Getting Around Portland

Are you curious about the best way for your student to get around Portland? Here are several options to consider:

• Public Transportation
  • Portland’s bus service, TriMet, offers a number of opportunities for public transportation. UP has convenient bus stops right off campus, connecting your student to the Portland metro area. To help your student be confident using the bus, you’ll likely want to chat with them about public transportation etiquette and suggest they download the TriMet apps for ticket purchasing and trip planning.
• Pilot Express and other shuttles
  • Will your student only need transportation to and from the airport? UP has programs for that! Before every major break there are signups for Pilot Express, which for a small fee takes students to and from the airport, as well as to the train and bus stations. 
• Zipcar
  • The University is a partner with Zipcar, a car-sharing platform that allows students to pay for an account and then borrow a car from campus by the hour or day, with gas and insurance included. Learn more about  Zipcar.
• Bringing a bike to campus
  • Bicycle racks are conveniently located outside almost every building on campus, and we even have a bike rental and mechanic shop in the Beauchamp Recreation Center. Our campus and the city of Portland are very bike friendly. Encourage your student to review UP bike policies and procedures.
• Rideshare Apps
  • Rideshare apps offer a quick and convenient method for getting to and from locations. The Pilot House and the Beauchamp Recreation Center are convenient options as a pick-up and drop-off spots depending on where you want to be on campus.
• Bringing a car to campus
  • First-year and sophomore students living on campus may not bring a car to UP. If this policy poses a hardship, an exception may be granted by the Director of Campus Safety. Before deciding to bring a car to campus, consider the following:
    • Review UP’s parking regulations and vehicle registration.
    • The costs associated with owning a car: insurance, gas, maintenance, a parking permit, car payments, etc.
    • If your student opts to leave their car on campus during fall, winter or spring break, they should notify Campus Safety.

For further details, please visit the Parking and Commute Options Page.

Please feel free to reach out to our office if you have any further questions. We are happy to direct you to the appropriate office on campus if needed.