Go green and take advantage of UK’s incentive programs
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 19, 2026) – Are you ready to ditch your parking permit and go green with your daily commute?
University of Kentucky Transportation Services is offering new incentives for students and employees who choose to go car-free on campus, with applications now open for the Bike Voucher and Cash Out programs.
Bike Voucher Program: Score $500 for a new ride
Now in its 12th year, the Bike Voucher Program helps students and employees swap four wheels for two by providing $500 in vouchers to use at participating local bike shops. Whether you need a brand-new bike, safety gear, lights, or accessories, this program can help you get rolling.
If you’re worried about rainy or snowy days or know that you’ll need occasional campus trips by car, Participants also receive:
- 10 free single-day parking permits
- The option to purchase up to 40 additional daily permits each fiscal year
In exchange, participants commit to going car-free for two years.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Live off campus
- Have held a parking permit during the previous fiscal year OR
- Be new to the university with a start date of September 2025 or later
Approved participants will begin receiving vouchers starting July 1.
Cash Out Program: Get paid to skip the parking permit
UK Transportation Services’ Cash Out Program rewards eligible UK employees with $200 over the course of a year for choosing alternative transportation instead of purchasing a parking permit.
Participants also receive:
- 10 complimentary single-day parking passes
- Availability to purchase up to 40 additional daily passes if needed
Eligibility
Employees must:
- Have had a 2025-26 parking permit or be newly hired as of September 2025 or later
- Work dayshift assignments on main campus
Only the first 100 qualified applicants will be accepted, so apply early.
Employees may participate in either the Bike Voucher Program or the Cash Out Program, but not both.
More ways to go car-free
Additional alternative transportation opportunities, including Big Blue Cycles and the Semester Bike Lottery, will open this fall.
Need help figuring out the best route to campus without a car? Transportation Services also offers free personalized commute planning to help make the transition easier.
Have questions? Email UK Transportation Services at transportation@uky.edu or call 859-257-5757.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.