Purdue’s campus covers over three square miles and consists of countless roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Getting from a residence hall to class takes a bit of planning. There are a number of different ways to get around campus, here are just a few common methods! Bikes may be parked on bike racks and bike hoops, only.

Walking.

The vast majority of students simply walk as their main method of transit. Purdue’s campus is incredibly accessible when it comes to pedestrian-specific areas. There are even entire roads, like 3rd Street, blocked off entirely for pedestrian and cyclist use. It is common for students to give themselves around 15 minutes to get from one place to another on campus if they are walking.

CityBus

When the weather gets cold many students prefer to take the bus instead of walking or riding a bicycle. There are bus stops all over campus and the greater Lafayette-West Lafayette area. CityBus offers free rides for Purdue students, faculty, staff, and retirees with a valid Purdue photo ID. They even offer a mobile app for real-time tracking of bus locations. Check out campus loops and more information about the bus system on the CityBus website here.

Bicycles

Another common method of transportation for students are bicycles. There are dozens of bike lanes crisscrossing campus which allow students to get to their destination much quicker. 

There are also hundreds of bike racks all over campus. Bikes must be parked on bike racks and bike hoops, only. Examples of incorrect bicycle parking include: sidewalks, ADA-accessible sidewalk railings, attached to trees, fences, furniture, light poles, buildings, trash containers, landscape posts, or anything other than a bike rack or hoop. Bicycles that are incorrectly parked are subject to removal. Locks will be cut at the owner's expense. Visit the University Residences Housing Guidelines and Policies page for further information about student conduct.

Bicycle registration is recommended for faculty, staff, and students who ride on the Purdue Campus. Most bikes that are stolen from campus are not registered. You can do yourself a favor by registering your bicycle and by keeping it locked to a bike rack whenever you are not using it. Please visit this page to register your bicycle.

Still have questions about bicycle use on campus? Visit the Purdue bike website here to find the answers.

Vehicles

Cars and other motorized vehicles are, by far, used the least by students getting around campus. Students who are commuting from off-campus typically park their cars in designated parking lots and then use another method of transportation to get to their destination. 

Please visit Purdue University Parking - Purdue University for all of your parking questions. Questions about eligibility should be directed to the Parking Facilities office at parking@purdue.edu. All parking permits are subject to availability.