Changes are coming to NITE RIDE, the University of Iowa's free late-night transportation service.
Beginning Aug. 17, NITE RIDE will be open to people of all genders, powered by a mobile application that will allow users to request rides from their smartphones.
The changes come after the UI Department of Public Safety began re-assessing NITE RIDE in recent months.
When does NITE RIDE operate?
Daily, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Where does NITE RIDE operate?
View the boundary map.
"We know all students need a safe mode of transportation at night, and we're excited not only to expand this service, but to make it more user-friendly," says Alton Poole, community outreach officer with the UI Department of Public Safety.
The new mobile app, Translōc Rider, will enable users to pinpoint their location within the NITE RIDE boundary map and request a ride from and to any location within those boundaries. The app also will provide users with real-time data on where the NITE RIDE bus is located, as well as its estimated time of arrival. The app is used by 90 universities that offer similar transportation services.
Those who want to use the app can enter their HawkID Login to set up an account or create a Translōc Login. Students and staff who don't have access to a smartphone will be able to request a ride by calling the UI Department of Public Safety at 319-384-1111.
Bruce Harreld, Barry Butler, Georgina Dodge, and other UI leaders speak about campus climate improvement efforts that took place over the summer, as well as initiatives that the university will roll out in the coming months. Read the full message on Iowa Now.
NITE RIDE was established in 2007 as a means of safe transportation for women. The UI Department of Public Safety has established several measures to deter inappropriate behavior and promptly investigate complaints in order to ensure the comfort of all passengers.
"It's been almost 10 years since NITE RIDE began operating on our campus," says Poole. "Many of the fears we initially had about offering a co-ed ride service have not played out on other campuses, and we felt it was time to revisit our own safe-ride program while looking to our peers for the best way to improve."
Both NITE RIDE buses are equipped with cameras and staffed by full-time UI security officers. Each bus also will periodically be patrolled by a plainclothes officer.
Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. If any misconduct is reported during a ride, the bus will be stopped immediately, police will be called, and the incident will be investigated. Passengers who violate the rules may be arrested and will face university disciplinary action, including possible expulsion.
Because the app will require students and staff to log in, the UI Department of Public Safety also will be able to keep a detailed ridership record that can be referred to if complaints are reported.
For more information about NITE RIDE and how to download the smartphone app, visit the NITE RIDE page on the UI Department of Public Safety’s website: https://police.uiowa.edu.
Editor's note: Since the original publication of this story, NITE RIDE has partnered with UI Fleet Services and CAMBUS for access to a wheelchair accessible vehicle for the NITE RIDE service. If you are a person with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation in order to use NITE RIDE, contact the UI Department of Public Safety at 319-384-1111 to arrange a ride. This service is available during the same hours as NITE RIDE.
Other resources that are available include the Bionic Bus and the Accessible Fixed Route Service provided by Cambus. More information on these services and their operation hours is available at: http://transportation.uiowa.edu/transit-services-persons-disabilities-bionic-bus.