Fall 2023 Transportation Newsletter
In This Issue:
Important Dates
Transportation Fair – Wednesday, September 20
The 2023 Fall Transportation Fair will be held on Wednesday, September 20 on the main Quad (rain date Sept. 27). Representatives from Spin, Capital Bikeshare, and WMATA will be in attendance, in addition to many AU departments such as AHealthyU, Parking & Commuter Services, and the Office of Sustainability. Resources will be available for faculty, staff, and students.
Car-Free Day – Friday, September 22
Students and employees can commit to come to campus car-free on Friday, September 22. By teleworking, taking public transit, biking, or walking, you can help AU lower its carbon footprint. For more information and to take the Car-Free Pledge, visit www.carfreemetrodc.org/
Transportation Programs Spotlight
Spin x AU Partnership
As the AU and Spin Scooter Partnership enters its second year, community members can still receive discounts to unlock scooters and on per-minute fees on Spin rides anywhere in the District. Simply sign up using with one’s AU email to open a Spin account. Riders can earn further discounts by parking in the various AU Spin corrals around campus, identifiable by the Clawed-Spin sticker and 3M tape.
Lyft RideSmart
The American University-Lyft RideSmart Program continues to offer 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 pick-up 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.
Capital Bikeshare Student Membership
AU Community members can take advantage of Capital Bikeshare’s discounted student membership for just $25 annually. The membership includes unlimited 30-minute trips on standard Capital Bikeshare Bikes. E-bikes can be rented for a $1 fee with membership. Sign-up instructions can be found here.
Reminders & Updates
Tenleytown-AU Metro Escalator Closing
Metro is accelerating the escalator replacement work at Tenleytown-AU Station and will replace the two east entrance escalators with brand-new ones that are more durable and reliable.
Starting Monday, August 28, the entrance on the east side of Wisconsin Avenue, closest to 40th Street, will close for approximately four months. Closing the east entrance will allow construction crews to work on both escalators at the same time, increasing project efficiency and reducing the overall project duration by roughly two months.
U·Pass & Apple-Wallet
Students can upload their U·Pass to their Apple-Wallet by utilizing the university’s provided date of birth and phone number: August 18, 2018 and 202-885-3111.
WMATA aims for a spring 2024 rollout of U·Pass on Google-Wallet.
Full-time students who have not picked up their U·pass or have lost their card can visit the Office of Parking & Commuter Services in the Terrace Level of Don Myers on East Campus to obtain their new card. Replacements for lost cards are $20 and are limited to one replacement per semester.
The U·Pass is not transferable and may be confiscated by WMATA and the individual subject to enforcement by local jurisdiction if it is misused or presented for transportation by any person other than the eligible full-time student to whom it is issued. WMATA maintains the right to inspect any U·Pass and to ask for another form of identification (including One-Card/AUID) as confirmation of the person to whom the U·Pass is issued.
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 to pedestrians, especially those who have challenges with mobility. Scooters and bicycles are prohibited from being ridden inside campus buildings, and should be kept at outdoor bike racks when not in use. Spin helmets are available by request at the Parking & Commuter Services Office.
Personal Bike & Scooter Registration
AU Community members can register their personal bike and scooters via the Parking Portal. Once registered, the physical permits may be picked up from Parking & Commuter Services’s office, located on the terrace level of Don Myers with AUPD. Registration is encouraged for both theft prevention and bicycle identification. Registration is required for Northside residents who wish to access the Cassell bike room.
Transportation Survey
Some American University members will be asked to take part in AU’s annual Transportation Survey, which allows the Office of Sustainability and Parking & Commuter Services to better understand and provide for AU’s transportation needs, in addition to determining the university’s greenhouse emissions. The survey will be sent out to select community members on or around September 18. If you are asked to participate, please fill out the survey promptly to ensure your responses are recorded.
Good Neighbor Parking Policy Reminder
In accordance with Washington, D.C. 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.