Commuter Student Involvement
All graduate students are commuters, thus the Off Campus Student Involvement is one of the most useful resources on campus. For help understanding your transportation options in the area, see the above link. For regular updates, subscribe to the Commuter Listserv.
Commuting by Bicycle
Fix Your Bike
Outdoor Recreation located in the Cole Field House has a fully equipped bike shop complete with staff to show you how to fix your bike. You pay for any replacement parts, but access to the tools and expertise is FREE.
Support for Bikers
The Department of Transportation Services has provided a lot of resources for bikers. Please click here to know more.
Register Your Bike
The Department of Public Safety's police staff will register your bike for free. Just go to their headquarters on Route 1 at Rossborough Lane. For additional information on registering your bicycle please call them at 301-405-3555.
Commuting by Car
Commuter Student Carpool Program
Student Carpool Program Participation in the student carpool program, SMART PARK, will reduce the cost of the parking permit fee. The amount of the reduction is determined by the number of participants (two to four students) in the carpool. For more information, go to the above link.
Car Rental Services
Zipcar car-rental services. Zipcars are located near Metro stations and allow you to borrow cars as needed. If you don't want to pay for gas, insurance, maintenance or car payments, but occasionally need a car, this might work for you.
Car Repairs
Repairing Your Car Are you familiar with the NPR car maintenance show Car Talk? They have a service called the Mechan X- Files that lists auto shops recommended by their viewers.
Complaints about Auto Service
Have you received poor service or think your current mechanic is ripping you off? Get some help from Graduate Legal Aid or consult the Maryland Attorney General Office of Consumer Protection at consumer@oag.state.md.us or through their hotline at 410-528-8662 or 888-743-0023.
Campus Motor Vehicle Assistance
Need a jump start, gas transports, tire inflation, or lockout? All are all free for current students, faculty, staff or visitor on the College Park campus. NOT offered on weekends. (301) 314 - 4CAR.
Register Car, Obtain Maryland Driver's License
The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has a full-service station in Beltsville. It is located at 11760 Baltimore Avenue (Route 1). Their hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for all services and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon for Driver's License Services only. 800-950-1MVA. Do your homework on their web site before you visit the office. It's an extremely bureaucratic system and the process of getting anything done can be a very time-consuming.
Commuting by Train
The Metrorail System (Metro) is the primary public transportation provider in the DC area and Metrorail is DC's version of the New York's Subway or London's Underground. It provides service to the DC-area including parts of Virginia and Maryland.
Not sure how to get from point A to point B? Use Metro's Trip Planner.
Information on non-Metro commuter trains can be found on the Off Campus Student Involvement pages.
Commuting by Bus
Shuttle UM is the university's bus system servicing campus and the surrounding areas. For more information, select the above link. For those of you that live in Graduate Hills and Graduate Gardens use the new Gold Line. Frequency of service on the Gold route is 15-20 minutes depending on the time of day. It will run every 20 minutes before 7 PM and every 15 minutes after 7 PM.
The campus is also served by numerous regional and county bus services.
Airports
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Currently the only airport serviced by Metrorail (yellow/blue lines). Takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to get there from campus by Metro.
Dulles International (IAD)
The airport furthest from campus that also has the most international flights. The Washington Flyer bus travels between the West Falls Church Metro Station and the airport (costs $10 one-way, $18 round-trip).
Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
The nearest airport to campus and a hub for discount flyer Southwest. BWI Express Metro Bus runs from the airport to the Greenbelt Metro Station every 40 minutes and costs $3.00 (You will need exact change). Travel time is about 45 minutes to 1 hour.