Transportation Resources

City Buses

Where can I find the local Pittsburgh bus schedule?

The Pittsburgh bus system (Pittsburgh Regional Transit, PRT) is accessible by CMU student with your ID card if you have paid for the Transportation fee. Click HERE to search for buses near you or to get the schedule for a specific bus line.

Outside of PRT, some of the surrounding counties in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission region also offer bus lines that connects to the city. These buses are not covered by your Transportation fee, and will require the purchase of a ticket to board, such as Westmoreland Transit and Freedom Transit. For a full list of bus services that connects to Pittsburgh, see this page under Regional Public Transit.

Can I bring a plus one on the bus?

Your CMU ID card will only allow yourself to ride on the PRT buses and light rails. However, your ID will allow you and one of your affiliate (i.e. your plus one guest) to ride the CMU shuttle/Escort services, as well as the University of Pittsburgh shuttle services. For details on the CMU Shuttle/Escort services, see HERE, and for details on the University of Pittsburgh Shuttle services, see HERE.

Shuttles/Escorts

What is the difference between the CMU Shuttle and Escort?

The CMU Shuttles run on a fixed schedule/route during the day. You can get on and off the shuttle buses at any of its designated stops as you desire. The CMU Escort service is an evening/night service intended to take you from its on-campus stops to any road intersections in each Escort's respective coverage zone. The Escort service will not take you to campus, and does not service intersections that the Shuttle services until after the Shuttle finishes its schedule. For more details about the schedules and routes for the Shuttle service, see HERE, and for the Escort Coverage Zones, see HERE.

When and where do the CMU Shuttles and Escorts run?

The CMU Shuttles operate from 7:00 AM to 10:45 PM and run primarily through North Oakland and Shadyside (A, B, and A/B combined routes). Two additional routes to the PTC and Bakery Square have some stops in Greenfield and Squirrel Hill. Escorts operate every 45 minutes from 6:30 PM to 4:15 AM the next day. Escorts (named by color) cover Oakland (Green Zone), Shadyside (Blue Zone), and Squirrel Hill (Yellow and Red Zones). To see where a Shuttle or Escort is in real time, use the online Tracker, or download the Ride Systems app (Android, iOS).

Is there an app to track the Shuttles and Escorts?

Download the Ride Systems app (Android, iOS) and select "Carnegie Mellon" to start tracking the shuttles. You can find instructions on how to use the Ride Systems app here. From a computer, you can track them here.

I had an interaction with a Shuttle/Escort driver and would like to report it for being unsafe/discriminatory/etc. Where can I do this?

You should email Parking and Transportation Services (HERE) and tell them what happened. They run the shuttle/escort services and take allegations of unsafe/discriminatory behavior by their drivers seriously.

There is a sign for a Pitt Shuttle near me, can I use it?

CMU students are eligible to ride on University of Pittsburgh Shuttles with their valid CMU ID card. Their routes can be found HERE.

Cars and Parking

How do I apply for a parking permit on CMU's campus?

Students must submit an application for a parking permit to the Parking & Transportation Services office. The window for application happens early in the summer, but there are waitlists that can be submitted to at any time. For more details on applying for a parking permit, see HERE.

The GSA suggests that students avoid planning to regularly drive and park on campus where possible; there are few spots (2600) and permits are often too expensive for students. Use of the PRT bus network, Shuttle, and Escort, which are covered by the student transportation fee, comes at no additional cost.

Can I park on campus without a permit?

If you do not have a permit but need to park on campus, you will be charged an hourly fee in the garages (Rates HERE), or at one of the parking meters for street parking. However, the East Campus Garage and Morewood Garden lots are free on weekdays after 6pm and on weekends if you tap in and out with your CMU ID. The street parking meters are also free after 6pm or on Sunday.

I need a car for a little while. Is there a service for that?

CMU partners with Zipcar, a carsharing rental service which maintains cars on campus for a discounted annual membership fee ($15) and hourly rental rates (between $8 to $15 per hour). Click HERE for more information and instructions to register. If you need a car to get where you are going, but do not need to be the driver, apps such as Uber or Lyft operate extensively in the Pittsburgh Area.

Biking

Where can I park/fix my bike on CMU's campus?

Bike racks are available around campus - maps of Bicycle Parking at CMU, including covered bike parking, are available as a part of the new CMU Wheels website. You will need to bring your own lock to secure your bike. If your bike needs minor repairs (flat tire, brake adjustment, etc) pumps and tools are available in the East Campus Garage, the Gates Garage, Hamburg Hall, Tepper Parking Lot, Hall of Arts, and the Mellon Institute.

Following up on our Spring 2024 Transportation Analysis, the GSA supports CMU installing at minimum the same number of bike parking spots (currently ~1600) relative to vehicle parking spots (~2500). As part of this, the GSA is funding a new covered bike parking pilot. If you would like to contribute to GSA's efforts in promoting biking, Engage with Us!