Transportation
Taking influence from ecosystem ecology where diverse natural systems are the strongest and most resilient, the University offers a diverse array of transportation options to students, staff, and faculty that promote sustainability through reducing its carbon footprint, building community, and saving individuals money.
UC provides the community with a car-sharing service, ride-sharing service, campus bike workshop, campus bike share system, city bike share system, EV charging stations, free shuttles, and subsidized bus passes through Cincinnati Metro. Through providing the campus community with a diverse array of alternatives to the personal automobile, the University strives to provide its community with options that are more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable to the personal, conventional automobile.
Active Transportation Options
The Bearcat Bike Share is a free service for students, staff, and faculty that allows individuals to check out bikes free for from the Bike Kitchen for up to a week. Through the Bearcat Bike Share system, UC provides encourages biking as safe, healthy, and sustainable form of transportation.
The Bike Kitchen is a free service provided to the community by the Office of Sustainability at the University of Cincinnati that offers repair services, tune-ups, and workshops that are free to the community. The Bike Kitchen seeks to promote bicycle culture, safety, and accessibility as a sustainable form of transportation that builds community and fosters healthy lifestyles. The Bike Kitchen is located at 101 West Daniels St. by Dabney Hall.
UC offers a variety of free shuttle services to students, staff and faculty. To learn more about the various routes that are offered, visit this map.
NightRide is a free nighttime shuttle service provided to the UC campus community to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from locations within a one mile radius around the UC campus. Call 513-556-RIDE to schedule a ride every day 8pm - 5 am. Last call for rides is taken at 4:30am.
UC*Metro is an agreement between UC and the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, which operates the region's Metro bus service. The EZ Ride Fare Card, is open to students, staff, and faulty. The program allows members of the UC community to take local bus transportation at a substantial discount! The card itself is free and secures you $1 rides and 50-cent transfers. Visit UC's Metro Page for more information or to register,
Nervous about riding the bus? Not sure exactly what to expect? Check out this informative guide for new riders.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The University of Cincinnati has four electric vehicle charging stations.
A valid University of Cincinnati parking permit is required to use the standard charging stations at
- Clifton Court Garage
- Panzeca Way (roadway that runs behind the west side of Eden Garage)
- Corry Garage
The fast charging station is open to anyone and is located on Daniels Street, next to Daniels Hall.
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK)
TANK is the regional bus service of Northern Kentucky. It extends into downtown Cincinnati and can be taken to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) as well as many other destinations. UC does not currently have any program for discounted services from TANK.
Clermont Transportation Connection (CTC)
CTC is the primary provider of public transportation in Clermont County. CTC offers 3 fixed routes in addition to Dial-A-Ride services.
Other Local Transportation Options
This car sharing service maintains 24-hour access for students, faculty, and staff over 18 years of age to reserve a car by the hour or by the day. It provides the convenience of a car without the hassle. Membership is open to all UC faculty, staff, and students. There are currently 6 Zipcars located on UC's main campus and 1 Zipcar on East Campus.
UC students, faculty, and staff can sign up to participate in Gohio Commute to find carpooling partners.
UC Parking Services operates many parking garages and lots for commuting students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Parking Services has also initiated a number of programs promoting sustainability on campus. Some of those programs include:
- Reserved hybrid parking stalls on Levels 2 and 5 in Eden Garage.
- Reserved stalls for ride share vans and carpooling vehicles in CCM, Varsity Village, Woodside and Campus Green Garages.
- Parking areas reserved for motorcycles located throughout the University campus.
- Multi-use, plug-in stations for electric vehicles in the Varsity Village Garage. Parking Services is currently evaluating additional plug-in station locations.
The City of Cincinnati keeps a public record of all taxi companies registered with the city as well as the number of licenses and the phone numbers for each company.
Red Bike is a Bike Share program with 50 stations in Cincinnati, Covington, Newport, and Bellevue. It is designed for short, point-to-point trips, increasing mobility for residents, workers, students, and visitors.
Intercity Transportation Options
GoBus service from Cincinnati to Athens now stops at UC in two locations. The route stops on Main Campus at West University Avenue and Commons Way, across from Schneider Hall. GoBus also stops at UC East off Route 32 in Batavia. Visit the GoBus website for more details.
This intercity bus service offers daily trips from downtown Cincinnati to Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. Beginning January 9, 2013, Megabus will stop on campus at West University Avenue and Commons Way en route to Indianapolis, Chicago, and Columbus.
This intercity bus service offers trips from Cincinnati to Detroit and Buffalo, with stops at several cities in between, including Oxford, Columbus, Akron, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, and Toledo. Buses stop at both UC's Uptown Campus and downtown Cincinnati.
GotoBus, also referred to as the Chinatown Bus, runs a daily, non-stop route from Cincinnati to New York City for $50. Buses leave from Sharonville, OH, near the intersection of I-275 and I-75.
This bus service has routes to Atlanta, Dayton, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Orlando, Toledo, and many more cities. Some routes leave from the UC campus and others from the downtown Reading Road station. Greyhound offers a "Student Advantage" card for frequent travelers.
Amtrak is a passenger rail service that leaves from Union Terminal and travels between Chicago, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., and New York City with stops in between. The Cardinal Line travels through Cincinnati. Student discounts are available through membership on the website.
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport offers 180 daily departures to regional, national, and international destinations.