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Getting to Eugene
Free Bus Pass
Get Home Safe
When You First Arrive | Biking in the U.S. | Public Transportation | Rideshare Apps | Get Home Safe | Vehicles & Driving
Eugene Campus Students
Getting to Eugene by Air
If you are arriving by air, it is highly recommended to book flights to the Eugene Airport (EUG). While you may find flights to Portland International Airport (PDX) to be cheaper, there are no convenient ways to get from PDX to Eugene. Please note that Groome used to offer a shuttle service, however this service is no longer available and may still be suggested on some websites.
Eugene Airport (EUG)
The Eugene airport is located 20-minutes from downtown Eugene and 25-minutes from campus.
- Homestay Program: If you signed up for the homestay program, your host family will pick you up at the airport. Be sure to communicate with them so they know when you are coming.
- Transportation to campus or hotel:
- Take Uber or Lyft
- Take a hotel shuttle by calling to reserve prior to your arrival
Getting to Eugene from Downtown Portland
If you are planning to spend time in Portland before arriving in Eugene, there is a train and bus from downtown Portland to Eugene. *Note that is not recommended if you are traveling straight from the Portland International Airport to Eugene as cost and service times are not advantageous.
Learn more about ground transportation options to travel beyond Eugene.
Portland Campus Students
Getting to Portland by Air
Portland International Airport (PDX)
The Portland airport is located 20-minutes from downtown Portland and 10-minutes from campus.
- Homestay Program: If you signed up for the homestay program, your host family may be able to pick you up at the airport. Be sure to communicate with them so they know when you are coming.
- Transportation to campus or hotel:
- Take Uber or Lyft
- Take a hotel shuttle by calling to reserve prior to your arrival
Eugene and Portland are some of the best cities in the US for biking and have extensive networks of dedicated and shared bike paths. Biking is a quick and affordable way to get around and is popular among our graduate students.
Eugene & Springfield Biking Resources
UO Outdoor Program - Biking
City of Eugene Biking Resources
Portland Biking Resources
Travel Portland - Bicycle Map & Where to Ride
City of Portland Biking Resources
Visit the UO Outdoor Program
The UO Bike Program offers a wide variety of online resources for Eugene and Portland students and in-person in Eugene in the EMU, from fix-it classes to biking trips, to getting you started:
- Find the right bike for you
- Get outfitted (clothing, lights, locks, and other accessories)
- Plan for the weather
- Register your bike
- Know the laws
- Keep your bike secure
Prevent Bike Theft
Review the Safety and Security page to learn about the best ways to lock your bike to keep it safe!
Bike Safety
While biking is a great way to get around quickly and conveniently, it can be dangerous as you share road space with fast moving vehicles and other obstacles. Protect yourself by staying alert and aware of your surroundings, making sure you are visible to everyone around you, wearing a helmet, biking predictably, and following all laws.
- Bike in the street, not in the sidewalk. Use bike lanes when available.
- You are allowed to bike on the sidewalk, but give pedestrians the right of way.
- “Sharrows” are painted on the street for bikes to claim the entire lane. These show where bikes are encouraged to use the entire lane to avoid hitting car doors.
- Use the entire lane if needed. In Oregon, bikes can use the full lane.
- Bike predictably. Bike in a straight line and don't weave between cars.
- Wear a helmet. Reduce the risk of serious injury in an accident.
- Use bike lights at night. Have a front and back light for when it is starting to get dark and at night. It is a good idea to also wear bright or reflective clothing.
- Stop and look. Stop at stop signs and stop lights.
- Signal your turns. Use hand signals when turning.
- Follow the flow. Bike in the direction of traffic.
- Check your route. Come in to the bike shop to get the Eugene Bike Map to find the best paths or streets to ride on.
Bike Shares & Rentals
In Eugene and Portland, there are networks of bikes and scooters that can be located, reserved, and rented via an app. This is an easy, affordable, and fun way to get around and explore the city!
Eugene
PeaceHealth Rides: Special discounts are available to UO students, faculty, and staff.
Portland
BIKETOWN PDX: E-bikes or scooters can be found and reserved via the BIKETOWN or LYFT app.
Several electric scooter companies, such as Lime, Skip and Bird, are seasonally available for rent.
Eugene & Springfield
UO students have access to a free bus pass in Eugene. Lane Transit District (LTD) uses Umo to validate fare and riders will need to show a valid pass in the Umo App or use a Touchpass tap card.
LTD's Emerald Express (EmX): is a rapid bus transit system connecting west Eugene to the Gateway area in Springfield. Each stop or station in the EmX line offers raised platforms for ease of board, fare machines, and at most station real-time signs to help you anticipate the next bus.
