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If you don't own a car, don't be discouraged from living
in an off-campus apartment. Many convenient, low-cost transportation
options exist that you should investigate. Stanford is offering
apartments that are not within easy biking distance from
campus at lower rates to help students defray transportation
costs. Parking
and Transportation Services offers excellent resources
to help you determine the best transportation option for
you.
Biking
Biking is generally a good means to commute from apartments
in Palo Alto and Menlo Park. There is a bike path that runs
through Palo Alto, and other streets sometimes have bike
lanes. For apartments located in Mountain View, it is often
most convenient to combine biking with public transit as
described in "Public Transit" below.
Read Biking
at Stanford for information on:
- bike routes and maps
- lockers and storage
- bikes on public transit
- bike security
- buying and selling bikes
Public Transit
Most of the apartment complexes Stanford is leasing are
located within a short distance of major bus routes or a
Caltrain station. The apartment
descriptions have specific information on public transit
routes near each complex.
Buses.
 Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) bus routes are conveniently
located within one or two blocks of complexes in Palo Alto,
Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. Routes along El Camino Real
run as frequently as every twelve minutes and some routes
take only fifteen minutes to reach campus from Mountain
View. Bus stops are located at the Stanford Oval and at
the Embarcadero Road/El Camino Real intersection. Unlimited
monthly passes for VTA Regular Bus and Light Rail Service
for Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale are $52.50.
VTA buses have bike racks with room for two bikes. In addition,
the bus driver at his or her discretion may allow up to
two bikes on board if room is available. Thus, if you desire,
you may bike from your apartment to the bus stop, take your
bike on the bus with you, and then bike from your destination
bus stop to your class or office.
You may also take the free Marguerite Shuttle to campus
from bus stops at the Stanford Oval and near the Embarcadero
Road/El Camino Real intersection.
Visit the VTA home page
for complete information on schedules and fares.
SamTrans
serves communities north of Stanford, including Menlo Park,
Redwood City, and San Carlos. A local monthly pass is $40.
Like VTA, SamTrans buses are equipped with bike racks that
can hold two bikes. Two additional bikes are allowed on
board, depending on passenger load.
Visit the SamTrans
home page for complete information on schedules and fares.
Trains. Unlimited monthly Caltrain passes from Mountain
View to Palo Alto are $46.50. Passes from Redwood City,
San Carlos, and Sunnyvale to Palo Alto are $79.50. Stations
are available in the following locations:
| City |
Station |
Location |
| Mountain View |
Mountain View |
View St. & West Evelyn Ave. |
| Mountain View |
San Antonio |
Showers Dr. & San Antonio Rd. |
| Palo Alto |
California Ave. |
Park Blvd. & California Ave. |
| Palo Alto |
Palo Alto |
University Ave. & Alma St. |
| Redwood City |
Redwood City |
James & Franklin Aves. |
| San Carlos |
San Carlos |
El Camino Real & San Carlos Ave. |
| Sunnyvale |
Sunnyvale |
Evelyn Ave. & S. Frances St. |
Upon arrival in Palo Alto, you can take the free Marguerite
Shuttle to campus. Caltrain also has a "bike car"
in the last car that allows riders to bring their bikes
on board and sit close to them. This car has lots of capacity,
especially for short, local rides. For information on schedules,
fares, and bike rules, visit the Caltrain
home page.
Carpools and Vanpools
Stanford's Parking and Transportation Services coordinates
carpools
and vanpools.
By contacting Margie Tellez at (650) 725-0594, you can be
entered in a database and matched with other riders in your
area. These options may include free or low-cost parking
permits.
Marguerite Shuttle
The free Marguerite Shuttle serves the Stanford campus,
local Caltrain stations, and some locations in Menlo Park
and Palo Alto. Schedules are available on the Marguerite
Shuttle information page.
Special Benefits
Commuters who ride a bike, take transit, or carpool onto
campus may be eligible for two great special benefits:
Additional Information
For additional information about these and other transportation
options, visit the Parking
and Transportation Services web site.
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