Campus buses 101: Everything you need to know
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 16, 2023) — The first few days of a new semester can be challenging. How do you navigate a campus that you may not be familiar with, and arrive at class on time? One easy answer is to take advantage of free campus buses.
The University of Kentucky, in partnership with the Lexington Transit Authority (Lextran), operates several on-campus bus routes designed to make it easy for students, staff, faculty and visitors to quickly access the entire campus. It’s free to ride, and you’re not required to show your Wildcat ID on campus routes. Just hop aboard at any bus stop or shelter.
To get off at the stop you need, simply tell the driver, “Next stop please,” or pull the cord located above the window at your seat to alert the driver that you need to get off at the next stop. All campus buses are ADA-compliant.
Track buses in real-time
Track the buses in real-time by downloading the TransLoc app, UK’s GPS-based bus tracking system. Visit uky.transloc.com or download the free TransLoc app for Android and iPhones.
Campus Routes at-a-Glance
Blue and White (Route 14)
Most students will primarily use the Blue and White routes which operate from 6:45 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday. These two routes circle the perimeter of campus all day, in opposite directions. The Blue Route runs clockwise from Kroger Field to the west along Limestone. The White Route runs counterclockwise from Kroger Field along University Drive.
Green
The Green Route is a connector route that primarily serves the Greg Page and Shawneetown residential areas to the Kroger Field bus shelter, where students can then transfer to the Blue and White Routes. It can also be used by those who park in the Commonwealth Drive or College Way lots to get to the Kroger Field Blue Lot Bus Shelter.
Yellow (Route 27)
Yellow Route buses operate on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to midnight, providing students with service from Kroger Field to all major campus residence areas as well as the Gatton Student Center, W.T. Young Library and The 90.
Orange (UK HealthCare)
The Orange Route primarily serves UK HealthCare employees, but is also available for use by students. These buses operate from 5 a.m. to midnight between the Orange Lot and the UK HealthCare campus.
On-Demand Night Bus
An On-Demand Night Bus service is available from midnight to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. These buses must be requested at least 30 minutes in advance. Riders can call 859-221-RIDE (7433) to make a pick-up request.
Free City-Wide Transit
Lextran and UK Transportation Services offers Free City Transit for all UK students, staff and faculty. If you want to venture beyond campus, you can ride any Lextran bus for free simply by showing your UK Wildcat ID. Commuters can also take advantage of free Lextran routes to travel to campus, instead of driving and parking. For more information on Lextran routes and schedules, visit www.lextran.com.
Bikes and buses
All campus buses have bike racks on the front. If you’re riding a bike, you can attach it to the bus rack and hop aboard. If you’re concerned about doing this for the first time, practice beforehand on a stationary bus rack located at Wildcat Wheels Bicycle Library in Blazer Dining.
Lose something?
If you inadvertently leave something on a bus, contact lost and found. For Blue or White Route buses, contact Lextran Lost and Found. For items left on a Green or Orange Route bus, contact UK Transportation Services by email at: UKbuses@lsv.uky.edu.
Inclement weather or other emergencies and holidays
Campus bus service during emergency closures or delays is contingent upon campus conditions. For more details about bus service during delays, closures, and early dismissal, visit this page.
Bus service also changes during official university holidays and academic breaks. Detailed announcements about schedule changes are made in advance. Follow UK Transportation Services on Twitter @UKParking, and sign up for our e-news to ensure that you receive the latest information.
Still have questions?
Contact UKBuses@lsv.uky.edu with any questions or concerns. If you’re living off campus and need assistance determining the best Lextran route to get to campus, request Commute Planning assistance from UK Transportation Services.
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 health care. 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 $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.