Life as a Husker

Navigating Campus

Navigating campus can seem difficult at first with so many buildings, pathways, and parking options. We have many resources to help your student plan ahead and find their way between classes.

To get around and between campuses, students can walk, bike, take the bus, or drive a personal vehicle.

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Nebraska App

The Nebraska app is your one-stop shop for easy campus navigation! Through the app, your student can have all of the following features right in their hand.

Search for campus buildings, bike racks, parking lots and garages
Get walking directions to anywhere on campus
Track campus buses and estimated arrival times
Access their full class schedule
Find exciting events happening around campus
Get UNL alerts and announcements
Easy access to Canvas, MyRED, Incident Reporting, and more!

Parking

If your student will have a car on campus, they can choose among campus parking permits in a perimeter lot (i.e. a lot on the edge of campus, meaning they'll pay less but walk farther), a parking garage, or an on-campus surface lot. Find parking permit options and buy one online via the purchase guide.

Metered parking is also available on and around campus. If students don't purchase a permit for their car but park in time-controlled areas (meters, garages and pay-by-phone lots), they still need to register their car through the parking portal.

Riding the Bus or Biking

StarTran operates bus routes throughout the city and either a bus or van route between all three UNL campuses. Students are required to have a student bus pass to ride. Students receive a bus pass at no additional cost as part of the student transit fees fund.

To register and receive student mobile bus pass:

Access the registration form at https://tokentransit.com//startran/unl-pass
Students should enter their mobile phone number.
Students should enter their NUID number as “Password.”
Click the “Send Pass” button.
The student will receive a text with a link to download the Token Transit app. If already downloaded, go to “My Passes.”
To activate the bus pass on a phone, students should select the app and enter their phone number. A code will be sent to them to complete the activation.
To use, tap the mobile pass on the Token Transit app to activate. Show the moving, animated ticket to the bus driver when boarding.

No pass is required for Parking and Transit Services campus van services, Route 23, running between East Campus and Innovation Campus.

For biking, there are bike rentals via BikeLNK kiosks or through the Outdoor Adventures Center. If students have their own bike, there are bike racks outside of many campus buildings, including residence halls.

Campus Maps

Campus Maps are a great resource for your student to find their way around campus. They can search for campus buildings using the full name or the acronym on their class schedule. They can also track campus buses, find parking and bike racks, and emergency services.

Virtual Campus Tours

Check out these great videos of some of our favorite spots on campus!

What: UNL Parking and Transit Services manages parking and intercampus bus routes.

Where: 625 Stadium Drive, Suite A (purchase the permit online)

How to: Students can find parking permit options and buy one online via the purchase guide. Your student must be enrolled in their first semester of courses to order their permit/bus pass. To learn how to use the bus, check out the rider’s guide.

How much: Parking permits range from $207-$729 per year, depending on location and type. Bus access is provided at no cost due to the payment of student fees. The price of the 9-month permit is subsidized based on date of purchase.

Will all my student's classes be in one building?

Your student's classes will likely be in a variety of buildings each semester. While their major and college might be housed in a certain building, they will take many of their ACE courses and even some of their major-related classes in buildings all around campus.

Does my student need a bus pass?

StarTran bus service, provided through a contract with the City of Lincoln, and University Parking and Transit Service van service connects City, East and Nebraska Innovation campuses. University of Nebraska–Lincoln students receive a bus pass at no additional cost as part of the student transit fees fund. Mobile passes are accessible to students via the Token Transit app.

No pass is required for Parking and Transit Services campus van services, Route 23, running between East Campus and Innovation Campus.

Do students need a car?

Though many students enjoy having their own car to provide the freedom of getting anywhere in and beyond Lincoln quickly, a car is not essential. One of our former orientation leaders, Gabi Modica, is from Chicago, IL, and she didn’t have a car on campus her first year. Here’s what she had to say:

“Cars can be expensive, but biking, walking, and making friends who can drive are not. I have a bike, and I use that a lot. My best advice is to use the many resources available to you: rent or own a bike, ride the bus around aimlessly in your first few weeks to get to know the routes, and put yourself out there to meet locals or other students who have cars.”

What is BikeLNK?

BikeLNK is a bike-sharing service that provides easy access to short-term rental bikes on and around campus. Students can pick up and return their bikes at any BikeLNK station. UNL students can use the code UNLBIKES2425 to get unlimited one-hour rides using the BikeLNK stations for just $25 a year.

Are there useful apps students should have?

Our orientation leaders use Passport Parking (pay/monitor your parking meter), BCycle (BikeLNK’s app), BUSLNK (bus tracking app), Token Transit (bus pass), and Uber or Lyft (both apps are common in Lincoln).

What about shopping or when students have a lot of stuff to haul?

Try using the city bus to reach places like Wal-Mart, Target, or Gateway Mall. Bus stops for those routes are located on or within a couple blocks of the south side of City Campus. You can search routes on the StarTran site.