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).
While we were once trending downward, the drive-alone rate has ticked upward in recent years from 16.3% in 2023 to 16.6% in 2024. Despite the near universal adoption of the U-PASS, which provides access to public transit. UW students, and staff have not returned to pre-COVID levels of transit use. In 2019, 44.9% of all respondents rode transit, while in 2024 the number has fallen to just 33.2%.
The UW can still meet this goal, but only if more Huskies choose to leave the car at home. On this page you’ll find upcoming events related to transit, biking or other transportation choices, as well as a helpful guide to choosing a more sustainable commute option.
Upcoming events
| Event name | Date and time | Event description |
|---|---|---|
| Ride in the Rain 2025 | November 12, 2025 7:30-10:30 a.m. | Stop by our tent near the Burke Gilman Trail in front of the Life Sciences building for giveaways and to chat about all things biking! |
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 bicycles:
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.
Helpful links for combining transportation choices:
How to load your bike on a bus
Rules for bikes and scooters on light rail and sounder trains
Bringing your bike on WA state ferries
Feel free to reach out to our team at ucommute@uw.edu with questions about your transportation choices.