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Transportation on The Hill
Published July 20, 2025
If you’ve ever been to CU, or even just Boulder for that matter, you’ve probably noticed that people get around in more ways than you can imagine. That’s exactly how I felt as a freshman, and honestly, how most new students feel. From BCycles and Lime scooters to RTD buses, electric skateboards, and e-bikes, the transportation options are everywhere. I remember thinking, “What even is that?”. I didn’t know how any of it worked, and I definitely wasted a lot of time walking and figuring it out. So here’s the transportation cheat sheet I wish I had when I first got to CU Boulder.
BCycles
To start off, Boulder’s most notorious mode of travel around and off campus is the BCycle. BCycles are the black and white half electric bikes parked at stations around campus, The Hill, Pearl Street, and all the way to Will Vill.
BCycles are often used by freshmen getting from campus to The Hill. They’re convenient for everyone. Have a haircut on Pearl? BCycle. Heading home from class back to Will Vill? BCycle. Just want to ride to class instead of walk? BCycle has you covered. The best part is they are FREE for students for up to 1 hour at a time. And by free, I mean it’s included in the thousands of dollars in the tuition bill. Just download the BCycle app and log in as a student, and I guarantee you there will be a time you find it incredibly helpful.
Lime Scooters
Lime scooters are new to Boulder as of 2024. These lime green and white scooters are parked at stations on The Hill, Pearl Street, and areas surrounding campus. That’s the big catch, they are not on campus and you cannot ride them through campus. That being said, they’re still extremely useful for getting around other parts of Boulder. You unlock them through the Lime app and pay per minute (super cheap, like $5 for a 20-minute ride). They're super convenient on The Hill and honestly just fun. You’ll see them parked all over, and yes, you’ll also see fraternity pledges cruising around on them.
BYOV (Bring Your Own Vehicle)
CU is very skate friendly. Many students use regular skateboards or electric skateboards to get across campus. The route from The Hill down to campus is all downhill and you’ll see people flying to class every morning (hopefully not falling, but watch the crack from sidewalk to road outside the Rec Center.)
Using your own bike is another great option. CU is all about having your own bike. Not only do they have bike paths around campus, they also have stations where you can get FREE service on your bike. There are stations outside multiple buildings, this is where you can get air for your tires, grease your chain, or get new brakes or tires if needed.
Bikes are very susceptible to being stolen however. Make sure you get a good quality “U” lock (they sell them at the UMC Bookstore) or even consider buying a cheaper used bike for school. There’s not much purpose in taking your brand new mountain bike to your 9:30 a.m. class. You can actually register your bike through the school so if it gets lost, there’s a chance it can be found.
Having a car in Boulder is NOT necessary at all. One of the greatest things about going to CU is how close everything is. Your freshman year especially you do not need a car. Sophomore through senior year? Sure, it’s nice if you live off campus, especially if you’re farther away. But you can absolutely survive without one. If anything, it’s a bonus. You don’t need to rely on a ride to go skiing, you can drive to get groceries, and you can head to Lost Gulch (top of the Flatirons) whenever you want. Overall, not necessary but nice as an upperclassman.
RTD Buses & Buff Bus
CU gives you a free RTD bus pass as part of your student ID. If you live in Williams Village or East Campus, you’ll use the Buff Bus every day. It runs constantly and gets you to main campus fast. There are also fun named RTD buses like the Hop, Skip, and Jump that take you to Pearl Street, the 29th Street Mall, and other spots around town.
If you're trying to get to DIA (Denver International Airport), you can use RTD too. Just look up routes through the RTD or Transit app and you’re good to go. In the winter, CU offers an RTD ski bus that goes to Eldora, Copper, and Winter Park Ski Resort. It's not the fastest, but it gets the job done if you’re trying to hit the slopes without dropping tons of money on a car.
Conclusion
Walking will always be an option. Especially as a freshman. Luckily, the dorms are right near where most of your classes will be. Overall though, taking a ride on your skateboard, scooter, bike, or bus can be incredibly useful throughout college, and I guarantee you will find yourself using more than one of those options at some point during your years in Boulder.