Duke University Transportation Guide: Navigating Campus with Ease
Navigating Duke University, which spans three campuses and over 8,000 acres, can be a daunting task. However, The Chronicle has simplified the transportation options available for students and faculty this academic year.
Duke Parking and Transportation provides a complimentary bus service that is accessible to everyone on campus. Riders can conveniently track bus routes and current operations using the TransLoc app.
Currently, there are seven active bus routes, five of which are designated as campus routes: C1: East-West, SWS: Swift Avenue Shuttle, LNC: Lancaster Commons, LL: LaSalle Loop, and PR1: Bassett-Research.
Among these, the C1 route is particularly popular among undergraduates, connecting East and West Campus via Campus Drive. Buses operate every 10 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 12:27 a.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 12:27 a.m. on weekends.
The Swift route is favored by upperclassmen residing at 300 and 301 Swift, as well as the nearby Blue Light Living apartments, providing a vital link to West Campus. Buses run every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 12:16 a.m. daily, with an alternative C-Swift route available on weekends starting from East Campus.
The LNC route connects Lancaster Commons apartments for graduate students on Western Boulevard to the Science Drive loop, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 10:02 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. on weekends.
The LL and PR1 routes are weekday-only services. The LL route primarily serves the Duke University Medical Center, with morning service from 7 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. and an extended evening service from 5:30 p.m. to 9:58 p.m.
The PR1 route starts at the Grounds lot behind Wallace Wade Stadium and concludes at Duke Medicine Circle, linking athletic facilities with the Science Drive Circle and Duke Hospital. Buses operate from 6:36 a.m. to 8:28 p.m., but do not run past 7 p.m. on weeknights during Duke football home games.
Additionally, Parking and Transportation manages the H1: Remote Health System Lots and H2: Hospital Loop routes, which serve the Duke University Health System on weekdays.
Duke encourages the use of both traditional and electric bikes on campus. Recently, e-scooter and e-bike rental company Spin has expanded its services on campus.
Students are urged to register their bikes with Parking and Transportation, which helps deter theft and provides discounts at select local businesses through the Bicycle Benefits program.
When not in use, students must store their bikes locked to or near designated racks located throughout campus. All bike racks, except those outside residence halls, are intended for short-term use, and bikes left outdoors for extended periods may be confiscated.
There are five bike self-repair stations available on campus, equipped for servicing bikes and inflating tires—one on East Campus, one at the Duke University Medical Center, and three on West Campus.
Some students prefer mopeds and motorcycles, which must be registered with Parking and Transportation Services as licensed vehicles. Designated parking areas for mopeds are available on campus.
Bikes, scooters, and mopeds are prohibited in dismount zones—areas with heavy foot traffic—such as Abele Quad, the Bryan Center Plaza, and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
All students can bring cars to campus, with parking permits for the 2024-25 academic year priced at $474.
Parking access varies by class year: first-year students can park at Smith Warehouse, West Campus residents have access to the Blue Zone, and Swift residents can park in the Swift garage and parking lot. Blue Light residents can purchase “BLL” permits and should contact building management at [email protected] for parking information for 2024-25.
Duke Vans is an on-demand van service that operates outside of bus hours, providing transportation to Duke facilities and locations within a 1.5-mile radius of campus. Users can request a Duke van via the Transloc app from 6:30 p.m. to 2:45 a.m., Monday through Saturday.
Members of the Duke community can access GoTriangle and GoRaleigh buses for free through the GoPass program, which was recently reinstated after a temporary pause this summer.
GoDurham and GoCary buses will also be fare-free for the 2024-25 academic year.
The Robertson Express shuttle offers complimentary transportation between Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with weekday service starting at 7:30 a.m. on both campuses and concluding at 10 p.m. on UNC’s campus and 10:30 p.m. on Duke’s campus, with buses running every 30 minutes. The weekend schedule has been reduced to two three-hour windows on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 11 a.m. on UNC’s campus and ending at 2 p.m., with a later service from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.