Shuttle Usage Guidelines

All shuttles are wheelchair-accessible, and service animals are permitted. Please note that lab chemicals and lab equipment containing chemicals (e.g., vials, beakers, etc.) are not permitted on shuttles.

Schedules

All schedule times are approximate. Timetables and other information on this page are subject to change. We make every effort to post an accurate schedule; however, travel times may change as a result of traffic conditions, including road construction, inclement weather and summer festivities. Please allow for extra travel time during these conditions.

Valid Wildcard or Guest Wristband Required

Shuttles are a free service for University students, faculty and staff, with presentation of a valid Wildcard or Guest Wristband.

The Loop Shuttle routes also accept Garrett-Evangelical ID cards and University ID cards for contractors, spouse/partners and temporary/part-time employees (these ID cards are not accepted for travel on the Intercampus route).

Expired Wildcards

Expired Wildcards will not be accepted. If your Wildcard is expired, you have two options:

• You do not ride the bus, and the bus driver returns the expired card. You take the card to the nearest Wildcard office to obtain a free replacement (assuming you are eligible).
• You can ride the bus one-way, but the driver will confiscate the expired card. It will not be returned to you. You must then go to the nearest Wildcard office and pay a fee for a new card (assuming you are eligible).

Shuttle Guest Wristbands

Guest Wristbands are available for Northwestern business guests to ride the Intercampus Shuttle during non-commuting hours.

• Wristbands are for guests of Northwestern faculty and staff visiting campus on official university business.
• Guests are allowed to ride the Intercampus Shuttle only from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m.
• Up to 10 wristbands may be requested at a time and charged to a chart string.
• Each wristband costs $2.

Please note: Department letters are not accepted to ride the Intercampus Shuttle; wristbands must be used. Submit the Shuttle Wristband Request Form to request wristbands. If this does not meet your needs for your guests, please contact us at shuttle@northwestern.edu or call (312) 503-8129.

Large Groups on the Shuttles

If you need to travel with a group of six or more people at a time on one of the shuttles, please contact Transportation & Parking at (312) 503-8129 or shuttle@northwestern.edu. Due to shuttle capacity issues, we encourage the use of alternative transportation for large groups. We serve the entire campus community, and our routes are based on average ridership levels. Transportation & Parking offers Charter Services to assist you.

Riding Rules

• Have the required ID or shuttle credential ready when boarding the shuttle. This ensures that the shuttle will remain on schedule and not delay fellow passengers. Drivers are instructed to be firm on the ID policy.
• Allow passengers to exit before boarding the bus. If you stand to the left of the door, passengers can disembark to the right, and it will reduce boarding time.
• When capacity reaches standing room, move toward the back of the bus for others to get on. For safety reasons, stay behind the yellow line and avoid standing or sitting in the stairwells.
• No open food or drink, littering or smoking allowed on the bus.
• In accordance with Illinois Vehicle Code, drivers will not allow passenger to board and disembark the bus unless it is at an established stop.
• Keep your volume down, as not everyone shares your interest in music or conversation.
• Please check for all personal possessions before disembarking the vehicle.
• The shuttle system is intended to transport faculty, staff and students, and our highest priority is to ensure passenger safety on every trip. Due to space constraints and safety concerns, we discourage use of the shuttles to transport children, but we understand it may be necessary on occasion. Please review our policy regarding children and strollers.

Electric Scooters

Personal scooter devices are allowed on the shuttles, if these conditions are met:

• Devices must be personally owned. Commercially owned devices, or those a part of a rental program (e.g., Divvy, Lyft, Lime, Bird), are not allowed to be transported on shuttles.
• Devices must be human-powered or electric-powered only, and gas-powered devices are prohibited.
• Devices must be generally clean and not track dirt or mud onto the shuttle. They cannot be leaking any fluids.
• Devices must be folded to the smallest size possible and cannot be placed on seats or block aisles/priority seating areas.
• The customer must properly secure their own device by holding onto or blocking it to eliminate movement.

Service and Assistance Animals

Service animals, as defined by the University, are allowed to accompany their owner on shuttle rides. However, in accordance with the Service, Assistance, and Other Animals at Northwestern policy, a service animal and owner may be asked to disembark the shuttle if the service animal:

• Is out of control or aggressive, and the owner does not take effective action to control it
• The service animal is not housebroken
• The service animal is physically ill

Assistance animals such as comfort or emotional support animals and pets are not allowed on the shuttles.