Ride the Bus! LTD operates more than two dozen bus routes in Lane County, all of which are included in the UO pass.
Portland
Hop Fastpass: a transit fare card for TriMet, C-TRAN, and Portland Streetcar.
TriCounty Metropolitan District of Oregon: is the bus and light rail train system for the Portland metropolitan area. The 75, 8, and 17 bus lines both stop near campus. The Max Yellow line runs from downtown up through NE Portland along I-5.
C-TRAN: Clark Country transit including Express commuter service to downtown Portland and connections to the nearest light rail station.
Portland Street Car: Serving Portland's central city with zero-emission transit every day.
Uber and Lyft are widely available in Eugene and Portland and are considered a safe and secure way to get around the city. Rides can be reserved using each companies app.
UO Uber Programs
The Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) funds the UO Uber Program, offering rideshare vouchers for UO students. These programs are subject to change.
Night Rides
- Up to 4 rides per month
- $7 discount per ride
- Every day, 12:00 AM to 7:30 AM
- Ride must start or end in the coverage area (see map)
Healthcare Rides
- Non-emergency transport only. In case of emergency, call 911
- Up to 2 rides per month
- $25 discount per ride
- Every day, all hours
- Rides must start/end within the program boundary (see map) and also start/end at a designated healthcare facility:
- PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend: 3333 Riverbend Dr, Springfield, OR 97477
- McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center: 1460 G St, Springfield, OR 97477
- Planned Parenthood: 3579 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403
Rideshare Safety Tips
- Verify your ride by making sure the license plate number, driver information, and car make and model match what you see in the app.
- Share your location and route with a friend or loved one from within the Uber app so they can follow your ride in real time.
- Follow the Uber vehicle on GPS via the app.
- Ask the driver to say who they are picking up.
- Learn more about how to ride smart with Uber.
- To keep traffic through campus as safe and smooth as possible, Transportation Services has designated campus spots for ride-hail pickups. Drivers can only accept fares for the designated locations.
Eugene
Duck Rides
Portland
Safe Walk
Driver's License
As a visitor, you can legally drive in Oregon if you have a valid driver license from:
- Any U.S. State or territory
- The District of Columbia
- A Canadian Province or another country
You are considered a visitor if:
- Your permanent residence is outside Oregon
- You are in the military stationed in Oregon
- You are attending school in Oregon and are paying non-resident tuition
- You do not plan to take any steps to become a resident of Oregon
You can apply for an Oregon Driver’s License from the DMV.
Car Buying & Ownership
Car ownership can be expensive. In addition to the cost of buying a car, you will need to pay annual registration fees, car insurance, and parking fees. However, cars allow you the freedom to explore the natural wonders Oregon has to offer.
Registration & License Plates
If you have or plan to buy a car, you need to register it and get license plates at the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) Offices.
Car Insurance
In Oregon, it is illegal to drive without liability insurance coverage. You must give your insurance policy number every time you register a vehicle.
The minimum insurance a driver must have is:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others
- $20,000 per crash for damage to others’ property
Personal injury protection:
- $15,000 per person
- Uninsured motorist
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per crash for bodily injury
There are many major insurance companies including AAA, Allstate, State Farm, Progressive and Liberty Mutual. Shop around and consider different insurance companies because prices vary. Ask the company if they offer special discounts for a good driving record or for students.
Parking
Almost all parking at the University of Oregon requires some type of payment or permit. There are two main types of parking on campus: Hourly parking and Permit parking. The majority of parking on campus is managed through license plate recognition, so you will need to know your vehicle's license plate before getting a permit or paying for hourly parking. Please make sure that your license plate information is correct and follow all parking rules and posted signs to avoid a parking ticket. No parking is allowed on campus between the hours of 12am - 5am, except with an appropriate overnight permit.
Car Share Apps
Car Share apps provides short-term rentals of vehicles in Eugene and Portland. Rentals are typically by the hour or by the day, for a convenient, affordable, and flexible option for errands, grocery shopping or longer trips to explore Oregon.
Zipcar: is the University of Oregon's on-campus car share partner. UO students, faculty, and staff have access to a reduced cost membership when they sign up using their UO email.
GoForth: is a membership program that offers electric vehicles, which can be rented by the hour or the day.
Disclaimer: This list is provided for informational purposes only and does not serve as an endorsement by the University of Oregon. Students are encouraged to use their own good judgement when evaluating transportation methods
Questions?
If you have any other questions, email us at gegradstudies@uoregon.edu. We look forward to speaking with you!