Commute Options
Transportation Services manages many programs to promote alternatives to driving. Whether you are a commuter student driving to school or a resident traveling off campus, we can help you get there. For help navigating your options, please contact Transportation Services at (951) 827-8277 or email alttransportation@ucr.edu.
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Active Transportation
Walking and riding bikes or scooters are fun, healthy, and environmentally friendly commute modes. There are over 3,000 bike rack spaces located throughout the campus to safely lock your bikes and scooters. There are also two locked bike cages available at no cost for those that have registered their bikes on campus.
Bike amenities: UCR has several air pumps, and fix-it stations for do-it-yourself light repairs. Transportation Services also offers free bike registration online.
If you are a UCR campus employee or grad student, you may want to explore the R’Commute Program for available incentives for using alternative transportation to campus.
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Riverside Transit Agency - UPASS Program
UCR subsidizes 100% of your Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) bus pass through RTA’s UPASS Program. Ride for free, unlimited times, on all RTA fixed routes. Just swipe your UCR ID card on board or use RTA’s Go Mobile app. All RTA buses come equipped with free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. Current RTA schedules are available online.
If you are a UCR campus employee or grad student, you may want to explore the R’Commute Program for available incentives for using alternative transportation to campus.
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Carsharing
Carsharing is available on campus!
Zipcar is a self-service car share program available to the entire campus community. Zipcar vehicles are available right on campus and can be reserved by the hour or day 24/7. Rental fees include insurance, gas and mileage up to 180 miles per day. Rentals are meant for roundtrips and can be reserved in advance when you need to run errands, attend meetings, visit friends or anything else you may need to do.
Zipcars can be found in reserved areas in Parking Lot 1, Bannockburn, and the auto courts just outside of Big Springs Parking Structure 1.
How do I join?
You must first register for a membership at Zipcar by using your UCR email account. UCR students and staff benefit from a discounted $20 annual membership fee to participate. You must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver's license and credit card to join. International licenses are acceptable. Once approved by Zipcar, you will be mailed a membership card to access the cars or you can instantly reserve by using the Zipcar app.
Rates vary depending on the vehicle, so check the Zipcar website to view the current inventory of vehicles and pricing.
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Find a carpool partner
Find a carpool partner!
Faculty, staff and graduate students can register online for a free IE Commuter account and they will match you up with others interested in sharing a ride with people who live and work near you with similar hours. You may also qualify for County sponsored subsidies. For more information Visit our Learn About Carpooling page.
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Metrolink
Metrolink’s train services provides connections in six Southern California counties with two local stations near UCR. Metrolink offers a 25% discount to students with a valid student ID. RTA has several bus routes that run from the Metrolink station directly to campus.
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Vanpool
Vanpooling is a cost effective option available to all members of the UCR community that commute to campus regularly. Routes operate Monday-Friday, traveling between common pickup locations and UCR's campus. They run once per day, usually arriving before 8:00 AM and leaving the campus by 5:00 PM. Prices vary depending on the distance of the route and number of riders. A monthly charge is assessed to all vanpool riders regardless of the number of days they ride. Start by going to Commute with Enterprise and clicking on "Join Commute".
If you are a UCR campus employee or graduate student, you may want to explore incentives for vanpooling to campus. Visit our Learn About Vanpooling page.
Parking Options
If you choose to drive to campus, a valid UCR parking permit must be associated with your vehicle license plate at all times on the UC Riverside campus. Faculty/ Staff parking permits may be purchased at the Parking Services office. Most permits are lot specific and sold based on lot availability. Waiting lists are maintained for high demand lots. You may add/remove yourself from waiting lists via our Parking Account Center by logging in with your NetID.
Parking permits may be purchased using check, Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. Qualified employees may also pay permit fees via monthly payroll deduction. To qualify for payroll deduction, you must be in the payroll system with a UCR appointment of 50% or greater (no fellowships, grants, or without salary appointments). Your appointment must be for a minimum of one year.
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Red Permit
Red permits may be purchased at the Parking Services office. Red permits are lot specific and sold based on lot availability. Waiting lists are maintained for high demand lots. You may add/remove yourself from waiting lists via our Parking Account Center by logging in with your NetID.
