Major updates will soon be implemented to the Nite Ride service to provide more efficient, reliable, and flexible late-night transportation options for students and employees.
The changes, which are a direct response to student feedback and shifting demands, are expected to go into effect at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year (at 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15).
What’s Changing
Nite Ride — the university’s free late-night transportation service operated by Campus Safety — will move to two shuttle buses operating on fixed routes that will include the most frequently requested pick-up and drop-off locations on and near campus. The service will begin operating an hour earlier, running nightly from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Other key updates include:
- Integration with the UI Transit App, allowing riders to track Nite Ride vehicles in real time.
- Elimination of the current Nite Ride mobile app: Passengers will no longer need to request rides and can instead board at any of the designated stops by swiping a valid University of Iowa ID.
- Discontinuation of Nite Ride Express, which offered $1 door-to-door service, in favor of an expanded Hawk Vouchers program. Students will now receive five $5 Uber vouchers each semester, valid between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and within a five-mile radius of campus.
“We consistently hear from students that while Nite Ride is appreciated, the wait times and unpredictability of the current system make it difficult to rely on,” says Jillian Arnold, External Chief of Staff for Undergraduate Student Government. “These changes are designed to improve the service to better meet the evolving needs of our campus community.”
A History of Safety and Innovation
Launched in 2007 as a safety initiative for women following sexual assault concerns near campus, Nite Ride was later expanded in 2016 to serve all students, faculty, and staff. Over the years, the service has adapted to changing technologies and student needs, including the 2018 introduction of a mobile app and express ride option.
With wait times now averaging 19 minutes, the proliferation of rideshare services, and student staffing increasingly difficult to maintain, it’s again time to take a fresh approach to better serve students.
“The original goals of Nite Ride remain, but how we achieve them has to evolve,” says Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety Mark Bullock. “With the growing availability of ride-share services in our area and the university’s existing support through the Hawk Vouchers program, we can now focus Nite Ride on providing efficient late-night transit to key campus destinations while offering more flexible off-campus options through Uber.”
Looking Ahead
Campus Safety developed the new Nite Ride route based on ridership data and will continue to work closely with student leaders, the Division of Student Life, and the Parent and Family Council to ensure the changes meet community needs.
Although there will be initial costs associated with adding a new Nite Ride bus, signs, and marketing, university officials expect long-term cost savings through reduced fuel usage, decreased vehicle maintenance, and more predictable staffing.
These changes also align with the university’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan goal of promoting Holistic Well-Being and Success, supporting student and employee well-being by improving access to reliable, safe transportation.
For more information, students and employees are encouraged to visit the UI Transit App and “pin” the Nite Ride routes once they become available.
Additional information, route maps, and FAQs can be found on the Nite Ride page of the Campus Safety website.