SafeRide
The Parking & Transportation Office operates MIT's safety shuttle service, known as SafeRide. SafeRide provides a safe means of transportation at night within and around the MIT campus and to some Boston neighborhoods where MIT students live. This is a free service and is available to all members of the MIT community who have an MIT Kerberos account.
SafeRide operates two schedules: a regular schedule when classes are in session and a holiday/summer schedule. Hours of operation are from 6 PM to 2:30 AM Sunday through Wednesday and 6 PM to 3:30 AM Thursday through Saturday.
SafeRide shuttles switch from a fixed-route to an OnDemand mode at 11 PM each night. Please note that “last call” for an on-demand ride will be 30 minutes before the end of service. Also note that the Boston East fixed-route shuttle has been extended and now operates until 1 AM daily during the academic year.
| Schedule overview | ||
| SafeRide Mode | Sun-Wed | Thurs-Sat |
| Fixed-route mode | 6 PM – 11 PM* | 6 PM – 11 PM* |
| OnDemand mode | 11 PM – 2:30 AM
Note: Last call 2:00 AM |
11 PM – 3:30 AM
Note: Last call 3:00 AM |
*Please note: The Boston East fixed-route shuttle operates until 1 AM daily during the academic year.
How OnDemand works
During the OnDemand mode, instead of waiting at a shuttle stop, members of the MIT community who need a safe ride can use the TransLoc Rider mobile app or online service to request a pickup and drop-off at locations within the designated SafeRide zone. In OnDemand mode, a 14-passenger van will provide door-to-door transportation similar to Uber or Lyft.
SafeRide hours of operation and zones
Fixed-route mode
SafeRide shuttles carry riders between designated shuttle stops at scheduled intervals along a fixed route (view maps below for routes, stop locations, and schedules).
Schedule
Sunday-Saturday, 6 PM – 11 PM*
Academic year: route maps/schedule
- Campus PDF or realtime schedule
- Cambridge East & Somerville PDF or realtime schedule
- Cambridge West & Brookline PDF or realtime schedule
- Boston East* PDF or realtime schedule
*Please note: The Boston East fixed-route shuttle operates until 1 AM daily during the academic year.
Holiday/summer: route maps/schedule
- Campus-Boston PDF or realtime schedule
- Somerville-Brookline PDF or realtime schedule
The holiday/summer routes are in effect during the following breaks:
- Spring 2019: March 25 - 29
- Summer 2019: June 1 - August 24
- Winter 2019: December 21 - January 21, 2020
Please note that inclement weather, vehicle maintenance, and heavy traffic conditions may affect the times listed on the schedules.
The SafeRide vehicles are driven by employees of our parking and transportation vendor, SP+, who maintain direct communication with the SafeRide Office and the MIT Police.
The SafeRide service has designated a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for each route. These vehicles are available on-call to anyone who requires this service during the scheduled hours.
OnDemand mode
A rider requests a pickup at a location within the pickup zone via the TransLoc Rider app or online service. Shuttles travel to in-zone locations as requested by riders. No set pickup times, no set route. Shuttle goes where needed, when needed within the designated zone.
Schedule
Sunday–Wednesday, 11 PM to 2:30 AM (Request by 2:00 AM)
Thursday–Saturday, 11 PM to 3:30 AM (Request by 3:00 AM)
Zone map (full year)
- OnDemand zone map (PDF)
- Note that the OnDemand mode schedule and zone will remain the same all year, with no separate schedule or zone for holidays/summer.
Using the SafeRide OnDemand Service
- Request a pickup using the TransLoc Rider app or the online program (if you don’t already have it, download the TransLoc Rider app or visit the TransLoc Rider site to access the program).
- When you login to the app or program, bypass the “username / password / create account” fields and choose “MIT Transit” from the list of universities. Note: To connect correctly with MIT’s OnDemand service, you should always login by choosing “MIT Transit” instead of entering a username and password.
- First-time users will be prompted to create an account. View the step-by-step guide on the FAQ page.
- The app or program will guide you through the process of selecting pickup and drop-off locations. View the step-by-step guide on requesting a pickup.
Contact information
- For any shuttle service questions, call 617-253-1440 or email shuttles@mit.edu.
- Students may also contact the Office of the Dean for Student Life with general concerns and questions. Call Judy Robinson, Senior Associate Dean for Residential Education, at 617-253-4052.
