Evening Shuttle Provides 200,000+ Annual Rides, with Shorter Wait Times
For the third year in a row, the service provided over 200,000 safe rides for Columbians over the academic year and averaged under a 15-minute wait time.
During the 2023-2024 academic year Columbia’s Evening Shuttle service, powered by Via, completed 204,950 rides. This brings the total to over 670,000 since the service's inception in June of 2020. The shuttle, which runs each evening until 3 a.m. within a coverage area surrounding the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses provides free and safe rides home during evening hours for Columbia affiliates.
Out of over 9,700 riders who provided a rating, 91% rated the service 5 out of 5 stars.
Despite continuous growth in demand, the Evening Shuttle's estimated time of arrival (ETA) average for the year was 14.5 minutes. Even in the busiest months — February saw a whopping 26,800 rides — high-quality service was maintained. This translated in the rider ratings, which averaged 4.7 out of 5 stars. Riders themselves can help keep ETAs low by being mindful of the impact of cancellations, “not accepted” proposals, and “no-shows” on other riders.
New Pilot Features
This summer, the Evening Shuttle began piloting a “+2 service” in which riders can bring up to two additional passengers per ride. All riders in the group must show a valid Columbia University ID and have the same pick-up and drop-off destination to be eligible.
This pilot aims to make the service more convenient for groups of riders heading to and from the same place. The pilot's successful implementation should result in reduced wait times, improved operational efficiency, and an enhanced overall experience for our riders.
Learn More
Students, faculty, and staff with an active UNI and Columbia ID on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses are eligible to use the shuttle. Visit the Evening Shuttle page to learn more and get a promo code to unlock free evening rides within the coverage area.