Parking and Transportation
Parking and Transportation Services
508 Thompson Street
Phone: 764-8291
Web: Parking and Transportation Services
E-mail: umpark@umich.edu
Very little parking is available for student use, and students are strongly advised to not bring cars to campus. Each year, a limited number of spaces are allocated for graduate student use. Most student parking is located off-site and requires a bus or shuttle ride to core campus areas. Costs vary, depending on the parking location.
Student Orange Permit
This permit is available to juniors, seniors and Graduate Students. It allows parking in Orange lot locations on North and South Campus, but not those on the Medical Campus.
Student Yellow Permit
This permit is available only for Graduate Students. It allows parking in certain North or South Campus Yellow or Orange lot locations. Please consult the Parking & Transportation website for a list of lots. It does not permit parking on the Medical Campus.
After Hours Permit
This permit is for Graduate Students only and allows parking in any Blue lot area from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Student Orange OR Student Yellow / After Hours Permit
This permit is a dual permit combining the Student Orange OR Student Yellow Permit and the After Hours Permit. It combines the privileges of the Orange or Yellow Permit with those of the After Hours Permit, excluding parking on the Medical Campus. It also allows parking in Blue lots from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Cars and Driver’s Licenses
Applications for driver’s licenses and auto license plates should be made at a Michigan Secretary of State branch office (2720 Washtenaw Ave., or 353 N. Maple, 888-767-6424). Michigan requires you to purchase Michigan "no-fault" auto insurance if you want to get a Michigan license plate for your car. "No-fault" insurance means your insurance company will pay your claim if you are involved in an accident, regardless of which driver was at fault. If you are from out-of-state, you may keep your home plates and operate on your state’s valid driver’s license.
The state of Michigan requires that seat belts be worn if you are traveling in the front seat of a vehicle newer than 1965. You must carry medical proof if you cannot wear a seat belt.
Michigan Child Car Seat Laws
In the Front Seat
- Under 1 year old: Must be in child car seat facing rear.
- Age 1-8: Must ride in properly installed car seat or booster seat unless 4’ 9”+ tall.
- Age 8-15: Must wear safety belt (driver receives citation).
- Age 16+: Must wear safety belt (driver and child receive citation).
In the Rear Seat
- Under 1 year old: Must be in child car seat facing rear.
- Age 1-8: Must ride in properly installed car seat or booster seat unless 4’ 9”+ tall.
- Age 8-15: Must wear safety belt (driver receives citation).
- Age 16+: No requirement.
Motorcycles
Motorcycle operators in Michigan must have a valid motor vehicle operator license with a motorcycle endorsement. You must carry insurance and wear a helmet. Use of motorcycles in city parks is prohibited. There are free designated motorcycle parking areas in most University Parking structures and some surface lots. Contact Parking Services for information.
Bicycles
Bicycles are a popular means of transportation around campus and there are many bike stands to accommodate parking. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bike thieves, and any bicycle is fair game. Get a case-hardened lock and sturdy chain, and use them at all times. Also, you must register your bike for a small fee ($8.00) on the second floor of City Hall or at bike stores in the city.
If you are interested in recreational cycling, you can get a set of bike route maps for Washtenaw County from any Ann Arbor bike shop. Bicycle riders are required to obey all traffic signs (including one-way streets).
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
2700 South Industrial Highway
Phone: 996-0400
The AATA has routes that serve all of Ann Arbor and some points in Ypsilanti. The fare is $1.50 one way within the City of Ann Arbor. You may also purchase a monthly pass. Schedules and lost and found are located at the AATA Blake Transit Center, 331 S. 4th Ave. You can receive route information by calling 996-0400 or on the AATA web page.
Through the MRide program, active U-M students, faculty, and staff are able to ride on all of AATA’s regularly scheduled fixed-route buses at any time of day, any day of the week without paying a fare by simply showing a valid Mcard ID to the bus driver.
Ann Arbor Bus Depot
116 West Huron
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 662-5511
Greyhound buses use this depot for state-wide and nation-wide routes. Depot hours vary depending on route schedules.
University Bus System
Free buses run at ten- to twenty-minute intervals, depending on the time of day and day of the week, connecting North, Central, Medical, and South campuses. You do not need a U-M ID to ride them. Campus Information Centers, bus shelters, and all buses carry brochures with specific details. The latest route information can always be found on the Parking and Transportation website. University buses are blue and silver or maize and blue.
Taxicabs
- Amazing Blue Taxi, 846-0007
- Ann Arbor Cab, 272-8009
- Blue Cab, 547-2222
- Veterans Cab, 485-7797
- Yellow Cab, 663-3355
Trains
325 Depot St
Phone: 800-872-7245
Air Travel
William G Rogell Dr
Detroit, MI 48242
Phone: 734-AIRPORT
25 miles east on I-94 at Merriman Road
Amazing Blue Taxi and Yellow Cab both offer service to and from Metro Airport. For information or reservations, see phone numbers above.
For $30 round trip (advanced purchase), you can also take the Michigan Flyer to and from Metro Airport. The Ann Arbor bus stop is located at the Four Points Sheraton, 3200 Boardwalk. See http://www.michiganflyer.com for more information.
Before and after U-M breaks, the Michigan Student Assembly offers the airBus, an affordable transportation service to and from Metro Airport, with convenient pick-up and drop-off locations on campus. See http://www.msa.umich.edu/airbus.