Welcome to Alternative Transportation
This page summarizes the alternative commuting options available through UNM Parking and Transportation Services and our partner organizations. If you have additional questions after reviewing the information included or linked below, we have staff dedicated to helping you review all the choices and make the selection that best fits your needs. For more information, call 505 277-0461 and talk to one of our alternative transportation coordinators.
Visit the TIC:Your One-Stop-Shop for Transportation Alternative
Grand Opening: Tuesday November 24 at 10am
Free Coupon Book for first 200 customers!
Every day unassuming vehicle owners are encouraged to do something with their automobiles; drive them, put gas in them, take them for super sparkly car washes, choose the cutest mascot for the cheapest car insurance, trade them in, buy a new one, lease to own, $500 cash back, no credit-no problem, and the endless parade of airwave and idiot box one-liners that are committed to memory for no reason other than catchy advertising. In this inundated market focused on automobile use, it is striking when the message becomes one that encourages decreased car use.
Get out of your car. You don’t need a car all the time.
And that’s exactly the message coming from The University of New Mexico (UNM) Department of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS). Promoting alternative transportation is not new to PATS; but on Tuesday, November 10, the UNM community is going to see a first-of-a-kind tribute to alternative transportation – the grand opening of a Transportation Information Center (TIC) in the UNM Student Union Building. Wholeheartedly dedicated to promoting and enhancing alternative transportation, the TIC seeks to encourage the UNM community to spend less time in their vehicles.
“The TIC will make alternative transportation more visible on UNM’s campus and will provide information necessary to make alternative transportation more accessible,� said Cynthia Martin, PATS’ Program Planning Manager. “We know there are people in the UNM community who use alternative transportation exclusively to commute; we also know there is a larger group of people who are interested in alternative transportation, but for whatever reason, whether it be lack of information or inexperience or scheduling conflicts, don’t take advantage of the programs available to them at UNM.�
And there is a full platform of programs available to UNM users. UNM students, staff, and faculty receive free ABQRide bus passes to be used anytime and to anywhere within the ABQRide system; PATS provides a shuttle twice-daily between the UNM campus and NM Railrunner landing in downtown Albuquerque; secure bicycle storage is available through PATS’ bicycle locker program; and Zipcar, a national car-sharing service, is available to UNM and the community, with three cars available to use and rent by the hour available right on campus. Â
“We want to demonstrate that alternative transportation can in fact be useable and even convenient. By mixing modes of transportation, for example using the bus and using Zipcar for errands or appointments, there is a lot of flexibility and convenience available to people who want to take advantage of alternative transportation,� said Martin. “Plus, you can save a lot of money not only in reduced fuel costs, but in reduced maintenance from less wear and tear on your vehicle.�
The TIC will not only provide information about the programs available and how to use them, but will provide a unique trip-planning service to customers. People who visit the TIC can receive custom one-on-one trip-planning advice from staff at the kiosk. By providing a starting point and a destination, staff at the kiosk will work with customers to choose the best combination of alternative transportation to meet their transportation needs. Staff at the TIC will also show customers how to take advantage of online tools like the ABQRide automatic trip-planner so they can use alternative transportation with confidence at any time.
Funded by the Student Fee Review Board, Student Affairs, PATS and additionally supported by the New Mexico Student Union Administration, the TIC came out of collaboration between PATS and undergraduate and graduate student government.
“Last year in an Associated Students of UNM survey, transportation was rated as the number one concern of students at UNM so when we pitched this project the students were very interested,� said Martin. “We are pleased to collaborate with students on alternative transportation initiatives.�
Alternative transportation at UNM has its roots in both the desire of UNM to be more “green� and also the desire of PATS to provide access to the University for students, staff, faculty, and visitors.
“Access is the core of our mission; alternative transportation provides an opportunity to increase access to the University through the cost-effective and cost-free programs available. In many ways, alternative transportation provides socially equitable access to the University and that’s important.� Said Martin.
Alternative transportation also has a practical application for PATS.
“The University is growing and it often grows on parking lots. With fewer spaces available, alternative transportation not only reduces traffic and congestion around campus but also reduces the number of parking spaces needed to support the University,� said Martin.
UNM is the number one single largest destination in the entire state. Martin says alternative transportation plays a key role in balancing the parking and transportation challenges for UNM and also in enhancing community air-quality.
“We know alternative transportation is not going to work for everyone, but there are a lot of people that can use it to come to campus, even just some of the time,� said Martin. “The less people use cars and the more they use alternative transportation, the better our community air-quality will be.�
The TIC will open in the Student Union Building (Plaza Level) very soon. Regular hours will be Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PATS Veggie Bus
Our WVO-burning miracle takes to the road.
Lobo Bikes
Does your department qualify for one of our superlative cycles?WVO-burning miracle takes to the road.
Alternative Transportation Brochure
Our goals and aims.
Free Bus Travel
Discounted Rail Runner Passes for Students - read the Daily Lobo article
UNM and CNM students can now get a 50% discount on commuter fares between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. This cuts the basic fare from $8 to $4 and represents a powerful incentive on the part of NM Rail Runner to persuade students to use alternative forms of transportation.
Coupled with the free ABQ Ride bus pass, there has never been a better time for students to consider abandoning completely the traditional mode of single-vehicle-occupancy transportation. As Lawrence Rael, Director of the Council of Governments for the Rail Runner stated: "Getting on the train to Albuquerque for $4 and getting on the Rapid Ride for free all over the city - that's a heck of a good savings," continuing "That's specifically put in place so that people don't have to pay twice for two different forms of public transportation. We're trying to make it as seamless as possible."
Zipcar
Short-term car-hire, on-campus.
Car Pooling and Permit Sharing
Revolutionize your commuting habits while saving the planet! Well, it's a start. Find out how you can hook up with up to 8 fellow commuters on a single permit.
ABQ Ride Site
The one-stop-shop for Albuquerque's municipal transit system. Contains information on bus schedules, route-planning, events, etc., as well as alternate commuting resources including:
Guaranteed Ride Home
ABQ Ride provides a comprehensive emergency ride service for everyone who registers as using alternative transportation. In th event of an emergency and/or with no other means of transportation, a driver and vehicle is personally despatched to the subscriber to get them to their stated destination.
Walking/Cycling
ABQ Ride provides maps of cycle routes. Call: 234-RIDE for information.
Pooling Resources Blog
Nationwide blog for vehicle poolers.
BikeIt!
Our bike info resource.
NM Railrunner
If you live along the Interstate 25 corridor, consider using the New Mexico Rail Runner. UNM shuttles offer complimentary Rail Runner connections during the morning and afternoon rush hours. ABQ Ride provides free service from the train station to UNM, just show your ticket or monthly pass. You can also bring your bike on the train and bike to campus from the station. For train schedules and information, visit www.nmrailrunner.com or call 245-RAIL. For information on UNM's shuttle connections, visit transportation.
For bus routes and schedules visit ABQ Ride.
For Northern New Mexico city-to-city commuting, visit All Aboard America.
Air-Powered Car
It's not quite the hover-cars and silver foil jump suits that we were all promised, but you never know.
