Whether new to campus or returning for the spring semester, you can get around campus or nearby destinations by bike, bus, on foot or other modes of transportation.
Take the bus
CU Boulder’s Buff Buses are free shuttles connecting Main Campus to Williams Village, Bear Creek and East Campus. No pass is needed! Board any of the Buff Bus routes. Your College Pass gives you access to RTD bus and rail routes, including routes to Denver International Airport.
The Transit app makes it easy to track the locations of Buff Buses and RTD buses (including the HOP) in real-time. Download Transit on Google Play (Android) or the Apple Store (iOS). Once you download the app, select specific routes as favorites to receive service alerts and notifications.
Ride a bike
Biking is an easy way to get around Boulder and campus. According to the League of American Bicyclists, CU Boulder is a gold level bike-friendly university. Boulder consistently ranks as one of the most bikeable cities in the U.S.
If you are bringing a bike to campus, register it with the Environmental Center at either CU Boulder bike station. Registering your bike gets you 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 and not to stair rails, ADA rails or trees.
If you don’t own a bike, take advantage of free memberships to Boulder BCycle for CU students. 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.
Skateboard or ride a stand-up scooter
When using a skateboard or scooter, be aware of dismount zones on multi-use pathways and streets. Other things to know:
- Electric scooters, skateboards and other low-speed electric devices are not allowed in residence halls or any CU buildings.
- CU has several skateboard racks located across campus.
Rentable e-scooters are available through Lime within a geo-fenced zone mostly east of 28th Street, except for three “lime grove” parking areas on central campus near the engineering center and the CU Events Center. Soon, scooter parking will be available adjacent to Kittredge West. 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.
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.
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 less than 50 ccs must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles in order to purchase a motorcycle permit. Visit the Division of Motor Vehicles for details to complete your moped or scooter registration form.
Short-term/visitor parking
Multiple visitor parking lots with hourly parking rates are available on campus, 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.
Carsharing
Carsharing is an excellent alternative to owning a car. There is a variety of carshare vehicles 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. Request a ride through their app.
