Walking FAQ's
- When the weather is bad, how do I get to class?
- Since no one likes to be outside in bad weather, your best
choice is to take advantage of the Gopher Way system.
- What is the Gopher Way system?
- The Gopher Way system is a series of skyways and tunnels
that connect buildings on campus. The benefit to this system
is that you don't have to walk outside in bad weather.
- How do I use the Gopher Way?
- All tunnels and skyways are labeled with maroon and gold
Gopher Way signs. A Gopher Way Guide is also available at
Parking and Transportation Services with a detailed map of
all tunnels and skyways.
- Does it take longer to walk through the Gopher Way than
above ground?
- It can take a few minutes longer, so we recommend that
you leave a few minutes earlier than usual, especially at
first. After you become acclimated to the path, some routes
can shorten the time.
- Are the tunnels open 24 hours a day?
- Most tunnels and skyways are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. Access information is posted in the entranceways.
- I have a night class and don't want to walk alone. What
should I do?
- Call the Campus Escort Service. It's free and they will
escort you anywhere on campus.
- What is the Campus Escort Service?
- The Campus Escort Service, a branch of the University Police
Department, offers a walking/biking escort service to and
from campus locations and nearby adjacent neighborhoods. This
free service is available to students, staff, faculty, and
visitors to the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities campus.
- How do I get an escort to walk me from one location to the
next?
- All you need to do is call 624-WALK and request an escort.
- What is 624-WALK?
- 624-WALK is the telephone number for the free escort service
provided to members of the University community. All you need
to do is call the number to request an escort. This way you
don't have to walk alone on campus.
- How do I walk from the East Bank to the West Bank?
- The Washington Avenue Bridge is your best bet. There is
a walking area on top of the bridge specifically for pedestrian
use with a covered section to protect you from the elements.
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Parking FAQ's
- Where is the best place to park on campus?
- Parking on campus is different for every person. There
are hourly parking facilities, meters, daily parking facilities,
and carpool parking lots. Contracts are also available for
students, faculty, and staff. If you are interested in a contract,
contact Parking and Transportation Services.
- Where can I park my car overnight?
- Many of the parking ramps on campus are available for overnight
parking.
- Free night parking exists if you enter after 8:00 p.m.
and leave before 8:00 a.m. seven days a week in the 4th Street
Ramp, 21st Avenue Ramp, and Gortner Avenue Ramp.
- What is the parking lottery?
- The parking lottery is an online lottery held before every
semester for students who wish to get a parking contract.
The benefits of a contract include in-and-out privileges and
a guaranteed parking location for the entire semester.
- How do I apply for the parking lottery?
- Simply go online during the designated time frame to enter
your name into the lottery.
- How do I pay for a student parking contract?
- Students pay for their contract by charging it directly
to their student account (for more information on your student
account, please visit www.onestop.umn.edu/Student).
- What kinds of contracts are available?
- There are many contracts available to members of the university
community. Commuter students and students living in residence
halls are able to sign up in the parking lottery to get a
parking space for each semester.
- Faculty and staff are also able to sign up for a contract.
Some facilities have a waiting list. Staff and faculty members
can add their name to up to three waiting lists through the
Parking and Transportation Services Web site.
- What do I do if I forget my keycard?
- Most facilities now allow contract patrons to pull a ticket
to enter the parking facility. You must call PTS customer
service with basic vehicle information before you plan to
exit. The representative will verify your contract and give
you a control number to write on the back of the ticket. Exit
by handing the ticket to the parking attendant. Please note:
Contract patrons in Lot C51, C55, Nolte Center Garage, Northrop
Auditorium Garage, Lot 77, 2221 University Garage, and West
Bank Office Building must park in a different facility than
where their contract is located. For more information, please
contact our office at 612-626-7275.
- Where do students who live in residence halls park?
- Each residence hall (with the exception of University Village)
receives a limited number of contract parking spaces for its
residents each semester. These spaces are available 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. To receive a parking space, students
must enter the online lottery on this Web site.
- Where can I park my motorcycle?
