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Transportation and Commuting

 

Alert

Due to current construction on campus and in the surrounding community there may be additional traffic, detours and some of the on campus parking areas may be temporarily closed. Please allow for extra time when visiting the International Faculty & Scholars Office. For the most current list of available on campus parking locations and  transportation information visit: http://transportation.ucsd.edu/ 

 

There are multiple options to get to campus, many without driving, that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Eco-Friendly Commuting Options

Public Transit

UC San Diego offers different programs that provide discounted bus, shuttle, trolley car, rail, and more access for faculty, staff, students, and affiliates.

Cycling

Ride your bike to work or combine cycling with public transportation. San Diego region is one of the best places in the country to bike with a 71 degree temperature average.

Ridesharing

See what ridesharing options UCSD offers -- carpool, vanpool, Lyft FLEX, Zimride, Zipcar car-sharing service, SANDAG's Guaranteed Ride Home program, and more!

Public Transportation in San Diego

UC San Diego Transportation offers different transit passes for faculty and staff at a discounted rate; to view the different options, eligibility, and prices visit UC San Diego's public transportation page

MTS (Metropolitan Transit System)

City Buses Rail/Train
  • The "Coaster" rail line runs from Oceanside to San Diego, with stops in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Sorrento Valley, and Old Town.
Trolley

Cycling

UC San Diego encourages students, staff and faculty to use alternative methods of transportation such as cycling to commute to work. It is also easy to combine public transportation with riding your bike. All busses now have bike racks, and Coaster rail cars and trolley cars also have space for bikes. For UC San Diego cycling information visit https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/bicycling.html

Bikeshare Program
UC San Diego also has a bikeshare program on campus in collaboration with SPIN that places approximately 300 bicycles throughout campus available for use for a fee. The SPIN app will allow you to see the location of bicycles near you.

Ride Sharing, Carpool and Vanpool, & Guaranteed Ride Home

Carpool and Vanpools 
These are great options to commute to work, where people ride together and split the costs. The costs vary depending on vehicle size, type, monthly mileage and number of riders. UC San Diego has many carpools and vanpools coming from various locations. For more information visit http://transportation.ucsd.edu/alternatives/carpools.html 

Car Sharing

Guaranteed Ride Home
The regional Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides an emergency ride home to commuters who carpool, vanpool, bike, walk, or use transit to get to work at least 3 times per week.

To be eligible, you must register with Ride Link by completing and signing an application form prior to needing the service. Don’t wait until you have an emergency to enroll! 

Visit the Guaranteed Ride Home website for more information.

On Campus Services

UC San Diego Transportation Services

UC San Diego Transportation Services offers a wealth of information and resources for getting to and around campus.

Commute to Campus
  • Refer to the Commute to Campus page for additional information about commuting to campus, alternative transportation (public transit, ride-sharing, cycling) and more.
Get Around Campus Parking on Campus
  • Refer to the Commute to Campus section for information about parking, including permits, the Park Mobile parking app, and more. Please note: Parking Payment Required 7 Days a Week
  • Parking Citations: If you receive a parking citation please refer to the Parking Citations page for information on how to pay.
Motorist Assistance Program

The Free UC San Diego Motorist Assistance Program on campus assists drivers requiring battery jump, low tire inflation, gasoline. Available only at Campus/UC San Diego Health – La Jolla and UC San Diego Health – Hillcrest.

Driving in San Diego

Driving

If driving is the best option for you, here are some helpful tips and information: