Move with purpose

While video conferencing and collaboration tools have made it easier to connect with colleagues or attend meetings and events virtually, staff, faculty, and students still need to navigate campus and get to and from Yale West Campus. Fortunately, there are plenty of green options available, from walking or bicycling to the free Yale shuttle.

Bike

Whether you own a bike or enjoy cycling, there are a variety of local resources. These include rental e-bikes, multiple indoor and outdoor bike racks, and a co-op that sells used bikes. When operating a bicycle, wearing a helmet is strongly advised.

• Bike Share network – Ride New Haven
  Ride New Haven is an electric, pedal-assist bike share network. The program offers 200 bicycles for rent in 45 locations throughout the city for individuals 18 years of age or older. Download the Ride New Haven app, set up an account, and start pedaling. Users scan a QR code located on the bike’s lock to begin the rental process, which includes pay-as-you-go or membership options. Refer to Ride New Haven’s FAQ page for more information.
• Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op
  In the market for a used bicycle or want to learn more about bike repair? The Bradley Street Bicycle Co-op (BSBC) offers bikes for sale, various membership options, and discounts for volunteers. BSBC also coordinates social rides, in-store events, runs a bicycle recycling program, and accepts old, unused, or broken bikes or parts in any condition. Yale partners with BSBC to collect and restore bikes abandoned on campus to donate to local community groups.
• Additional Resources
  Yale provides a bike registration form, a variety of indoor and outdoor bike rack locations, bike rack placement requests, and an in-person Bicycle Safety Training Class (register through Workday). Yale Environmental Health & Safety also offers additional safety tips, tools, and resources for cyclists.

Walk

Walk to your next meeting or enjoy a stroll during a lunch break. The campus and city offer sidewalks, car-free lanes, and lots of scenery from interesting architecture to beautifully landscaped grounds. The Yale University campus map is a good starting point for locating buildings or departments and charting a route. Being Well at Yale mapped out five walking routes. For information on routes and resources for pedestrians, visit Yale’s Walking in New Haven webpage.

• Walking Escorts 
  Yale Security provides Walking Escorts within the university footprint. Security officers will accompany students, faculty, and staff from one location to another 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For a virtual alternative, download the free LiveSafe App. It includes the SafeWalk feature that lets you invite friends and family to temporarily follow your location on a real-time map.
• Farmington Canal Heritage Trail 
  The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail runs through campus from beneath Whitney Avenue to behind Yale Health, 25 Science Park, and 344 Winchester Avenue before heading north to the Hamden border and beyond. This paved linear trail is ideal for walking, biking, and commuting. There is a path entrance next to 24 Hillhouse Avenue in the heart of central campus. On any day, it offers a peaceful car-free experience.

Micromobility

Last May, the City of New Haven launched a shared electric scooter program in partnership with Veo. Over 300 teal and black, rent-per-ride e-scooters can be found at 50 stations across the Elm City’s sidewalks. Riders aged 18 and over can download the Veo app to a smartphone to find ride locations, unlock a scooter, and pay $0.40 per minute to ride. Visit Veo’s blog for more information. When operating a scooter, wearing a helmet is strongly advised.

University policy states that due to the risk of fire, all battery-powered micromobility devices (e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-bikes, hoverboards, etc.) are prohibited from Yale University buildings. This prohibition includes storage and charging. Approved mobility devices for people with disabilities are exempt from this policy.

Visit It’s Your Yale for more information and resources about micromobility devices.

Shuttle

If you need to get around campus quickly or during inclement weather, the Yale Shuttle is a convenient and reliable choice. Shuttle Services run daily from 6 a.m. to midnight except on 11 holidays. There are 14 routes, including two (Green and Purple) that head to Yale West Campus. Navigate to the Yale Shuttle Tracking web app for real-time updates.

At a Glance:

• Map of Central and Medical School Campuses transportation boundaries
• Sign up for shuttle announcements
• Instructions for navigating the Downtowner App
• Transit office hours and contact info

Zipcar

Zipcar is a car-sharing program with over 20 vehicles in eight locations throughout campus that can be reserved by the hour or day. Yale has partnered with Zipcar to offer its students and employees access to vehicles without need for personal car ownership at discounted yearly memberships. To qualify, members must be at least 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, and have a clean driving record. Individual and departmental memberships are available.

How it works:

• Apply online with valid driver’s license
• Book a round-trip car by the hour or day, using an app to lock and unlock the car for each trip.
• Return the car to the same location when done.
• To find out more, visit the Yale Zipcar page.