University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Illinois International International Student and Scholar Services

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Public Transportation

Whether you need to get across campus for class, to town for shopping, or back home for the weekend, it’ s easy to get around Urbana-Champaign without a car. This guide will help you explore alternatives to bringing a car to campus, saving money, time, and natural resources.

Our campus has excellent infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and transit (buses). The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) bus system on our campus is one of the best transit systems in the country. The campus is a Bicycle Friendly University and the Cities of Urbana and Champaign are both Bicycle Friendly Communities, making us leaders among other communities and universities. The university encourages students to use these active modes of transportation to support our Climate Leadership Commitments, and to promote a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few things to know about different modes of transportation.

Bus: MTD

  • All students, faculty, and staff can show their university i-card to board without paying a fare. Your university i-card is your Bus Pass.
  • Download a bus tracking/schedule app on your phone. “CU Transit” for Android or “My Bus Helper: MTD” for iOS are recommended.
  • Buses run from 6:30 am till 3:00 am, and reduced hours during school breaks and weekends.
  • All MTD buses are Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessible and lift equipped.
  • Every MTD bus is equipped with a bike rack.

SafeRides

SafeRides is a program run by MTD for people who are traveling alone at night or outside the normal MTD bus route schedule. The purpose of SafeRides is to provide safe transportation to individuals who are generally traveling alone when no other means of safe transportation are easily accessible or available within the designated SafeRides boundaries. SafeRides does not provide service to and/or from any bars.

  • SafeRides is available on campus from 7:00 pm to 6:30 am, daily (SafeRides will operate from 5:00 pm once Daylight Savings begins).
  • Schedule a ride by phone by calling 217-265-RIDE (7433) to have a Dispatcher plan a journey for you.
  • You can download “MTD Connect” on your Android or iOS to schedule SafeRides.

SafeWalks

SafeWalks is another option if you are out late at night within the Campustown boundaries. Managed by the University of Illinois Police Department and operated by students.

Call SafeWalks at 217-333-1216 to have a student patrol officer accompany you after dark so you never have to walk alone at night (9:00 pm to 2:30 am).

Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)

Students, staff, faculty, and visitors who have temporary or permanent disabilities can qualify for transportation services through DRES. To learn more, go to the DRES website.

Bicycles

This campus is recognized as a Bicycle Friendly University and both Urbana and Champaign are Bicycle Friendly Communities. Flat topography and short commutes make bicycling an excellent option for getting around town.

  • On the Bike at Illinois website, you will find information on where to get a bike, register a bike for use on campus (mandatory), and find bike safety tips and bike maps, among other information that you will need to know about biking on-campus and throughout the community.
  • Bicycle registration is required for all bikes to operate on campus property; it is free for all students, faculty, and staff. Register your bike.
  • There are designated bike racks within 150 feet of all the university buildings, so you don’t have to worry about finding an appropriate place to lock your bike!
  • We can accommodate 11,635 bikes in bike racks on campus, and we are adding more bike racks on campus.
  • There are several DIY fix-it stations on-campus.
  • The Campus Bike Center, a collaboration between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign, teaches you how to repair, maintain, and build bicycles. You can also purchase refurbished bicycles.

Bike Share

Currently, VeoRide provides dockless bike share at the university and the cities. VeoRide is a private company. To learn more, you can download the “VeoRide” app on your iOS or Android.

Walking

Walking is good for your health and the environment. You can easily walk to most campus destinations in less than 15 minutes. There are sidewalks connecting all the university buildings for the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and community.

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