Undergraduate students living within a half-mile from campus this semester can get a free ride home with VandyRide’s new Point to Point service.
Point to Point allows students who live off campus and are registered with the Dean of Students Office to get a shuttle ride from a campus VandyRide stop or designated ridehail pickup location to their residence within a half-mile of the university. The service, available from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. seven days per week, is one-way and designed to deliver students safely to their off-campus residences. The program is being piloted this semester and is subject to change based on demand and available resources.
The free shuttles will not transport students to locations other than their registered off-campus residences, and they will not pick up students and bring them to campus. In addition, Point to Point shuttles will not transport students who live on campus—all passengers must be confirmed as living at an off-campus address prior to boarding a shuttle.
To use the Point to Point service, follow these steps:
- Students should contact VUPS Communications at 615-322-2745 to request a ride to an off-campus residence.
- VUPS will verify the student’s name, address and that it is within the Point to Point service area with the Dean of Students Office.
- Once confirmed, the student will be instructed to proceed to the nearest VandyRide stop or designated ridehail pickup location and wait for a shuttle. Students may track their assigned shuttle using the VandyRide app.
- Once the shuttle arrives, students must identify themselves by name and address before boarding the shuttle.
Please note that shuttles may transport more than one passenger to more than one location per trip. A maximum of seven passengers will be allowed on each shuttle. All passengers must wear face masks and practice physical distancing.
Students should expect an approximately 15-minute wait from when they request a shuttle to its arrival at a VandyRide stop or ridehail location. In addition, the university is exploring more options to augment its VandyRide program.
Additional safety measures and COVID-19 protocols
All shuttles are equipped with working departmental radios, security cameras and GPS tracking.
The university has implemented enhanced safety protocols for the VandyRide program, including the cleaning of vehicle high-touch areas at the start of each shift and between every trip or as needed, in addition to biweekly cleaning/sanitizing with steam.
All passengers are required to wear face masks and to physically distance. All drivers are required to wear face masks and have their temperatures screened daily. COVID-19 sanitization kits are carried by all drivers.
VandyRide Black Route vehicles are operating at 50 percent maximum capacity this semester, and Gold Route vehicles are operating at 75 percent maximum capacity.
For more information, visit the VandyRide website.