- There are designated motorcycle spaces in Lot C51; at Lot
94; in Lot SC150; along East River Road; between Coffey Hall
and the Engineering Lab; and by Kaufert Lab.
- If you are interested, motorcycle parking contracts are
available for purchase at Parking and Transportation Services.
- Are there carpool lots on campus?
- Yes, carpool lots are available for vehicles with two or
more people in the vehicle. Lots 33 and 94 are reserved for
carpoolers only until 9 a.m. After 9 a.m., these two lots
change to daily rate lots. In St. Paul, Lot S108C offers carpool
rate parking and daily rate parking all day long during fall
and spring semesters only.
- What do I do if I want to carpool, but don't know anyone
to carpool with?
- Metro Commuter Services matches drivers and riders according
to home address and approximate commuting time. This organization
also offers a Guaranteed Ride Home Program that provides a
refund on two emergency bus or taxi rides per year for those
times when you need to work late or your carpool leaves without
you.
- Is there disability parking on campus?
- Many parking facilities on campus have designated disability
parking spaces. A State of Minnesota disability permit or
license plate is required to park in any designated disability
parking space. With a disability permit or license plate,
parking meters are free for a maximum of three hours; otherwise,
patrons may use the designated spaces in parking facilities,
but they still must pay the rate charged in parking facilities.
- Are there parking meters on campus?
- There are a number of parking meters located throughout
campus. The cost and time limits vary and are listed on each
meter.
- Who issues parking tickets?
- The University of Minnesota Police Department patrols all
campus-owned parking facilities and issues all tickets for
parking violations. If you have a dispute over a parking violation,
you need to contact the County Violations Bureau listed on
the ticket, not Parking and Transportation Services.
- What is the MAP program?
- MAP (Motorist Assistance Program) is a FREE program that
helps individuals in times of need. The program is designed
to help all legally parked patrons in any University parking
facility including university meters, surface lots, ramps,
garages, loading zones, and vendor stalls. Individuals can
receive assistance changing flat tires, jumpstarting vehicles,
unlocking vehicles when keys are locked inside, and can be
given referrals upon request to a service station when the
problem is beyond the scope of our staff.
- What happens if I lock my keys in my car?
- If you are legally parked in any facility on campus, all
you have to do is call 626-PARK for the Motorist Assistance
Program. The MAP truck will meet you at your vehicle to help
you get inside your car, and it doesn't cost you a penny!
- Why have parking rates increased over the past several years?
- Throughout the past decade, Parking and Transportation
Services has lost several surface lots to new building construction
on campus (one example would be the McNamara Alumni Center).
In order to keep the same number of parking spaces, Parking
and Transportation Services has been forced to replace these
surface lot spaces with ramps and garages. From a financial
perspective, it costs a great deal more to build and maintain
a safe and structurally sound ramp or garage versus a surface
lot. Another reason for rising parking costs can be attributed
to inflation in the economy.
- Why does it cost park more to park in a ramp than a lot,
and more in a garage than a ramp?
- From a financial perspective, it costs a great deal more
to build and maintain a safe and structurally sound ramp or
garage versus a surface lot. Parking and Transportation Services
receives no central funding from the University and operates
like a private business. The revenue received must cover expenses
incurred. Because surface lots cost less to build and maintain,
Parking and Transportation Services passes those savings onto
those parking fees.
- How many parking spaces are available on campus?
- There are approximately 21,000 parking spaces available
on campus.
- How many people drive to campus each day?
- There are approximately 24,000 people driving to campus
each day.
- How many parking facilities exist on campus?
- There are a total of five garages, eight ramps, 133 surface
lots, and multiple meters located on campus.
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Biking FAQ's
- Where can I park my bike on campus?
- All buildings on campus have bike racks or hoops located
near them for you to park your bike. Do not chain bikes to
handrails or trees (the bikes will be impounded).
- How should I lock my bike?
- When you lock your bike, you should use a U-type lock in
addition to a standard cable-and-lock. This ensures maximum
protection against theft.
- How can I keep my bike safe from theft?
