Whether you’re car-free, sustainability-minded or tired of circling the parking lots on campus looking for a space, getting to and from campus without a personal vehicle is easy (and easier than driving in most cases).
Missoula and UM accommodate bus and bike travel and provide affordable transportation options. The bus systems are free for everyone, and bike lanes are abundant all over town. Scroll below to get more deets on how to get to and from campus in style:
The Many (Free) Bus Options Available
You’ll never pay to ride public transportation in Missoula. Buses run by the University and the city are completely free to ride and operate throughout the day. Every bus is also equipped with bike carriers, handicapped seats and plenty of room to find a seat. You'll also find the bus drivers to be really friendly.
UDash
The University of Montana operates UDash and runs routes surrounding campus during the weekdays. Student employees often take the wheel of these free buses, offering services roughly every 20 minutes, depending on the line.
Mountain Line
The city of Missoula runs Mountain Line, a past winner of Transit System of the Year. It’s also free and has a much larger radius of routes available. The main transfer stations are downtown and at the Southgate Mall. There are buses that go between the Missoula airport and Bonner with the main commuting areas radiating from downtown.
Transit App
The Transit App is a downloadable app that shows bus routes and schedules for your current location. The app has real time locations of each bus in Missoula and can help plan a trip to a specific destination in town. Riders can see the full schedule of any bus to know when that bus will stop driving for that day.
Hot Tip: Google Maps and other mapping software also integrate real-time bus information, making trip planning with your smartphone easier than ever.
Bus Riding Tips
New to public transportation? No worries -- riding the bus is easy. Check out this video published by Mountain Line on how to board/exit the bus and discover more tips on how to ride smoothly:
Additional Tips:
- Pull the yellow cord when within a block of your desired stop
- If using a bike, mount it on the front of the bus with the rack
- Be seen and be obvious at your stop if you want the bus to stop to pick you up
- Thank the driver for their service!
- When in doubt, ask the driver!
Park and Rides
Typical Parking Situation at UM ^^
For students and people who own a car but want to avoid any parking headaches, you can park in designated parking lots and then take the bus from there to your destination. You can also carpool or bike to these lots and then bring your bike onto the bus.
These park-and-ride parking lots are located by Dornblaser Field and Missoula College. There is a small fee for a parking pass in these lots, but it is minimal compared to campus parking passes and paying for downtown parking.
Biking in Missoula and the University of Montana
Missoula is a very bike-friendly city and has bike lanes on most main roads. If there aren’t bike lanes, there are trails like the Kim-Williams Trail along the Clark Fork for bikers to get anywhere in town.
Free Cycles
Free Cycles is a non-profit institution in Missoula for all bicycle riders. Fix, repair or find a new (free) bike at this community hangout, and make some new friends while you’re at it. If you want to plug into the bicycling community, this is a good place to start.
Bikes on Campus
The University of Montana has a Bike Garage located by the Rec Center for bike maintenance. There are bike mechanics available for minor repairs most weekdays. ASUM transportation also has bike rental options for students that include a bike, a U Lock, a helmet, and lights for visibility.
Accessibility with Lock Areas and Tune-Up Stations
The UM campus has many areas for students to lock their bikes up as well as tune-up stations free to use. These tune-up locations allow students to adjust their seat height and pump up their tires if needed. There are also many covered areas for bikes scattered around campus.
Missoula Bike Map
Special Shuttles
A few special shuttles operate throughout the year aimed to make life easier. Check them out yourself:
- Football game shuttles during Griz Football season (Redline Route)
- Ski shuttles to Snowbowl
- Concert shuttles to the Washington Grizzly Stadium when applicable (Redline Route)
- Farmers Market Shuttle during the summer
Madison Knapp is a Creative Writing major at the University of Montana who is also minoring in French. She is a car-free student from Bellingham, Washington, and has thoroughly enjoyed her time at UM. She is also a DHC student and a proud member of the Grizzly Marching Band.
