transport often, I suggest seriously considering the yearly pass available in-person at the UCI Parking &Transportation Office (Bldg #7 on the campus map) which costs $169 for an academic year (July 1st-June 30th). More information is available at http://www.parking.uci.edu/at/modes/octa.cfm. The card is also valid for i-shuttles (Irvine shuttles – http://legacy.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/pw/ishuttle/default.asp) which run during office hours and may travel to destinations of your interest. The OCTA buses are often an advantage for traveling respectable distances without a car.
The Metrolink is a train system which has three lines, of which the Orange County line and Inland Empire-Orange County line run through Irvine. For weekend adventures, the Metrolink is your best option to travel around the Orange County area and even to visit LA. More information is available at http://www.octa.net/Metrolink/Overview/ and the ticket prices, which are calculated according to distance are available at http://www.octa.net/Metrolink/Overview/. The Metrolink often runs promotions and you can get weekend passes for as low as $10.
Metrolink Train
For your OCTA buses, there are apps on your mobile phone (iPhone and Android) which can help you track buses in real time as well as plan out your commute. Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) has a public transport option which includes both the Metrolink and the OCTA buses in its calculation. Another app which is especially useful is Transit (http://transitapp.com/), which gives you an idea of how far away the bus is as well as real time tracking.
Thus, in evidence, not investing in a car due to the cost doesn’t necessarily hamper your plans of traveling around the city. The public transport system is good enough to allow you to visit the wonderful places Orange County has to offer. With just a little planning, you can keep wasted time to the minimum without the added hassle of having to drive your own mode of transport.