Red permits are VALID:
- In the Red lot designated on the permit
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- For up to 2 hours in non-reserved spaces of other Red or Blue lots one time per day
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Red, Blue and Gold permit lots
Red permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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Blue Permit
Blue permits may be purchased at the Parking Services office. Blue permits are lot specific and sold based on lot availability. Waiting lists are maintained for high demand lots. You may add/remove yourself from waiting lists via our Parking Account Center by logging in with your NetID.
Blue permits are VALID:
- In the Blue lot designated on the permit
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- For up to 2 hours in non-reserved spaces of other Blue lots one time per day
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Red, Blue and Gold permit lots
Blue permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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Electric Vehicle Add-On Permit
Electric Vehicle Level I charging permits are available at the Parking Services office in limited quantities. This permit may be purchased in conjunction with a valid UCR permit. Please contact Parking Services at (951) 827-8277 to purchase this permit.
Electric Vehicle Level I Charging permits are VALID:
- In the Level 1 Electric Vehicle Charging spaces with a valid UCR permit, as long as you are charging.
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Gold Plus Permit
Gold plus permits are available at the Parking Services office in limited quantities.
Gold Plus permits are VALID:
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- In the additional lot designated on the permit
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Blue parking areas in Lots 1, 6, 9, 13, 23 and 24
Gold Plus commuter permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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10-Pack Red or Blue Permits
10-pack Red or Blue permits may be purchased at the Parking Services office. 10-pack permits allow customers to have 10 one-day permits to use when they come to campus. You will be required to go online up to 3 days in advance and reserve a permit from a list of available lots (see redemption instructions). Available spaces for each day may change based on lot utilization. All 10-pack permits will expire on June 30th. No refunds will be issued for unused days.
A 10-pack permit is VALID:
- In the lot selected when the permit is created
A 10-pack permit is NOT VALID:
- In any other lot other than the lot selected when the permit is created. There is no cross parking.
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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Gold Permit
Gold permits are available online by logging in with your UCR NetID or at the Parking Services office.
Gold permits are VALID:
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Blue parking areas in Lots 1, 6, 9, 13, 23 and 24
Gold permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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Orange Permit
Orange permits are available online by logging in with your UCR NetID.
Orange permits are VALID:
- Monday-Friday 6:00 AM-6:00 PM in designated spaces in Lot 62 at Gethsemane Church located at 891 Blaine Street.
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM in Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Blue parking areas in Lots 1, 6, 9, 13, 23 and 24 on campus
Orange permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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"A" Carpool Permit
The "A" Carpool permit is available to employees as follows:
- All participants must first enroll and be pre-approved to participate in the Carpool Program prior to a permit being issued.
- Requires a minimum of 4 employees to register as a 4+ carpool.
- The permit cost will be split amongst all members of the carpool group. All participants must use payroll deduction as their method of payment.
- The person living closest to campus must travel at least 50% of the ride with others in order to comply with AQMD rules.
- Once approved, each member must come to TAPS to return their current parking permit, set‐up payroll deduction and register their vehicles. One person is considered the primary permit holder and all others in the group are eligible for a quarterly allotment of daily permits. The permit may be used by anyone in the group, but the vehicle must be registered to that permit.
- The vehicle with the A carpool permit may park in any unreserved/unmarked space on campus.
- It is the responsibility of the group to associate license plates to the permit online.
"A" carpool permits are VALID:
- In any non-reserved/unmarked space on campus
"A" Carpool permits are NOT VALID:
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
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Red Carpool Permit
Carpool permit holders must first enroll and be pre-approved to participate in the Carpool Program prior to a Carpool permit being issued. All carpool participants will be responsible for a portion of the permit costs.
Red carpool permits are VALID:
- In any non-reserved space in the Red lot designated on the permit
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- For up to 2 hours in non-reserved spaces of other Red or Blue lots one time per day
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Red, Blue and Gold permit lots
Red Carpool permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
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Blue Carpool Permit
Carpool permit holders must first enroll and be pre-approved to participate in the Carpool Program prior to a Carpool permit being issued. All carpool participants will be responsible for a portion of the permit costs.