- For maximum protection when parking your bike, use both
a cable and lock as well as a U-type lock. Thieves will seldom
carry the tools necessary to break both types of locks.
- Bike lockers are a great way to make sure your bike is
safe, and they are inexpensive.
- The University of Minnesota Police Department suggests
that students, staff and faculty register their valuables
on its secure database. Find out more on the UMPD Web site
at http://www1.umn.edu/police/valuablesregistry.html.
- Where can I buy an inexpensive bike?
- Check out the university's ReUse Center. It receives and
resells impounded bicycles from campus on a biannual basis
(usually March and October). These bikes range from good to
acceptable condition and are useful for the budget-conscious
student.
- What is a bike locker?
- A bike locker is a fully enclosed storage space to park
your bike. It is equipped with an integrated locking system
and is available in various locations on the East Bank, West
Bank, and St. Paul.
- How much are bike lockers?
- They are rented for $84 for the year ($7.00 a month) with
a $25 refundable key deposit.
- What happens if I can't find a place to park my bike?
- If you can't find a place to park, move your bike to the
nearest bike rack, and call Parking and Transportation Services
with the time of day and location. We will try to add more
racks in that area.
- Can I bring my bike on the bus?
- All Campus Connector and Washington Avenue Bridge Circulator
buses have bike racks on them. You just need to let the driver
know you want to load your bike and then follow the directions
on the rack.
- Will my bike fit on the bus bike rack?
- On buses, the bike racks are designed to accommodate any
bike style or size. The racks are located on the front of
the bus and can hold two bikes at a time.
- Where can I ride my bike?
- There are a series of bike lanes and paths located throughout
campus that are designated specifically for bikers. Pick up
the Biking Guide at Parking and Transportation Services or
view the map online.
- Are there any places on campus that I can't ride?
- Yes, there are restrictions on campus that can affect your
bike ride. Riding on sidewalks within business districts is
NOT allowed, unless it is posted otherwise.
- What is Bicycle Advocates?
- Bicycle Advocates is a Parking and Transportation Services
volunteer group, made up of individuals who look for opportunities
to improve campus cycling conditions. Each member agrees to
monitor a small area of campus with an eye toward bicycle
issues. Members share what they have seen, for example: broken
bottles in a bike lane or a severe bike parking shortage.
Simply call 612-625-1333 to get involved.
- What kind of rights do I have as a biker?
- Bicyclists have all of the rights, as well as the duties,
of any other vehicle driver. You must obey all traffic signs
and signals, and you must ride on the right side of the road.
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Busing FAQ's
- What is the best way to get to campus?
- There are many ways to get to the U, but the best way is
to come on the bus. There are more than 35 bus routes that
come directly to the U, and you can probably find one to suit
your needs.
- What bus can I take?
- There are many buses that come directly to the U from different
neighborhoods around the Twin Cities. The 16 and 50 frequently
come to campus from downtown.
- What happened to the Route 52 buses?
- The Route 52 buses were re-numbered, beginning on September
7, 2004. If you need more information about the new route
numbers, please visit (http://www.metrotransit.org)
and use the interactive Trip Planner.
- Where do I find busing information?
- Metro Transit has a complete Web site with listings of
all routes and a comprehensive trip planner to help you find
a route that best suits your needs. All you need to do is
click (www.metrotransit.org).
- There are several places on campus that provide schedules
for different bus routes. These kiosks are located at West
Bank Skyway Store, Coffman Memorial Union, St. Paul Student
Center, and Parking and Transportation Services.
- How much does busing cost?
- There are different busing options available to you. Students
can participate in the U-Pass program for only $64 a semester.
Faculty and staff can use their Metropass and pay $45 a month.
Anyone can pay cash for each trip on the bus (drivers do not
provide change, so be sure to carry the exact fare). The last
option is to purchase a Super Saver card, a stored value pass
that provides a set amount of rides without a term limit.
This option gives less frequent bus riders a small discount
versus paying cash every time.
- I've heard about the new light rail in the Twin Cities.
Where does the train go?
- The light rail system connects three of the Twin Cities
most popular destinations - downtown Minneapolis, Minneapolis/St.
Paul International Airport, and the Mall of America in Bloomington.
- How do I get to the light rail station from campus?
- Students, staff, and faculty can get to the Downtown East/Metrodome
Station by taking a Route 3, 16, or 50 from Blegen Hall on
the West Bank campus. For the return route, Metro Transit
buses going to the University arrive at the Metrodome every
3 minutes during peak travel times. Once on campus, the campus
connector can be used to get to the East Bank or St. Paul.
- What is U-Pass?
- U-Pass is a deeply-discounted, unlimited-ride transit pass
for students. The pass allows students to ride any Twin Cities
bus or the new Hiawatha light rail system at any time and
only costs $64 a semester.
- What is Metropass?
- Metropass is a deeply-discounted, unlimited-ride transit
pass available for full-time staff and faculty of the U of
M. The pass allows staff and faculty to ride any Twin Cities
bus or the new Hiawatha light rail system at any time. The
passes are $45 a month and the cost is taken directly out
of paychecks through the payroll deduction system.
- Can I cancel my Metropass if I decide I don't need it anymore?
- If you decide Metropass does not suit your needs, you can
cancel it by returning the bus pass to Parking and Transportation
Services.
- Does the U have a free shuttle service?
- YES! You can get wherever you need to go at the University
using the campus shuttle system. The Campus Connector buses
link the East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul campuses. The
Campus Circulator buses circle individual campuses. Finally,
the Washington Avenue Bridge Circulator connects the East
Bank with the West Bank. All campus shuttles are free and
use a color-coded bus stop mapping system.
- How much does it cost to ride the campus shuttle system?
- All campus shuttles are FREE for anyone on the University
of Minnesota campus.!
- If I have class on the West Bank and later in St. Paul,
how do I get to both campuses?
- Hop on a Campus Connector. This campus shuttle bus connects
the East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul campuses.
- What is the Campus Connector?
- The Campus Connector is a FREE campus shuttle that connects
the East Bank, West Bank, and the St. Paul campuses. All you
have to do is hop on and enjoy the ride.
- What is a Limited Stop Campus Connector?
- This is a Campus Connector bus that only stops at Blegen
Hall, Weaver-Densford Hall/Transportation & Safety Building,
Huron Boulevard Parking Complex, Transitway at Commonwealth
Avenue, and the St. Paul Student Center.
- How do I know it is a Limited Stop Bus?
- Buses on this schedule can be identified because they have
"Limited Stop" written across their marquee on the
side and in the front.
- How do I know what bus is a campus shuttle?
- Every campus shuttle bus is designated by its maroon and
white coloring. Each bus is clearly labeled with its route.
- How frequently do the buses come?
- Campus Connectors run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.
to 10 p.m. every five to 15 minutes during the academic year.
They also run Monday through Friday from 10 p.m. until midnight
every 30 minutes. On weekends, Campus Connectors run 9:30
a.m. until midnight every 30 minutes.
- Campus Connector Limited Stop buses run Monday - Friday
from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every ten minutes.
- Campus Circulators run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.
until 4:45 p.m. every 15 minutes (please note: the Washington
Avenue Bridge Circulator runs Monday through Friday from 7:30
a.m. until 4:45 p.m. every 15 minutes).
- Bus schedules are subject to change during breaks, intersessions,
holidays, and summer. Please review a schedule for more details.
- All bus schedules are available on campus maps.
- What is the difference between Campus Connectors and Campus
Circulators?
- Campus Connectors CONNECT all three campuses (East Bank,
West Bank, and St. Paul). The St. Paul Circulator CIRCULATES
the St. Paul campus only. The East Bank Circulator CIRCULATES
the East Bank only. Finally, the Washington Avenue Bridge
Circulator (WABC) connects the East Bank and West Bank via
the Tenth Avenue Bridge.
- Are there bike racks on buses?
- All Campus Connector and Washington Avenue Bridge Circulator
buses have bike racks on them. All you need to do is let the
driver know you want to load your bike and follow the directions
on the rack.
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