Reaching 12%: UW’s drive-alone goal by 2028
To meet institutional carbon reduction and sustainability goals, the University of Washington aims to reduce our "drive alone" rate to 12% by 2028. This is a part of the current Campus Master Plan (2019) (pdf).
Recent commute survey results show progress toward that goal. The overall drive-alone rate decreased from 16.6% in 2024 to 15.5%, while transit use increased from 33.2% to 35.4%. Walking remains one of the most common ways Huskies get to campus, with 25.4% of all respondents reporting walking as their primary commute mode. Among students, only 8.0% reported driving alone, while employees continue to have a higher drive-alone rate at 25.6%.
The UW can still meet its 2028 goal, but continued progress will depend on helping more Huskies choose sustainable commute options. On this page, you’ll find upcoming events related to transit, biking, walking, and other transportation choices, as well as a helpful guide to choosing a more sustainable commute option.
Upcoming events
| Event name | Date | Time | Event description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lime First Ride Academy | Tuesday, Oct.12 | 10:30 a.m. -noon | New to e-bikes or not quite ready for the road? Join a hands-on experience where you're introduced to the Lime app, rules of the road, and how to ride Lime. A free and fun way to build your confidence on e-bikes like Lime. |
| Ride in the Rain | Wednesday, Nov. 4 | 7-9:30 a.m. | UW Transportation Services is tabling along the Burke Gilman Trail next to Hitchcock Bridge with light snacks, giveaways, and more! Stop by and tell us why you Ride in the Rain. |
Get to know your transportation options
The short guides below contain helpful links to learn more about your transportation options. If you have a suggestion or request for additional resources, please reach out to us via ucommute@uw.edu.
The U-PASS is a bus and light rail pass, plus much more. Loaded on your Husky Card, the U-PASS provides unlimited rides on regional buses, commuter trains, light rail, streetcars, water taxis and even the Seattle Monorail and vanpools. You just tap it on a yellow ORCA card reader, found on buses, and at light rail & Sounder stations, then ride to your next destination!
Learn more about Student U-PASS.
Learn more about Employee U-PASS.
Vanpool provides groups of five or more individuals a vehicle to share their commute. Your U-PASS includes free access to vanpools through the following regional transit agencies:
Learn more on the Vanpool webpage.
Carpooling is a flexible, cost-saving commute option. You can carpool all the time or occasionally as a supplement to the way you regularly commute. Faculty and staff who commit to carpooling at least three days a week can obtain a quarterly or annual carpool permit to park on campus. These permits are assigned to a specific lot and are usable seven days a week.
Learn more on the Carpool webpage.
The University of Washington is a national leader in campus bicycle facilities, including secure bike parking in bike lockers and bike houses located throughout campus. There are also rentable bikes available on campus through our vendor partners at Lime.
Learn more about bicycling:
Scooters can be a convenient and quick way to get across the University of Washington campus. Whether you have your own personal device or choose to rent one from our vendor partners Lime and Bird, please be mindful of safety advice, rider rules and best practices for courteously using scooters and other micromobility devices on campus.
Learn more on the electric scooters webpage.
The UW has a massive network of pathways and sidewalks, with more than 20 miles of roads and paths weaving through the 643 acres of the Seattle campus. With programs like the SafeZone app, and services like Husky Safetrip ensuring Huskies can get around campus safely at any time of day.
Learn more on the walking resources webpage.
Did you know that most public transit options can accommodate bicycles and scooters? One of the best ways to get to campus is to combine some of the above options.
Resources combining transportation choices:
Feel free to reach out to our team at ucommute@uw.edu with questions about your transportation choices.