Transportation at UF
The commutes that each of us make to, from, and around campus contribute significantly to UF’s carbon footprint. However, UF has made great strides in reducing the need for single occupancy vehicle travel. There are many affordable alternative transportation options for students, staff, and faculty. You can contribute to a more sustainable transportation system for UF by fostering awareness of and using more sustainable transportation options (i.e., higher occupancy or non-motorized vehicles) where possible, to and from campus as well as on campus.
Bicycling
UF provides bicycle lanes on heavily traveled roads and many bike racks for parking throughout campus. UPD offers bicycle registration in order to aid in recovery in the case of bicycle theft. Student Government offers free bike repair on campus. Another option for bike repair is the Gainesville Community Bicycle Project, aka The Kickstand. At this collective bicycle shop, you will gain access to tools, parts, and knowledgeable volunteers who will help you learn to build, fix, and maintain your bicycle. Check out the campus map for bike rack locations.
Bus
UF students, faculty, and staff can ride RTS fare free with a UF ID. Buses run 7 days a week with routes on campus and throughout the city of Gainesville. Many routes serving campus have buses that come every ten minutes or less. Several bus routes offer service after 5:00 PM, and “Later Gator” routes provide service in select areas beyond midnight. Many buses have bicycle racks so riders can take their bikes with them. RTS now has a trip planner and a Gator Locator GPS system, which allows you to track the busses’ locations in real time from your computer or hand-held web-enabled device.
Since 1998 when the unlimited bus pass for UF students became available, RTS ridership has risen from less than a million people per year to 8.6 million. Ridership continues to grow and is up 5% from the record 2006 level. The RTS bus system is the third largest in Florida based on annual ridership levels. UF students make up 75 percent of the riding population, and this makes the partnership with UF worthwhile. The operational budget this year is $17.6 million, approximately 41% of which comes from UF funding. In support of sustainability, many students ride the bus, resulting in decreased driving and decreased environmental hazards caused by car exhaust.
Carpool Program
The new carpool program encourages eligible University of Florida and Shands faculty and staff members to share the ride to and from campus. Carpooling helps improve air quality and conserve energy; reduce traffic and relieve parking congestion; cut wear and tear on your vehicle, gasoline and insurance costs; and allows you to make new friends, reduce the stress of commuting alone and enjoy preferred parking at a nominal cost. Registered carpool members purchase their own annual carpool decals at about one quarter the cost of an Orange or Blue faculty/staff decal.
UF GreenRide helps you find carpool partners by searching for other employees who live near you and have similar schedules and lifestyle preferences. It's fast, friendly and offers anonymity until you decide to make your contacts formal. You can use your UF or Shands email address to create an account, but for even more anonymity, simply utilize a private email service, such as Yahoo or Hotmail. You'll even get to see a map of the general area showing potential carpoolers near you and on your route to campus.
ZipCar
Eight low-emission vehicles, including 3 hybrids, are available for use by anyone in the UF community. ZipCar members pay $7 an hour for the vehicle, gas, insurance, maintenance, a reserved parking space, 180 free miles per trip, roadside assistance and 24-hour customer service. ZipCar memberships are also a great option for departments who do not want the hassle and expense of owning a vehicle.
UF Campus Cab (Taxi Service)
PPD will provide point-to-point transportation on the Main campus, Bridges/Eastside Campus, and to Human Resource Services on University Avenue. The taxi service is available at no cost to UF faculty and staff, Monday- Friday, 7:45 AM- 4:45 PM. Reservations are taken from 7:15 AM- 4:15 PM, at least 60 minutes before requested pick-up time. Call PPD Work Management at 392-1121 to reserve your ride. For more information, visit: the Campus Cab website.
