Getting Around Brown University: Your Ultimate Guide to Public Transportation
Navigating a new campus & city can be a little overwhelming, but honestly, getting around Brown University & Providence is pretty straightforward once you know your options. Whether you're a freshman trying to figure out the best way to get to your 9 a.m. class on the other side of College Hill, or a grad student looking for a weekend escape to Boston, there are a TON of ways to get where you need to go without a car. Here's the inside scoop on all things public transportation at Brown.
The Holy Grail: Your Brown ID & the RIPTA U-PASS Program
First things first, let's talk about the single most useful tool in your transportation arsenal: your Brown ID. Seriously, this little piece of plastic is your golden ticket to getting around Providence. Thanks to Brown's partnership with the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), all current students, faculty, & staff can ride any RIPTA bus or trolley in the entire state for FREE.
That's not a typo. FREE.
It’s part of the U-PASS program, & it's a HUGE perk. You just swipe your Brown Card when you get on the bus, & that's it. The university gets billed, so you don't have to worry about fares. This is an amazing way to explore Providence, run errands, or even commute if you're living off-campus. In the 2024 academic year alone, the Brown community took over 230,000 rides on RIPTA, so you'll be in good company.
A heads up: this program is only for current students & staff, so visitor IDs won't work. Also, don't even think about letting a friend borrow your card to ride the bus. RIPTA drivers are wise to this, & you could get your card confiscated.
Some of the most useful RIPTA routes for Brown students include the ones that run down Thayer Street & through the East Side, connecting you to downtown, the Providence Place Mall, & the train station. You can grab a schedule on campus or check out the RIPTA website to plan your trip. They even have email alerts you can sign up for to get notified of any delays or schedule changes for your most-used routes.
The B.U.S.: Your On-Campus Chariot
For getting around campus, especially at night, the Brown University Shuttle (B.U.S.) is your best friend. It’s a safety-oriented service, so you can feel secure hopping on a shuttle to get back to your dorm late at night. Like the RIPTA buses, all you need to ride is your Brown ID. The shuttles are operated by professionally licensed drivers, so you're in good hands.
Here’s a breakdown of the shuttle services:
Daytime Routes: Brown runs two main daytime shuttle routes, the Express & the Connector. These are great for getting between College Hill, the Jewelry District, & local hospitals. They generally run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Evening Routes: After 5 p.m., the evening shuttles start running in clockwise & counter-clockwise loops around College Hill. This is the service you’ll likely use the most for getting to the library, a friend's dorm, or back home after a late-night study session.
OnCall Shuttle: If you need a ride after the regular evening shuttle hours, you can use the OnCall service. This provides point-to-point transportation, which is super convenient.
Game Day Shuttles: On football game days, there are special shuttles that will take you to & from Brown Stadium for free.
To track the shuttles in real-time, you can use the Passio GO! app or check BrownShuttle.com. This is a lifesaver for knowing exactly when the next shuttle is arriving, so you're not left waiting out in the cold.
Hopping on Two Wheels: Biking at Brown
Biking is another fantastic way to get around campus & Providence. It's good for your health, good for the environment, & honestly, it's just a fun way to explore the city. Brown has been working to make the campus more bike-friendly, with plenty of bike racks & even some bike rooms in the residence halls.
If you don't have your own bike, don't sweat it. Bikes@Brown, a student-run group, offers FREE week-long bike rentals. They also provide free repairs & hold workshops to teach you how to fix your own bike. You can find them in the Urban Environmental Lab Garage.
For those who prefer a more on-demand option, Brown has partnered with Spin & Bird to bring electric bikes & scooters to campus. You can find these scattered around, & they're a quick & easy way to zip from one class to another. The university has even worked with the companies to limit their speed on campus for safety.
A word to the wise: Providence drivers aren't always the most respectful of cyclists, & the infrastructure for bike lanes is still a work in progress. So, always be aware of your surroundings & ride safely.
Getting to & From Brown: Airports & Trains
If you're coming to Brown from out of state, you'll most likely be flying into T.F. Green Airport (PVD) or taking the train to Providence Station. Here's how to handle that last leg of your journey to College Hill.
From T.F. Green Airport (PVD)
RIPTA: The most budget-friendly option is to take the RIPTA bus. The line 66 bus goes from the airport to Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence in about 20 minutes, & from there you can either walk or hop on another bus up to College Hill. The best part? With your Brown ID, it's free! There’s also the line 1 bus that can get you to campus.
Shuttles: There are several airport shuttle services available that can take you directly to the Brown campus. This is a good option if you have a lot of luggage. Expect to pay around $9 for a shared shuttle.
Rideshares & Taxis: Uber, Lyft, & taxis are always an option, though they will be more expensive than the bus or a shared shuttle.
From Providence Station (Amtrak & MBTA)
Providence Station is where you'll arrive if you're taking Amtrak or the MBTA Commuter Rail. From there, you have a few options:
Walk: It's a bit of an uphill walk, but it's definitely doable, especially if you don't have a lot of luggage.
RIPTA: Several RIPTA routes stop near the train station & will take you up to College Hill.
Rideshare/Taxi: A quick Uber or taxi ride will get you to campus in just a few minutes.
A Note on the MBTA
While Providence is served by the MBTA Commuter Rail, which is great for weekend trips to Boston, Brown does NOT currently offer a student discount on MBTA passes. So, if you're planning on making regular trips to Massachusetts, you'll have to pay the full fare.
What About Cars?
With so many great public transportation options, having a car on campus really isn't necessary for most students. In fact, the university actively encourages students to use alternative transportation to reduce traffic & parking congestion on College Hill. On-campus parking is limited & can be expensive.
If you do decide to bring a car, or if you have friends or family visiting who need a place to park, finding a spot can be a real headache. This is where a service like Prked can be a total game-changer. Prked connects people who need parking with homeowners who have available driveways or garages to rent out. It's a super convenient & often more affordable way to find parking in a crowded urban environment like Providence. So, if you're struggling to find a spot, it's definitely worth checking out.
And hey, if you're living off-campus & have some extra space in your garage, you could even use Prked to rent it out for some extra cash! It’s also a great solution for finding affordable storage for your things over the summer or during a semester abroad. You can rent out someone's garage, attic, or basement for a fraction of the cost of a traditional storage unit. Pretty cool, right?
The Bottom Line
Getting around Brown & Providence is all about knowing your options. Between the free RIPTA rides, the convenient Brown shuttles, & the growing bike culture, you have plenty of ways to get where you need to go without the hassle & expense of a car. So, embrace the public transit life, save some money, & get to know your new city!
Hope this was helpful, & happy travels
