RIDER SHIP POLICY

General Information

The University of Maryland, College Park operates transit commuter service within the jurisdiction of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (WMATC). Permission has been granted by WMATC to carry only students, faculty, and staff of the University of Maryland. To ensure that only students, faculty, and staff ride Shuttle-UM buses, all passengers are required to show a valid University of Maryland, College Park or University of Maryland, University College Identification (IDs) when they board off-campus commuter routes.

The majority of Shuttle-UM services are paid for by the University of Maryland, College Park students, therefore, many of our services are geared towards serving that population. In certain instances, it is in the best interest of the campus community to have Evening Service routes open to the public, so anyone may ride such routes. IDs are required for all routes except Evening Service routes, College Park Metro, and Campus Connector North and South.
 

Permitted Passengers

Students, faculty, and staff at UMCP and UMUC are permitted to ride the Shuttle-UM buses. IDs are required for all routes except Evening Service routes, College Park Metro, and Campus Connector North and South.

Non-affiliated persons under 18 years of age are permitted to ride a Shuttle-UM bus when accompanied by a parent or guardian who has a valid ID. Through the University Human Resources employee designee program, specified individuals can have access to Shuttle-UM services. For more information regarding this program, visit the UHR Website. Spouses and other family members who are not designated as an employee designee are not permitted to ride the off-campus commuter routes at any time.

The Retired Volunteer Service Corps (RVSC) is the official volunteer group for the University of Maryland College Park and, as such, is the only volunteer group that is allowed to ride the off-campus commuter routes. Each RVSC volunteer is issued an identification card displaying the University seal and emblem and the card is valid for up to one year. RVSC staff members display their ID to the drivers as they board the University bus.

There may be time when visiting scholars, faculty, attendees may need to ride the system buses in order to attend various events. In these cases, a letter on the Department of Transportation Service's letterhead will serve as a temporary identification and must be shown to the bus driver upon boarding any bus. The letter, written by an Assistant or Associate Director of D.O.T.S., must provide the name of the individual, state the function the individual is attending, and the time period for which authorization is granted. A fee structure has been set to allow the visitors to ride our buses and is as follows; $162 per academic year, $81 per semester, $80 entire summer, $40 per summer session, or $3 per day. Visitors will receive the letter once they have made payment for the services at the main D.O.T.S. Office, 0123 Regents Drive.

Prohibited Conduct on Buses

Any activity that limits the driver's ability to drive the bus safely or affects the safety of our passengers including but not limited to; rowdiness and drunkenness, is prohibited and the person or persons responsible for the unsafe activity may be asked to exit the vehicle. Drivers use their discretion, and take in to consideration their safety, the safety of the passengers, and the safety of the public. The University Police may be contacted to assist in removing passengers when necessary.

Any damage to the in and/or outside of the vehicle will result in fees being assessed to the person or persons found responsible.

Passengers are not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.

No part of the body nor any materials should be outside the bus while it is in motion. Spitting or littering from the vehicle is prohibited at all times.

Passengers will be held to University policies including but not limited to; the Student Code of Conduct and the Human Relations Code, while riding in our vehicles.
 

Allowed Conduct on Buses

Passengers are allowed to drink non-alcoholic beverages and eat while riding on the system vehicles. Passengers of legal drinking age may carry sealed alcoholic beverages in cans and/or bottles. Passengers are not allowed to transport common containers of alcohol.