In This Issue

• Transportation Fair – Thursday, October 6
• Featured Programs
  • Spin x AU Partnership
  • Capital Bikeshare Student Membership
  • AU x Lyft RideSmart Programs
• Updates & Reminders
  • Scooter and Bicycle Safety around AU
  • Public Safety Aide Program
  • Multi-Use Trail on Nebraska Ave, NW
  • U·Pass
  • Good Neighbor Parking Policy Reminder
• Important Dates
  • Transportation Fair - October 6
  • U·Pass Fall Deactivation - December 28
  • U·Pass Spring Reactivation - January 6, 2023
  • U·Pass Spring Deactivation - May 21, 2023

Transportation Fair – Thursday, October 6

Find out about all your transportation options in the District at the Transportation Fair on Oct. 6^th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the Quad. Representatives from WMATA, Capital Bikeshare, Spin, and AU’s Dept. of Sustainability will be on hand to answer all your transportation-related questions. There also will be bingo and an opportunities to win prizes, meet more members of your community, and find out if you’re utilizing the best transit options for your commute.

Featured Programs

Spin x AU Partnership

American University is proud to announce a partnership with micro-mobility company Spin, which operates more than 2,500 e-scooters in the District. Spin scooters will be available at marked corrals throughout AU’s campusand will be replenished daily to meet community demand. AU Community members may utilize promo-code AMERICAN22 in the Spin app until Oct. 8 for $10 off their next ride, and anyone with an @american.edu email is elibible to receive further discounted unlock and per-minute fares when they sign up using their school email.

Capital Bikeshare Student Membership

Parking & Commuter Services is pleased to offer a discounted $25 annual membership once again for Capital Bikeshare for the 2022 – 2023 school year. All students, faculty, and staff are eligible. Membership includes unlimited rides under 30 minutes on traditional bikes and unlimited $1 30-minute rides on E-bikes. You can also add your membership to your Lyft app, making detaching and docking a bike seamless. Directions to signup can be found here.

AU x Lyft RideSmart Programs

The American University-Lyft RideSmart Program will continue to offer a sustainable, flexible, and cost-effective transportation alternatives for faculty, staff, and students conducting official university business.

Departments may set up Lyft programs and utilize a central billing system for authorized users to book rides via the Lyft app. This allows students, faculty, and staff the flexibility to go off-campus when needed without worrying about needing a personal vehicle to get to their destination. Departments may set specific pickup and drop-off locations to ensure the program is only utilized for AU-affiliated business.

Visit the RideSmart page on AU’s Transportation website or contact Parking & Commuter Services’ TDM Coordinator to set up an account for your department.

Updates & Reminders

Scooter and Bicycle Safety around AU

We encourage scooters and bicycle riders to ride in the streets on main campus and in the surrounding neighborhood, when possible, and where there are dedicated bike lanes available, such as on New Mexico Ave, NW. Riding on a sidewalk creates unnecessary risk for pedestrians, especially those who have challenges with mobility.

Public Safety Aide Program

Parking & Commuter Services is hiring! Are you looking to help make AU a greener and safer place, and get paid to do it? Join the Public Safety Aide program to help enforce parking policies, aid in transportation programs, and work in conjunction with AUPD. Opportunities for promotion are available after just one semester of work. Email a complete application and resume to psaprogramsupervisor@american.edu to be considered. 

Multi-Use Trail on Nebraska Ave, NW

Since there are no bike lanes available on Nebraska Ave, NW between Tenleytown and main campus, Parking & Commuter Services recommends utilizing the newly constructed, multi-use trail on the Northwest side of the street. Bikers and scooters should utilize this expanded-width side rather than the sidewalk on the Southeast side of the street to help ensure pedestrian safety.

U·Pass

As a friendly reminder, all full-time university students are enrolled automatically for U·Pass and may pick up their card  from Parking & Commuter Services for the Fall 2022 semester. If you haven’t yet picked up your card, you can visit the parking office, located on the Terrace Level of Don Myers, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For those who already have picked-up a U·Pass this fall but have since dropped below the minimum credit threshold for eligibility during the add/drop period, passes will be deactivated this month in accordance with the university’s agreement with WMATA. Students who are flagged will be contacted before deactivation.

Students who become full-time again in the spring semester will be able to pick up a U·Pass from the Parking & Commuter Services at the start of the semester in January.

Good Neighbor Parking Policy Reminder

In accordance with Washington, DC regulations and the University’s “Good Neighbor Policy,” all guests, students, faculty, and staff driving to campus are required to park on campus with the appropriate parking pass or pay-as-you-go payment. Parking is prohibited on all neighborhood streets while visiting any university property. Abiding by this policy is a condition of enrollment and employment with American University.

Important Dates

Transportation Fair - October 6

U·Pass Fall Deactivation - December 28

U·Pass Spring Reactivation - January 6, 2023

U·Pass Spring Deactivation - May 21, 2023