You’re new to the UA. You need to get around campus. Here’s how. 

Sun Link Tucson Modern Streetcar

The Sun Link Tucson Modern Streetcar travels through the UA campus and downtown Tucson areas.

The route can take you from Helen Street to Congress Street and stops frequentlyand the cars can transfer people directly to SunTran or Sun Shuttles at many of the stops.

To pay for the streetcar, you need to buy a SunGO Card, ticket or SunGO transfer. Purchase these at any streetcar stop vending machine, online or at any SunTran transit center.

A 24-hour SunGO ticket is $4, while a one-way full fare is $1.50 and a one-way economy fare is $.50.

“It’s just really easy,” said Emily Perez, a public health junior. “It usually brings me right in front of my classes.”

UA Parking and Transportation Services offers a discounted streetcar pass — the U-Pass SunGO — for UA full-time students and staff. To purchase transit passes, visit PTS’ website.

Biking

UA PTS offers a variety of bicycle services to students. The League of American Bicyclists, an organization meant to educate people on bicycles, awarded the UA a gold ranking for being a bicycle-friendly university.

“It’s easy, pretty quick and convenient,” said Harrison Heim, a senior studying pre-business and Spanish, who bikes every day. “You can lock it up anywhere you go.”

Students and staff who have registered their bikes can park their them for free through the university Bike Valet Parking Service. The valet runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tucson residents or UA students can complete bike registration online at the PTS website. 

Those looking for more secure places to park their bicycles can park at bike enclosures, which cost $35 a year through PTS. Bicycle lockers are also available for $100 a year.

Students and staff can also park their bikes in front of the Robert L. Nugent building at the Campus Bicycle Station, a services provided by PTS and Pima County. The station also offers a variety of free bike services administered by certified League of American bicyclists. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you need to use a bike but don’t have one, you can rent one through PTS’ Cat Wheels Bike Program. Cat Wheels has stations in the Sixth Street and Tyndall Avenue garages. To rent a bike, bring a CatCard and complete a registration online or in person at the cashier box.

Bicycle brochures, campus routes, free safety classes and regulations can also be found on PTS’ website. 

CatTran Shuttle

The CatTran is a free shuttle service offered to UA students that operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and from6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.as the NightCat.

The CatTran offers routes from Mountain Avenue to as far north as Fort Lowell Road and stops multiple times between Euclid Avenue and Campbell Avenue.

The CatTran runs everyday throughout the semester except for university holidays and winter recess. Hours during weekdays and the summer are limited. Find out more about the CatTran’s limited hours here.

UA graduate Heather Lent, who works at the Bio5 building,said she rides the CatTran every day because it is the fastest and easiest way to get to work.

“I don’t have to deal with lights trying to hit me,” Lent said. “I also ride a bike, but when it’s hot or for the first few weeks of school when there’s a lot of other people, I just ride the CatTran.”

PTS displays the CatTran’s location in real time on the Transloc Rider app to show riders when the shuttle will arrive at specific locations.

“It’s fast and easy and all of the drivers are also super cool and nice,” Lent said. “During the school year [the CatTran] runs pretty late, so if I want I can stay and work until 1 a.m. and still ride it back to Sixth Street Garage.”

SafeRide

SafeRide is run by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona and has existed as a student-run organization since 1981.

The service, funded by ASUA, The University of Arizona Parents and Family Association and the UA Student Affairs fee, transports sober UA students safely to destinations around or near campus.

From 2012 to 2013, SafeRide delivered 75,000 people safely to their destinations, according to the their website.

To order a SafeRide, call (520) 621-7233, and check out pick-up and drop-off locations on their website.

UA ZimRide and Zipcar

UA ZimRide is a way for people to join an existing carpool ride or make their own. This is only for UA students, faculty and staff and can be accessed online with your NetIDlogin.

UA students, faculty and staff can also rent vehicles for up to one week through the campus Zipcar service. To rent a Zipcar, sign up online and download their app.

“I usually use [Zipcar] to go to shopping once a month to do all of my errands, or if I have a doctor’s appointment,” said Katy Winmill, a business junior.

Gas, miles and insurance are all included in Zipcars and their prices vary based on the time of day.

“A lot of kids on campus don’t have a car, so it’s nice to get a car every once in a while,” Winmill said. “It’s a convenient thing.” 

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