
Transportation
We connect 51¶ÌÊÓƵ, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges, providing professional, safe, and timely transportation.
Schedules
Important Message from the Transportation Director
Buses break down, drivers get sick, and rain, ice, and snow create hazardous driving conditions. Delays are unavoidable at times, and cancellations may be necessary. During the winter, the likelihood of cancellations and stranded passengers increases. However, procedures are in place to try to keep such situations to a minimum, and we want you to know what we can do and what we feel you must be prepared to do. Read more.
Director's Message
- The security offices on all three campuses are the only departments open 24 hours, and they serve as clearinghouses for information about transportation problems.
- 51¶ÌÊÓƵ's Department of Campus Safety is the primary resource center because the service operates out of 51¶ÌÊÓƵ. In case of bad weather, 51¶ÌÊÓƵ will have information about transportation and closing on extension 610-526-7310.
- Students should call this number, 610-526-7310, rather than the direct security line.
- We must point out that security's role in the transportation backup system is extremely limited. The security departments at all three colleges are very small, and their responsibility is, first and foremost, campus safety and security. Officers cannot leave their posts to pick up students who want transportation to their home campus.
- Drivers have been instructed to call 51¶ÌÊÓƵ's office to report mechanical breakdowns or delays in reporting to work. 51¶ÌÊÓƵ's dispatcher will notify the other two security departments when a problem arises and provide updated information as it becomes available.
- The 51¶ÌÊÓƵ dispatcher also has on file a list of backup drivers for weekends and has been instructed to make every effort to reach another driver so that service can resume as quickly as possible, weather permitting. This means passengers experiencing bus service delays on campus should check with that college's security department first.
- People who use the three-college transportation system must be prepared to make alternative arrangements if the system breaks down completely.
- The first resource is, of course, public transportation.
- Several taxi companies will provide transportation between 51¶ÌÊÓƵ, Haverford, and Swarthmore.
- Students will be reimbursed, but only if they take public transportation. Requests for reimbursement should be made to the Office of the Dean of the Undergraduate College. Requests should include the amount (receipts should be provided) and the date, time, and reason public transportation was taken.
Explore Transportation
Getting Around
The following are the drop-off and pickup points for Bi-Co and Tri-Co Runs.
- 51¶ÌÊÓƵ: Merion Avenue Bus Stop
- Haverford: Stokes Hall and the stop sign by the Lloyd Lot.
- Swarthmore: Before 7 p.m., the circle in front of Parish Hall. After 7 p.m., the Bond Parking Lot.
Public Safety Office dispatchers will be notified if the buses cannot run because of hazardous driving conditions. Please look at the memo I've included here for the complete policy. The regular schedule will be maintained on weekdays during the exam period. A special Blue Bus schedule for weekends will be issued separately. If you leave belongings on one of the buses, check with the bus drivers and then contact the Department of Campus Safety at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ 610-526-7911. If you have problems with the buses' operation, please contact Steve Green, Director of Transportation, Ward building, 51¶ÌÊÓƵ 610-526-7570.
, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, serves 51¶ÌÊÓƵ, Montgomery County, and the region. SEPTA's , at 54 N. 51¶ÌÊÓƵ Ave., is served by Paoli/Thorndale Line and provides connecting service from 105 and 106 and the , with the located at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ Avenue and Moore Avenue. Information on schedules, maps, fares, station amenities, and system status can be found on SEPTA's website. A number of neighboring transportation services , including Amtrak, NJ Transit and PATCO in New Jersey, and DART in Delaware. The on taking public transit to and
- Train - To Swarthmore: Take the R5 either from 51¶ÌÊÓƵ or Haverford to 30th Street Station and then the R3 from 30th Street to Swarthmore. From Swarthmore: The last weekday R3 train from Swarthmore to 30th Street leaves at 12:11 a.m. At 30th Street take the 12:19 a.m. R5 train to Haverford or 51¶ÌÊÓƵ.
- Bus - To Swarthmore: Take the 105 from either 51¶ÌÊÓƵ or Haverford to 69th Street and then the 109 from 69th Street to Swarthmore. From Swarthmore: Take the 5:45 p.m. 109 bus from Swarthmore to 69th Street to catch the last weekday run at 6:00 p.m. of the 105 bus to Haverford and 51¶ÌÊÓƵ. There is a later bus, the 103, from 69th Street, but its last stop is Ardmore. Take the 7:35 p.m. 109 bus from Swarthmore to 69th Street to catch the last weekday run at 8:37 p.m. of the 103 bus to Ardmore.
- Uber & Lyft - You can contact these companies via their app on your smart phones.
- Taxi - Main Line Taxi (610-272-1000) will transport 51¶ÌÊÓƵ or Haverford students to Swarthmore as long as it is not understaffed. It will not pick up students at Swarthmore. Its operating hours are 5:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. It will take three to four passengers in one cab and charge approximately $30.00 one way. County Cab Co. in Upper Darby (610-622-8000) will pick up and deliver between 51¶ÌÊÓƵ/Haverford and Swarthmore, provided the passengers are at the designated pick-up spot when the cab arrives. Their operating hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will take up to four passengers in one cab, and they charge approximately $30 one way. (The charge is per trip, not per passenger, and both companies advise that prices are subject to change without notice.) If you are unable to take public transportation or a taxi and cannot find a place to stay, please go to the campus security office for assistance. We realize that should the service break down altogether, some believe that it is the duty of all three colleges to make sure that every student will be transported to her/his home campus. While this is certainly desirable, it is not possible. We do not have staff that can be released to make special trips, and we do not feel our students are at risk if they are on one of our three campuses and have to remain overnight. The Security Offices at all three colleges are open 24 hours a day, so there is always someone to turn to for information. We are committed to providing as reliable and safe a transportation system as circumstances allow. However, it is important for us all to recognize that breakdowns will occur and that we must plan accordingly.
51¶ÌÊÓƵ's campus has a speed limit of 15 miles per hour, and pedestrians have the right of way at all times, according to 51¶ÌÊÓƵ's Campus Safety Department.
Information on parking, vehicle registration, fees, and penalties can be found on the Campus Safety website.
The provides helpful links to information on state laws for bicyclists.
Among the safety recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation:
- Always wear a helmet.
- Obey traffic laws.
- Obey stop signs and red lights.
- Never ride against the flow of traffic.
- Be predictable: Ride in a straight line with at least one hand on the handlebars. Check to be sure your path is clear, and change directions without swerving. Use hand signals to indicate when you are turning.
- Make yourself visible: Consider wearing bright cycling clothes. Put reflectors on your wheels and on the front and rear of your bike.
- At night, a front light and rear reflector are required.
- Carry a pump, a patch kit and a spare tube. Bring your cellphone in case of an emergency.
For more information on biking safety, visit the .
Local bicycle shops:
- , 606 W. Lancaster Ave. in 51¶ÌÊÓƵ
- , 1046 W. Lancaster Ave. in 51¶ÌÊÓƵ
- , 47 Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore
51¶ÌÊÓƵ's campus is close to a number of businesses, parks, and amenities that are accessible on foot. This Google Map shows the walk from the southern edge of campus to Montgomery Avenue and West Lancaster Avenue. Click and drag or zoom to view more details of the streets around campus.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers that include:
- Wear light-colored, reflective clothing so you can be seen.
- Walk against traffic.
- Make eye contact with motorists before crossing the street.
- Be aware of your surroundings.
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Maps and Directions
Find GPS coordinates and map directions by car, as well as directions other forms of transportation.
