Published: Aug. 25, 2022

A fresh semester is here so it’s a great time for a refresher on commuting options that will help you get to campus efficiently, inexpensively and sustainably as possible.

Take the Bus

COVID put a damper on many bus routes and frequency, but there is positive news!

  • Zero Fare for Better Air - All buses are free in August 2022!  Many of you have EcoPasses, but spread the word with family and friends and give the bus a try, you may love it and will save money!
  • Live near Lyons?  The new Lyons Flyer will get you directly to campus!  Full details about this great new bus service is available on the Boulder County Government website.
  • Bus Route Information can be found using RTD's Trip Planner or download the Transit App to view real-time schedules and routes near you.

Bike

  • Register your bike at a campus bike station for free maintenance assistance by professionally trained student staff. Locations can be found on the CU Environmental Center webpage
  • View the map of secure bike shelters at the UMC on main campus, and on east campus at the ARCE administrative building.  
  • For route planning, use Google Maps and select the "bike" setting in the app on or this interactive bike map provided by the City of Boulder.

Driving 

Often the ideal way to get to campus when saving time is paramount, but it's expensive and hard on the environment. 

  • Share your ride, it will save you money! Check out the Parking Services Carpooling page to learn more about ride matching with Waze and Way to Go.
  • If you have an electric vehicle (EV), learn more information about CU's EV charging on the CU Parking EV webpage
  • Mix in alternative commutes whenever possible. 

Parking

Don't have a permit or working a hybrid schedule and don’t want to pay full monthly fee?  Parking & Transportation Services (PTS) has a variety of options. Contact your department's Parking Liaison for guidance or explore the options for long-term (permit) or short-term parking (daily, weekly, etc) on Parking's website. Still stuck?  Reach out to Parking's customer service team at 303-735-PARK (7275)

Mid-day Transportation

  • BCycle and Rentals - Half-off annual passes are available from Boulder B-cycle. B-cycle has a large fleet of ready-to-ride electric bikes located at over 45 stations across Boulder, with 12 stations on or around campus. More information can be found on the B-Cycle CU Boulder page
  • Lime e-scooters are available to rent through the Lime app and can be ridden in an area of East Boulder that includes CU’s East Campus and Williams Village and three new locations on the East edge of main campus. Because the scooters were introduced as part of a pilot program, they will be automatically deactivated using GPS technology if ridden outside of their designated area. 
  • CU’s Buff Bus is a network of free and convenient inter- and intra-campus shuttles. Visit the PTS Bus Route page for schedules.
  • Carshare - a great option for those who are car-free or choose to leave their vehicle at home but still need occasional access to a car. CU Boulder’s Environmental Center subsidizes access to two car share programs: Colorado CarShare and Zipcar. More information can be found on the E Center caresharing webpage

Guaranteed Ride Home

The Guaranteed Ride Home program ensures that there's never a reason to worry about getting stranded at work. If your carpool or vanpool leaves without you, it will get you home free of charge. Visit the PTS Guaranteed Ride Hope page for more details.