Spring 2021 Commuter Guide
COVID-19 affected almost every aspect of the lives, including how we commute to campus. Though many students are enrolled in online courses, others are attending classes in\person and will need to commute to campus regularly. Returning students may notice some transportation services were modified in response to the pandemic. Commuter Services will continue to implement some transportation modifications which align with the university’s guidelines.
Check out these transportation services to commute to campus with ease.
SafeRide
SafeRide will continue to operate regularly despite the pandemic. Students who don’t feel comfortable walking on campus at night may request a free ride to most locations at the U. SafeRide functions similarly to other rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft, but only operates within university boundaries on weeknights from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Download the TapRide app in the App Store or Google Play to request a ride.
All passengers must wear a face covering inside SafeRide vehicles.
Parking permits
Students enrolled in a combination of in-person and online classes may have different parking needs throughout the academic year. To allow for flexibility, Commuter Services will continue to only sell semester permits until further notice. Spring 2021 permits are now available to purchase and are valid until August. 31, 2021.
Students who park a vehicle on campus daily or regularly should purchase a parking permit. There are a few factors to consider when deciding which parking permit to purchase. Are you living on or off campus? Where would you like to park? What is your budget? Your answer to these questions will help you determine which parking permit best fits your needs.
Parking permit acronyms can be confusing to new students; below is a breakdown of the most common student parking permits.
- U Permit: The ‘U’ permit is the best option for students living off campus. Not only does this permit allow students to park in various ‘U’ lots across campus, it also allows students to park in designated ‘A’ lots after 3 p.m.
- HU Permit: The ‘HU’ permit allows students who live on campus to park overnight in housing lots. This permit is also valid in ‘U’ lots. Be aware that overnight parking is not allowed in certain ‘U’ lots.
- HCU Permit: The ‘HCU’ is similar to the ‘HU’ permit but comes with extra perks. In addition to parking in the housing lots, the ‘HCU’ permit allows you to park in the Central Garage, the Lassonde Studio Lot and ‘U’ lots.
- CU Permit: The ‘CU’ permit, like the ‘HCU,’ allows you to park in the Central Garage, the Lassonde Studio Lot and “U” lots, but is not permitted in housing lots. This permit is available to all students.
Visit the Student Permits page on the Commuter Services website to view prices, purchasing details and other parking permits.
“U” after 3 p.m.
Students with “U” permits may park in designated ‘A’ parking lots after 3 p.m. This option allows students to park in lots closer to central campus during the evening. Not all lots have this accommodation, so please take care in reading the signage posted in the lot.
Additionally, students with ‘U’ permits may park in designated stalls in the Marriott Library and Union kiosk lots after 3 p.m. Not all stalls in these lots allow ‘U’ permits, so read the signs carefully.
Check out the map of lots that allow ‘U’ permits after 3 p.m.
Short term parking
Students who park a vehicle on campus weekly or occasionally may prefer short-term parking options, rather than a semester-long permit. Commuter Services offers three short-term parking options for students who will not park on campus regularly.
- Day pass: Students may purchase a Day Pass online (ranging from $4-$15 a day) to park in a ‘U’ or ‘A’ stall on campus.
- Kiosk lots: Students may pay the $2 hourly rate to park in the Union Lot, Marriott Library Lot, Business Lot or Student Life Center Lot. Visit the kiosk machines located within these lots to begin a session.
- PayByPhone stalls: Students may pay the $2 hourly rate to park in PayByPhone stalls located in various lots throughout campus. Download the PayByPhone app to find a stall and begin a session.
UTA
Students have access to UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner trains at no cost. When boarding and existing a train or bus, use your UCard on the card readers to begin and conclude your trip.
The TRAX Red Line and several UTA bus routes come directly to campus making public transportation accessible to students in the Wasatch Front. Additionally, commuters using multiple modes of transportation may bring their bicycle or personal scooter on buses and trains. Download the Transit app to find a route that works for you.
UTA requires all passengers must wear a face covering on board. UTA will continue to implement additional safety and disinfecting procedures that align with the CDC and the Utah Department of Health’s safety recommendations.
Campus Shuttles
The Campus Shuttle system transports students to popular locations around the U including the Union, housing areas, UTA bus stops and TRAX stations on campus. Personal scooters and skateboards are welcome on board; however, bicycles are not allowed on shuttles.
We adjusted our shuttle service to accommodate the COVID-19 needs. The Blue, Orange and Circulator (previously known as the Night Route) shuttles will increase service frequency during peak hours to ensure shuttles are not overly crowded. Other shuttle routes like the Red, Green, Purple and Union-TRAX will remain off the road until further notice.
All passengers must wear a face covering on board.
Visit uofubus.com to track all campus shuttles live, find the nearest stop and see the estimated arrival times.
Bicycles and Campus Bike Shop
Bicycling is a convenient, healthy and sustainable alternative to driving to campus. With new, safe routes opening this fall, cyclists and other active commuters can ride through campus with ease. All cyclists must yield to pedestrians, ride at a slow speed, and follow the university operating regulation for bicycles and other non-motorized riding devices.
The university offer free outdoor bicycle parking within 50 feet of almost every building. Cyclists are also welcome to utilize the secure bicycle lockers located at certain buildings and parking garages. Bicycles locked to anything other than bicycle racks will be impounded.
The Campus Bike Shop moved to a new location at 413 Campus Center Drive, across the street from the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Our on-site bike shop will continue to offer bicycle maintenance services, including tune-up, tire replacement, cable repairs and more. We’re open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. though 4 p.m. Call 581-6415 to make an appointment with our experienced bicycle mechanic.
Other wheels
Skateboards, e-boards and other wheeled devices, including rentable e-bikes and e-scooters are allowed to operate on campus. Riders must follow the local traffic laws and the university operating regulation for bicycles and other non-motorized riding devices.
Outdoor parking for skateboards and personal scooters is available at the Student Life Center, Peterson Heritage Center and Kahlert Village. Rentable e-scooters and e-bikes must be parked adjacent to an outdoor bicycle rack.
Walking
No matter how you commute to the U, you’ll find yourself walking on campus at some point. Visit the Campus Map to get walking directions to any buildings on campus.
If you’re new to the U, you’ll notice that sidewalks are used by wheeled devices, including bicycles, scooters, skateboards and golf carts. As a pedestrian, you have the legal right of way, meaning every rider must yield to you. Be aware of your surroundings to avoid injuries to yourself or others.
Students who do not feel comfortable walking on campus may contact the university’s police department to request a free courtesy escort to any location on campus. Call 801-585-COPS to request this service available 24/7.
Visit our Main Office
The Commuter Services’ main office is now located on 311 S. Fort Douglas Boulevard and is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. We welcome all students to visit our new main office to purchase a permit, pay a ticket or ask general questions. Call 801-581-6415 for more information about our main office.