Prospective Student Transportation and Parking Information

First and Second Year Residential Student Parking Permit Prohibition

UC Santa Cruz has a parking permit prohibition for first and second-year residential students who live in any on-campus or off-campus University Housing facility. The parking permit prohibition applies to all types of campus parking permits (except motorcycle permits), including temporary daily, weekly and monthly permits. Get detailed information about the Residential Freshmen/Sophomore parking prohibition.

Undergraduate Student Parking Permits

All commuting students are eligible to purchase a campus parking permit. Campus residents must have Junior standing, which is 90 credits. Get detailed information on the types of parking permits that are available to eligible undergraduate students [more].

Graduate Student Parking Permits

Get detailed information on the types of parking permits that are available to eligible graduate students [more].

The Santa Cruz Metro and UCSC TAPS Transit Bus Systems

Santa Cruz Metro Buses: Metro buses operate throughout Santa Cruz County. Regular service is provided between downtown Santa Cruz and the campus, using various routes including Laurel Street (Routes 15/16), Bay Street (Route 19), High Street (Route 10), and Western Drive (Route 20/20D). Many students who reside off-campus use Metro buses to commute to and from campus. Campus residents use Metro buses to get to downtown Santa Cruz and other local destinations.

UCSC Shuttles (TAPS Transit): The Campus Transit system operates two daytime routes (the Loop and Upper Campus), and three nighttime routes (the Loop, the East Night Core and the West Night Core). Campus Transit also provides The Night Owl, late-night bus service between campus and downtown Santa Cruz, exclusively for UCSC students and employees.

Carshare and Rideshare Programs

Considering UCSC but concerned that first and second-year residential students can't bring a car when they come to UCSC? With Zipcars on campus you can reserve a car online by the hour or day and pay as you go. Prices from $7.00 per hour - includes all vehicle fees, gas, mileage and reserved parking [more].

UC Santa Cruz has a private Zimride rideshare community at http://zimride.ucsc.edu. It's simple. UCSC Zimride helps you offer or request rides for commutes, road trips, popular events, and travel home for quarter breaks. If you have a car, split costs by offering rides. If you don't have a car, find rides where you need to go. With Zimride you can also check out the profiles of your classmates before you share the ride.