Welcome to Boulder, Colorado! Living in Boulder as a student means you’re in the heart of one of the fastest growing tech cities in the world. It also means that you’re going to have to figure out how to get from your campus at Naropa or University of Colorado – Boulder to wherever you need to go.
And here’s the best thing about being a student in Boulder — you really don’t need a car! The Front Range has an incredible public transportation system as well as a myriad of bike paths and alternate forms of transportation (like bike rentals and car sharing services) that will get you where you need to go, when you need to be there.
Riding the Bus in Boulder, CO
The buses you’ll likely be taking most often go along two routes: The Hop and The Skip. Both service the University of Colorado – Boulder campus and get you around to key points in town.
The Hop services:
- Twenty Ninth Street retail district;
- Downtown Boulder;
- University Hill; and
- the University of Colorado.
- View the schedule for The Hop here.
The Skip services:
- Boulder Community Hospital
- Community Plaza/Ideal Market
- North Boulder Recreation Center
- Downtown Boulder
- University of Colorado
- Table Mesa Shopping Center
- Fairview High School
- View the schedule for The Skip here.
If your travels take you beyond the Hop or Skip routes, you can simply use the RTD website to plan your trip from point A to point B, even if you’re going beyond the borders of Boulder.
Biking in Boulder
A popular form of transportation for all Boulder residents is a bicycle. Boulder has an extensively developed bike path and bike lane system throughout the city, especially around all of the major campuses. GO! Bike Boulder has an awesome route finder system so that those new to Boulder can plan their bike trip using the city’s bike paths and lanes. It’s also important that you get to know, learn, and practice safe biking and all of the biking laws. An impolite cyclist can ruin things for everyone — so don’t let that person be you! Click here to get up to speed quickly on local biking regulations, laws, and traffic safety.
The B-Cycle Bike Rental Program
Don’t have a bike? Live close to where you need to go but want access to a bike…sometimes? The Front Range’s B-Cycle program is for you. You can rent on-the-go for only $5 per 24-hour period from any of the bike rental kiosks around town, or a better way to go might be the $55 annual membership. Check out the Boulder B-Cycle website for all of the details, rental station locations, and the details on how you can get a free 60-minute ride…anytime.
Boulder Car Sharing
If you’re a student at the University of Colorado – Boulder, the campus has an agreement with eGo CarShare and actually has cars available for student members on campus. The car share program is a membership program, so if you think this service might be up your alley, you should register for an account when you arrive in town. The great part is that all of the rates include gas and insurance, so it’s one fee to rent the car for however long (or short) you need one.
If you’re a student elsewhere in town you can still become an eGo CarShare member for your occasional car needs. Simply visit the website, explore locations and rates, and apply for your membership directly online.
