CU Boulder connects students with many transportation options to get around campus and Boulder. You can get around campus or nearby destinations by bike, bus, on foot or other modes of transportation.
Sustainable transportation
The Environmental Center encourages students to choose sustainable transportation. The CU Boulder campus and Boulder community make alternative transportation options accessible and convenient.
Bikes and electric bikes
Biking is an easy way to get around Boulder and campus. If you bring a bike to campus, register it with the Environmental Center. Registering your bike includes free maintenance assistance at two campus bike stations.
Protect your bike from theft by locking it with a U-lock to a designated bike rack. You can exchange your cable bike lock for a u-lock at the Environmental Center.
If you don’t own a bike, take advantage of free student memberships to Boulder BCycle. Boulder BCycle’s e-bike sharing program has multiple stations serving campus and 300 bikes throughout Boulder. The entire fleet is electric, making it faster to get where you are going.
Don’t know how to ride a bike? It's never too late to learn. Email bicycle@colorado.edu to schedule a private lesson with a bike instructor. This service is for CU students, faculty and staff.
Skateboards and stand-up scooters
Skateboards and scooters are great for navigating campus, but be aware of dismount zones on multi-use pathways and streets. Electric scooters, skateboards and other low-speed electric devices are prohibited in residence halls or CU buildings. Students can use the skateboard racks located across campus.
Lime offers rentable e-scooters within a geo-fenced zone. See Lime’s in-app map for details. The rideable zone includes much of east Boulder, including Williams Village, east campus and the Center for Innovation and Creativity. Download the Lime app to sign up and start riding.
Motorcycles, mopeds and sit-down scooters
Motorcycles, sit-down scooters and mopeds (electric and gas-powered) are allowed on city streets but not on campus sidewalks or paths.
Low-power mopeds and scooters are considered motorcycles for campus parking. Regardless of engine size, they must have a permit from Parking Services to park in motorcycle spaces. Purchase a special motorcycle parking permit.
Any moped or scooter under 50 ccs must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles to purchase a motorcycle permit. Visit the Division of Motor Vehicles for details to complete your moped or scooter registration form.
Buses
Buff Buses offer free transportation around campus with no pass required. The routes connect central campus to Williams Village, Bear Creek and east campus.
Your Buff OneCard gives you access to RTD bus and rail routes, including routes to Denver International Airport. Students age 19 and under qualify for the Zero Fare for Youth program and can request to have your Transit Pass fee waived.
Don’t forget to use the CU Ski Bus program for your next trip to the slopes!
Carsharing
Carsharing is an excellent alternative to owning a car. A variety of carshare vehicles are available on campus and throughout central Boulder.
As a student, you are eligible for reduced rates or registration fees. Check out Zipcar or Colorado CarShare for more information.
CU NightRide
CU NightRide is a student-operated program that provides free night-time transportation within Boulder city limits. They will get you where you want to go safely and efficiently. Download the NightRide app to request a ride.
Owning a car
Driving around campus and in Boulder can bring challenges, including limited paid parking spaces. With traffic, other modes of transportation are often quicker and more convenient than driving.
Student parking passes for the academic year are limited and available for purchase over the summer. Without a pass, you will need to pay for parking daily. Multiple visitor parking lots with hourly parking rates are available, including some electric vehicle charging ports. Download the ParkMobile app to pay for short-term parking. Call 303-735-PARK (7275) or email parking@colorado.edu with parking questions.
Campus map
Use CU Boulder’s campus map to find the best routes for getting around campus. You can save a link to the map on your smartphone home screen and use it like an app.
Download the Transit App
The Transit app makes it easy to track the locations of Buff Buses and RTD buses (including the HOP) in real-time. It also tracks B-Cycle locations and more. Download Transit on Google Play or the Apple Store. Once you download the app, select specific routes as favorites to receive service alerts and notifications.
