Aspirational Goal: Develop an integrated transportation system with the City of Lincoln that promotes multi-modal and sustainable transportation consistent with public health requirements.
Long Term Objectives
UNL’s core City/East campuses establish low emission zones in collaboration with the city by 2027.
Reduce traffic and the number of parking spaces needed on and around campus by 30% by 2027.
Increase the use of alternative forms of transportation for commuting by students, faculty, and staff by 50% by 2027.
Short Term Objectives
Receive perfect scores in all transportation categories in AASHE STARS.
Reduce traffic and the number of parking spaces needed on and around campus by 15%.
Align the plans of UNL and the City of Lincoln to create an integrated transportation system that includes bus, bike, carpooling, and walking to increase sustainable commuting by 20% and reduce the number of single-occupancy drivers to campus by 75%.
Create, execute, and communicate the results from a Transportation Demand Management study to optimize University transportation infrastructure in collaboration with the City of Lincoln.
Diversify the UNL in-town fleet (50-mile radius) vehicles with electric vehicles where appropriate.
Current Initiatives
Read More About Transportation at UNL
Sustainability Tips
UNL is committed to developing a culture of sustainable transportation. Choosing to use a bike, ride the bus, or carpool can help reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and can improve your wellbeing.
Sustainable Transportation at UNL
Riding a Bike
Bring Your Own Bike
Bringing your personal bike to campus is one popular choice with students. UNL provides hundreds of bike rack spaces, so you're sure to find somewhere to store your bike near academic buildings, rec spaces, the libraries, and living units. Extreme temperatures and rough weather can be hard on bicycles, so it's smart to take some extra steps to protect your bike's body and wheels. You can get tune-ups and repairs at the Outdoor Adventure Center's Bike Shop. Also be sure to register your bike with the UNL Police for an ID in case it is stolen and recovered.
Enjoy Short-Term Trips With BikeLNK
If you don't have your own bike to get around, another affordable option is to use BikeLNK. The city's bike-share system has numerous station locations around central Lincoln, including three stations on city campus and two on east campus. With a membership, riders can use the bikes for unlimited 1-hour trips. UNL students, faculty, and staff are eligible for a discounted membership through UNL's sponsorship of the program. Visit this webpage to get your discounted membership. You can also download the BCycle app to rent bikes on your phone. Watch this short video to learn more.
Rent a Bike From the Outdoor Adventures Center
The Bike Shop at the Outdoor Adventure Center offers multiple rental options. You can rent a single-speed, mountain or touring bike for as many days as you need and each rental includes a helmet and bike lock. Bike transport/storage racks for your vehicle are available too, for an additional fee.
Other Micromobility Options
The Lincoln City Council approved a permanent e-scooter program (ScooterLNK) on March 21, 2022 after a successful 16-month pilot program. The official ScooterLNK program started on October 4, 2022 and will operate with two vendors, Lime and Bird, selected through the City’s procurement process. UNL has a Mobility (Wheels on Campus) policy that provides direction to the UNL community regarding the use of various types and methods of transportation including motorized electric scooters, pedestrian and rider safety, and pedestrian priority zones. Per this policy, motorized electric scooters are prohibited on campus sidewalks.
Learn more about ScooterLNK, vendor apps and all safety and operating guidelines here or by contacting Roberto Partida, Lincoln’s traffic engineering planner, at rpartida@lincoln.ne.gov or 402-441-5511.
Riding the Bus
How to Ride the Bus
Riding the bus is easy! Watch this short video to learn how.
Student Bus Pass
StarTran bus service, provided through a contract with the City of Lincoln, and University Parking and Transit Service van service connects City, East, and Nebraska Innovation campuses. University of Nebraska–Lincoln students, receive a bus pass at no additional cost as part of the student transit fees fund.
A bus pass is required to board and ride StarTran buses. Passes are coordinated through Token Transit.
Register and receive your mobile bus pass through the Token Transit app:
Link to the registration form at https://tokentransit.com/startran/unl-pass
• Enter your NU student email.
• Enter your NU student identification number.
• Click the “Send Pass” button.
• Will receive a text with a link to download the Token Transit app. If already downloaded to your phone, go to “My Passes.”
• To activate the bus pass on your phone, select the app and enter your phone number. A code will be sent to you to complete the activation.
• To use, activate the Token Transit app and show the ticket to the bus driver when boarding.
No pass is required for Parking and Transit Services campus van services, Route 23, running between East Campus and Innovation Campus.
If you need additional information, call Parking and Transit Services 402-472-1800 or visit the Parking and Transit Services website.
Faculty & Staff Bus Pass
Free bus passes are available for all employees
In support of campus sustainability efforts, Parking and Transit Services now offers all faculty and staff StarTran bus passes at no cost. Bus services provided through StarTran connect City, East, and Innovation campuses with full-day schedules. The bus passes are also good for all StarTran routes in the city.
StarTran bus passes are coordinated through Token Transit.
Register and receive your mobile bus pass through the Token Transit app:
Link to the registration form at https://tokentransit.com/startran/unl-pass
- Enter your NU email.
- Enter your NU identification number
- Click the “Send Pass” button.
- You will receive an email in your UNL email inbox to “Redeem your Transit Pass for StarTran”
- If using your mobile device: Click the “Redeem Now” button & choose “Download” from the top menu to install the Token Transit app
- If using your computer for previous steps: Open your app store on your mobile device to download the Token Transit app
- Enter your phone number and agree to the Terms of Use & Privacy Policy to continue
- You will receive a text with a six-digit code—enter this code when requested by Token Transit
- Click on the “My Passes” menu (android) or the “person” icon (iOS)
- Select “Redeem Code”
- Check your UNL email account and manually enter the code on STEP 5 that was sent from Token Transit
- Select the UNL Bus Pass for the current year (expires on August 2nd)
- To use the pass, tap on the UNL Pass, select “Show operator your ticket,” and show it to the bus driver when entering the bus
No pass is required to ride campus vans.
Carpooling
Carpooling Permit
A Carpool Parking Program is available for UNL faculty and staff. It provides a parking permit with a cost shared among participants.
Requirements
- Eligible carpool groups consist of a minimum of two members
- All carpool members must provide their personal details in the application form
- All carpool members must be employed with UNL as regular full time, benefits eligible and live off campus
- Spouses and cohabitants are excluded
- Motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds are excluded from the carpool program
Cost
- The cost of the carpool permit is the price of a regular non-reserve parking permit
- The cost will be divided by the number of members in the carpool
- Payment is made through payroll deduction
Carpool Permit Use Policy
- Only one parking permit is issued per carpool
- Carpool permits are not interchangeable between carpool groups
- Only one of the registered vehicles may be parked in the designated space at any time
- Carpool members are not eligible to purchase any other UNL parking permits
- The carpool may make a request for a specific non-reserved or reserved faculty staff parking lot; however not all parking lots are available for the carpool.