Alternative Transportation

Virginia Tech: No Car, No Problem

Blacksburg Transit

• Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff make up 95% of the ridership of Blacksburg Transit.
• The bus system is tailored to fit the needs of Virginia Tech Students.
• Riding the BT is fare-free for Virginia Tech students.
• Virginia Tech students also have unlimited access to all BT routes.
• Blacksburg Transit now has bicycle racks on all of its buses, so bring your bike to campus.
• Blacksburg Transit has been named one of the ten best small transit systems in North America.
• For more information about BT call 540-961-1185 or visit their website.

Ride sharing with GoLoco

Virginia Tech has partnered with GoLoco, a service that helps people quickly arrange ride sharing between friends, neighbors, and colleagues. GoLoco also handles online payments from passengers to drivers for their share of the trip costs.

• Share costs with everyone traveling in the car
• See friends and make more friends
• Save the planet by cutting the per person CO₂ emissions in half or more, for each and every trip.

Visit GoLoco to learn more.

Blacksburg-Roanoke (SmartWay) Shuttle

The SmartWay shuttle provides service to residents between the Roanoke Valley and the Virginia Tech Campus. The new bright blue buses provide express service between Squires (Alumni Mall inbound side) and Campbell Court with just five stops along the way: Christiansburg K-Mart, the Park and Ride Lots at exits 118A and 140 off of Route 81, Roanoke Regional Airport, and the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. The service runs Monday through Saturday. Buses arrive and leave about every 90 minutes throughout the day. The fare is just $3 each way.

Monthly passes are available to Virginia Tech faculty, staff and students for $75 -- $25 off of the normal price courtesy of a Transporation and Campus Services subsidy. On the 15th of each month the next month's passes will become available (i.e. on July 15 you can purchase an August pass; on August 15 you can purchase a September pass, etc.). Purchase monthly passes at one of the Parking Services offices. You must present your Hokie Passport at the time of purchase. Only one pass can be purchased per month per person. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted for pass purchase. Debit cards will not be accepted. For more information about purchasing a discounted Smart Way pass contact Debby Freed at 540-231-0248.

For those traveling to the airport and returning on Sunday, a special transfer is available which allows passengers to travel back on the Roanoke/Blacksburg Airport Shuttle for just $3 (regularly priced at $30!).

For updates, schedules and further information, visit the SmartWay website or call their toll free number at 1-800-388-7005. Schedules are also available in the Squires Student Center or by calling Transporation and Campus Services at 231-0248.

Bring Your Bike

• The closest parking space to your dormitory, classroom, or office is a bike rack.
• The campus has bike trails, bike lanes, and a shared pathway, as illustrated by the VT bike trail map (784 kb PDF). The sidewalk on the dormitory side of Washington Street is a Shared Pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians, from the corner of Kent Street to the intersection with Duckpond Drive. Remember: yield to pedestrians, they always have the right of way.
• All Blacksburg Transit buses are equipped with bicycle racks, to add to the ease of biking on campus and in Blacksburg.
• Online bicycle registration is a free service provided by the Virginia Tech Police Department.
• Please see the bicycling page for more information.

Questions? Comments?

Contact us at dfreed@vt.edu or 231-0248.