Blue carpool permits are VALID:
- In any non-reserved space in the Blue lot designated on the permit
- In Gold Lots 26, 30, 32, 50
- For up to 2 hours in non-reserved spaces of other Blue lots one time per day
- In Lot 25 Student Recreation Center 90 minute parking spaces one time per day
- 6:00 PM-7:00 AM Monday-Friday and all day on weekends in all non-reserved spaces in Red, Blue and Gold permit lots
Blue Carpool permits are NOT VALID:
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
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Motorcycle Permit
Motorcycle permits may be purchased online or at the Parking Services office.
Motorcycle permits are VALID:
- In designated motorcycle spaces only
Motorcycle permits are NOT VALID:
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
- In any specially marked stalls
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Intellicenter Permit
Intellicenter permits may be purchased by contacting Transportation Services at parking@ucr.edu or at (951) 827-8277. The Intellicenter is located at 14350 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, CA 92518.
Intellicenter permits are available to those employees whose assigned work location, according to university records, is at the Intellicenter. If the employee's assigned work location is changed to the main UCR campus, the Intellicenter permit must be returned to Parking Services.
Intellicenter General permits are VALID:
- In the Intellicenter Lot
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"A" Permit
To purchase an "A" permit, an email must be sent to parking@ucr.edu from the department's Vice Chancellor or Dean authorizing the need for the "A" permit for the particular individual. An "A" permit is for use by employees who, based on job responsibilities/function, must park in locations which are distant from their assigned lot for extended periods of time beyond what a Red or Blue permit allows. Eligibility for an "A" permit is based on justified departmental needs, rather than individual convenience (e.g., an "A" permit is not intended to make attendance at meetings across campus more convenient). Individuals who are eligible to purchase an "X" permit may not purchase an "A" permit.
An "A" permit can be paid for by the authorized individual or a department can pay the portion of the permit above the cost of the individual's Red or Blue permit. Please note that a department may not, at any time, purchase a parking permit with university funds (19900 funds) for use by any employee (faculty or staff) of the University.
"A" permits are VALID:
- In any non-reserved/unmarked space on campus
"A" permits are NOT VALID:
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
- In Service stalls
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Executive Permit
Executive permits are available for purchase at the Parking Services office by UCR employees in job titles classified at a level equivalent to or above Associate Dean/Associate Vice Chancellor. Eligibility is determined by the Director of Transportation and Parking Services.
Executive permits are VALID:
- In all Red, Blue, and Gold spaces
- In Residence Hall, Campus Apartment or Oban Family Housing lots
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
Executive permits are NOT VALID:
- In Disabled or Medical stalls
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Emeritus/Retiree Permit
For those faculty or staff who are retired and continuing services without compensation, Parking Services offers a free parking permit for use in any Gold parking lot or parking permits in Red and Blue lots for half price, based on availability.
Retiree permits are non-transferrable and restricted to retirees only.
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Medical Permit
Faculty/Staff who need access to disabled or close proximity parking but do not have a California DMV Disabled Person Parking placard may apply for a temporary UCR medical permit by providing a letter from their physician stating the need for a medical parking permit for up to 60 days. Temporary medical parking permits are non-renewable. If you require medical parking past 60 days, you will need to get a California DMV Disabled Person Parking Placards or License Plate. Information on applying for a CA DMV placard/license plate may be found at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr07. Applications are submitted by mail and current DMV processing time is approximately 4 weeks.
Temporary Medical permits are VALID:
- In Red, Blue, Gold, Residence Hall, Campus Apartment and Oban Family Housing spaces
- In Disabled spaces if displayed with a valid Disabled Person Parking Placard or DP license plate issued to you by the DMV
Temporary Medical permits are NOT VALID:
- In ST (Short Term) stalls
- In Reserved stalls
- In University Village disabled spaces
- In Disabled spaces if the student does not have a Disabled Person Parking Placard or DP license plate issued to them by the DMV
