UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Transportation Services has partnered with Lyft to offer ride credits to students, faculty and staff through two different programs for late night rides from downtown back to campus and night and weekend trips between campus, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and Innovation Park.
To receive and use ride credits for these programs, users will need to click “Claim Pass” from the invitation email they receive from Lyft or download the Lyft app and enter the appropriate code in the Lyft pass section of the Lyft app’s ‘Payment’ tab. Users are encouraged to verify that the credits are in their account before requesting a ride.
Ride Smart by Lyft program – downtown to campus late nights
On Thursday, Aug. 24, Lyft will send an invitation email to all University Park students' Penn State email accounts with enrollment instructions for the Penn State Ride Smart by Lyft program, which provides eight $10-per-ride credits each month for Lyft rides back to campus from downtown State College and select surrounding neighborhoods between 2 and 7 a.m. nightly. For ride credits to apply, rides must begin and end within the following program service areas:
- Pickup service area: off campus between College Avenue, University Drive, Bellaire Avenue, Hamilton Avenue, and Buckhout Street.
- Drop-off service area: on campus between Park Avenue, University Drive, College Avenue, and White Course Apartments.
Click here to view the Penn State Ride Smart by Lyft Service Area Interactive Map.
To receive and use these credits, click “Claim Pass” from the Lyft invitation email or download the Lyft app and enter the code PSURIDESMART in the Lyft pass section of the app’s “Payment” tab.
Campus Left program – service between campus, Mount Nittany Medical Center, and Innovation Park on nights and weekends
Due to low ridership, campus transit service to Mount Nittany Medical Center, the Centre Medical Sciences Building, and Innovation Park on weekdays after 8 p.m. and throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays previously provided by CATA's Red Link has been eliminated. While the Campus Shuttle via Beaver Avenue will provide service to these areas on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Lyft ride credits are available for students, faculty and staff for travel between campus and these areas during night and weekend hours.
An email was sent on Aug. 15 to all University Park students and full-time employees for the new Campus Lyft Service program. Employees and students who sign up for the program through this email will receive 20 Lyft credits per month worth up to $20 per ride for rides between 7:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, for rides that start and end at the following location combinations:
- Start on campus and end at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
- Start on campus and end at Innovation Park.
- Start at Innovation Park and end on campus.
- Start at Innovation Park and end at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
- Start at Mount Nittany Medical Center and end at Innovation Park.
- Start at Mount Nittany Medical Center and end on campus.
Click here to view the Campus Lyft Program Service Area Interactive Map.
Ride credits will not be valid for use on home football game Saturdays.
To receive and use these credits, click “Claim Pass” from the Lyft invitation email or download the Lyft app and enter the code UOYFT32HGT in the Lyft pass section of the app’s “Payment” tab.
Custom Lyft programs available for University departments and organizations
Penn State departments and student organizations can contact Transportation Services to create custom Lyft programs to meet their employees' and students' specialized transportation needs. Please note that payment would be the responsibility of the sponsoring department or organization.
For more information on Penn State Lyft programs, visit the Transportation Services website or email shuttles@psu.edu.