Flexible solutions for campus travel needs
Our Commuter Solutions programs make it easy to choose lower-cost, sustainable ways to get to campus.
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What is active transportation?
Active transportation includes human-powered and low-speed assisted travel modes. This includes travel to and from transit stops.
Examples:
- Bicycling
- Walking/rolling
- Riding the bus
- Electric bikes and scooters
What is ridesharing?
Ridesharing means sharing a ride with two or more people, such as carpooling, vanpooling or using a taxi service.
Ridesharing reduces single-occupancy vehicles on campus and reduces the cost of parking and transportation.
What is off-campus parking?
At UW-Madison, permits are available for off-campus park & ride or remote lots with dedicated shuttle service.
Madison Metro Transit also operates local park & ride lots with connections to Metro Transit routes.
Our programs make active commuting easier.
Employee and student bus passes
Low or no-cost passes are available to students and employees for unlimited rides on Madison Metro Transit buses, BRT routes and paratransit.
Bicycling
UW-Madison and the City of Madison have platinum-level designations for bike friendliness. Find bicycle parking options, bike routes, bikesharing, and the University Bicycle Resource Center.
Off-campus parking with shuttle service
Get a park & ride permit for secure off-campus parking. Free shuttles run all day between campus, University Hospitals, and the parking lots.
Ridesharing
Drive less and spend less by carpooling or vanpooling. The UW Carpool program has incentives for carpoolers. Use RoundTrip to match for free and start sharing rides.
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The Emergency Ride Home program means you won't get stranded.
The Emergency Ride Home program is a transportation safety net for employees who don’t drive alone to campus. If you need to get back home or to a park & ride lot quickly, eligible employees can request a free cab ride.
Learn more about Emergency Ride Home.
Wondering how to get around on campus without a personal vehicle?
Frequent arrivals on the fare-free campus bus routes make it easy to get to meetings, classes, alternate work locations, etc. during the day. No fare or bus pass is required.
Learn more about the campus bus system.
Not sure where to start?
Here are some questions to help you discover commute options that could work for you.
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How far do you need to travel?
If you live close to campus
For some, walking/rolling, riding a bicycle or taking the bus could be less stressful than driving a car through rush hour traffic and searching for a parking spot.
If you live further away
Park & ride and remote lots are great for everyone, but especially for employees commuting from outside of Madison.
Employees with much longer commutes may consider carpooling or vanpooling to further reduce transportation costs and vehicle wear-and-tear.
Do you have access to a bus stop?
Madison Metro Transit is a safe and cost-effective way to travel to campus.
Services such as the East-West BRT route, tap-fare cards and more frequent arrivals on local routes make riding the bus more efficient.
Many Metro Transit routes serve campus either directly or via transfer.
UW employees can get a bus pass at a reduced price of $48 / year. Bus passes for students and UW Health employees passes are completely subsidized.
What time do you need to be on campus?
Depending on when you need to be here, different transportation and parking options are available.
Weekdays (standard business hours)
It can be easier to use active transportation or alternative parking during standard weekday business hours. More comprehensive commuter services are available when campus is busiest, such as:
- Frequent Metro Transit bus service
- Park & ride / remote lots with shuttle service
After hours (evenings, nights and weekends)
Campus traffic decreases in the evenings and on weekends (unless there’s a big special event, like a UW Badgers game). This opens up more parking options, such as:
- Afternoon and night parking permits
- Parking permit exemptions (free parking). Many surface lots do not require a permit on weekends (all day Saturday and Sunday) and on weekdays between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless there are closures due to construction or special events.
How much are you willing to spend on transportation and parking?
The cost of parking a personal vehicle on campus is driven by high demand, and that doesn’t include fuel costs or vehicle wear-and-tear. Lower-cost options include:
- Employee and student bus passes
- Park & ride and remote lots with shuttle service
- Carpooling (commuters split the cost of a permit)
- Vanpooling (commuters split van rental and permit costs)
Do you need accommodations?
On-campus accessible parking permits and spaces are always available and prioritized.
Accessible alternative parking and transportation options are also offered.
Active commuting is a good idea all around.
Unique travel conditions at UW-Madison can make other options more reliable than driving a personal vehicle to campus.
Practical
Heavy, complex traffic makes driving in the campus area challenging. With other modes, you can avoid traffic or let someone else (like a bus driver) handle it.
Reliable
Permits for parking on campus are in high demand and not guaranteed to everyone who wants one, making other options more immediately reliable.
Affordable
Active commuting, carpooling and park & rides are often more affordable than the cost of driving alone to campus.
Questions? We can walk you through it.
We can work with you to create custom travel plans to fit your circumstances.
Consultations are available in-person or via email, phone or virtual meeting.
This is a free service for all UW-Madison students, faculty and staff.
