sustainable choicesSustainable & Alternative Transportation

Alternative transportation is an easy way faculty, students, staff, and campus visitors can participate in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s campus sustainability efforts. Below you’ll find many resources to help you explore low-carbon travel options for getting to, from and around our campus.

And when you absolutely can’t avoid travel, iSEE has provided a guide to purchasing carbon offsets for your university-related work! Visit the guide >>>

iSEE’s Transportation Sustainability Working Advisory Team (SWATeam) is always looking for additional ways to lower campus’ greenhouse gas emissions levels. Please let us know if there are additional resources that should be added to this page — or any new ideas to further our goals of offering sustainable transportation options.

 

Teleconferencing

computer-screen-sketch

Choose the most sustainable travel option of all: not traveling at all!

Tech Services has extensive and very helpful information on Unified Communications for events like teleconferencing and videoconferencing. It also has two handy PDF files to get you started, titled HowtoCreateMeeting_Teleconferencing and LyncAccount_Teleconferencing. To learn more about ways to connect to individuals through the web, visit the Technology Services website.

 

Bicycles

In Fall 2018, Facilities & Services launched a new Bike at Illinois webpage. Check it out >>>

Follow Bike@Illinois on its Facebook page to stay updated about the great bike things going on campus and helpful bike resources.

VeoRide

Dockless bike-share company VeoRide has been on campus since the 2018-19 academic year.

Facilities & Services (F&S) has great information on a variety of biking topics:
  • Bicycle Enforcement
  • Bicycle Planning & Feedback
  • Bicycle Registration
  • Bicycle Safety
  • Bike Parking
  • Biking Maps
  • The Campus Bike Center
  • Other ways to get involved

Please check out Bike at Illinois for more detailed information.

University Bike Code

Did you know there is a University Bicycle Code all individuals on campus must follow? The Code is enforced to promote education, awareness, and safety for all on campus. It includes information on bicycle registration, bike parking, and diversion programs. More details.

Campus Bike Plan

Completed in 2014, the Campus Bike Plan is the master plan to direct the University’s efforts for future bicycle infrastructure improvements and program development. The plan outlines various ways to improve bicycling on campus. Check it out here.

Campus Bike Parking Map

As of Summer 2017, campus features 234 bicycle parking areas, 2,290 racks, and space for 4,630 bikes! Check out the most recent map here!

Campus Bike Center

The Campus Bike Center is the central hub for all bicycle education and encouragement in the area. The Center is a do-it-yourself shop that focuses on teaching you how to fix your bicycle and giving you the resources to do so. The Center offers valuable classes and resources on how to maintain your bike and meet other like-minded bike lovers. Visit the Center today to learn more about its great resources. Or check out information on the Illinois Climate Action Plan Portal or on the F&S website.

 
bikefaceWant to meet other students who love bicycles as much as you? Join BikeFace, the only registered student organization on campus focused on advocacy for bikes and to create a more inclusive environment for all. BikeFace has hosted events like bike camping, bike polo, and sewing parties — and has been the lead organization on the Bike Fee. To see the latest, head to the Facebook page.
Various community organizations are working with the University to address the bicycling needs of the Champaign-Urbana area. Champaign County Bikes, the Bike Project, and Prairie Cycle Club are local advocates that have worked toward strengthening the relationship with the University. For more details about these organizations, click here.
Businesses in Champaign-Urbana that offer varying services include:

CU Bike Month is the celebration of bikes each May. The month’s events include giveaway items,bikemonthposter2015 bicycle rides, and more! For more details, visit the website or the Facebook page.
   
Illini4000The Illini 4000 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting the American cancer experience through The Portraits Project, raising funds for cancer research and patient support services, as well as spreading awareness for the fight against cancer through annual cross-country bike rides. More details at the Illini 4000 website.
Want to test your knowledge of bicycle skills and laws within the state? Take the challenge from the League of Illinois Bicyclists.
BikeMap1

 

 

BikeMap2The Go By Bike map created by Champaign County Bikes and Ride Illinois offers information on how to safely ride on streets or paths, use bike lanes, and where the best bike routes are in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. Click to view as a PDF or download to your machine. http://www.champaigncountybikes.org/map/

Walking On and Around Campus

walking

The iWalk Toolbox

This online toolkit will help you start and maintain a personal walking program. The University of Illinois Wellness Center believes walking to be one of the best medicines to staying active to fight chronic diseases. 40 percent of all trips across and around campus are less than two miles, so walking is a great alternative to choose! For more information, click here.

Campus Rec featured walks and maps

The UI Wellness Center has identified some of the best walks on campus. It offers tips on the best way to get across campus, best walks for fitness and enjoyment, and themed walks! To check out the featured walks and maps, click here.

SafeWalks

SafeWalks is a courtesy service provided to University of Illinois students, faculty, or staff, so they do not have to walk alone at night within the campus area. Simply call the service, and an escort will walk with you to your destination. SafeWalks operates from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Early SafeWalks are available between October and March beginning at 7 p.m. For more details, visit the SafeWalks website. You may call for a SafeWalks escort at 217-333-1216.

Trains, Buses & More
Amtrak

InRR early 2015, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner passed an executive order to reduce unnecessary travel and to recommend that state agencies require employees, whenever possible, to take public transportation or carpool when traveling. The University is committed to promoting more sustainable options of transportation, such as through Amtrak and Car Pooling.

Information on Scheduling Campus Meetings around the Amtrak schedule has been added to the Business Travel page and cost savings information has been added to the Passenger Vehicles page of the OBFS website. For more details, click here.

 
UI Ride

In October 2019, the University launches UI Ride, a new shuttle service that will connect the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses and the Discovery Partners Institute with three daily round trips, Monday through Friday. The convenient and comfortable new, 18-seat buses will offer Wi-Fi and work stations to support efficient use of work time while also mitigating travel fatigue for those who make trips between the campuses on a regular basis.

The new service will also reduce the number of vehicles on the road for university-related business.

For more information, visit UI Ride.

 
CUMTD

bus-stop-lookupThe Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) has served the two cities since 1972, and MTD became the public transportation provider on the University of Illinois campus in 1989. MTD has been recognized as the best public transportation provider in the country twice and routinely averages a 98% customer satisfaction rate.

Silver Bus RouteTeal Bus RouteMTD’s fast, frequent and plentiful service on its public transit routes make for a great option for those who wish to bike or walk. Every MTD vehicle has a bike rack available, and, since all U of I students and employees need only show a University ID to ride, if inclement weather occurs, a bus ride can get you out of the rain.

MTD’s real-time tools available via the STOPwatch real-time information system make trip planning and management simple. Check the MTD website, send a text, or grab an app for up-to-the-minute information about your bus. The UI campus is served by 14 weekday routes, many of which operate at 10- or 15-minute frequencies.

Also, check out the easy-to-reference cards (right) on how to reach the iSEE offices at the National Soybean Research Center (all buses run every 10 minutes; times shown are for the first bus after the hour).

C-CARTS

C-CARTS provides safe, convenient, and reliable general public transportation in rural Champaign County. This ride-sharing program offers curb to curb service for a reduced cost. More info here.

Sustainable campus carpool options

The University offers reliable carpooling services through Transportation & Automotive Services (TAS) to provide fast and convenient full-service car rental in-person and online. The carpool features many sustainable options, such as Toyota Prius and Ford C-Max vehicles. Get more info from F&S here.

Zipcar

Zipcar is an affordable car-sharing program for individuals who wish to use a car to travel around Champaign-Urbana. Sign up for a reduced membership cost at the Zipcar website.

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