Transportation
Want a ride in our cool Cardinal-colored DisGo golf carts? Just broke your leg and trying to get to class? Use a wheelchair and wondering about taking those shuttle buses that are always driving around campus? Wondering about transportation options on campus? If so, this page has some important information you may want to check out. If you are looking for more information on Stanford's transportation services, be sure to visit the Stanford Parking & Transportation Services web page.
Contents:
- DisGo Cart Service
- Golf Cart Rental
- Obtaining a Disabled Person Parking Placard
- Parking on Campus
- Marguerite Shuttle Buses
- Marguerite Paratransit Service
- Public Transportation in the Bay Area
DisGo Cart Service
DisGo Cart is a golf cart transportation service open to any member of the Stanford community with a mobility impairment who would benefit from being driven to destinations on campus. To use the service, one must be able to transfer to and from a regular golf cart. No documentation or meetings with SDRC staff are required in order to qualify for rides.
This free service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To schedule rides call DisGo's voice mail number, (650) 725-2484 (5-CHUG) before 5:00 p.m. one day in advance of needing the service. Leave your name, phone number, and the times and places you need rides. Be sure to specify both pick up locations and the final destinations for all rides. You will receive a confirmation call sometime later that night. If you call after 5:00 p.m. and do not receive a confirmation call, do not expect rides. Due to scheduling constraints, drivers are instructed to wait no more than five minutes past the pick up time. If you cannot make a pick up, please call the SDRC at 3-1066 from any campus phone to cancel your ride.
Please note: DisGo Cart Service become available starting the second week of each academic quarter.*
*Summer Quarter schedules may vary.
For more information and detailed reservation instructions, please see the DisGo Cart Service page.
Golf Cart Rental
The SDRC does not have any golf carts for loan or rental. Those who wish to rent golf carts on a short or long term basis may want to contact the companies below. The SDRC is in no way affiliated with these businesses and provides this information with no guarantees.
Obtaining a Disabled Person Parking Placard
Designated disabled person spaces are for the exclusive use of vehicles with state-issued license plates or placards or with temporary disabled person placards. Forms to obtain temporary or permanent California Disabled Person parking placards are available from the Department of Motor Vehicles - call (650) 968-0610 for information. You may also click here to obtain the DMV form from their website.
Parking & Transportation Services provides temporary "Service Vehicle (SV) Courtesy" parking permits to those with short-term mobility impairments. Stanford-issued SV Courtesy permits are issued for one week only, one time only, and permit holders to park in "Service Vehicle Only" spaces (NOT in disabled person parking spaces!). To apply for a one-week SV Courtesy permit, you must bring a physician's note to Parking & Transportation Services specifying:
- Why you require disability-accessible parking, and
- The length of time a SV Courtesy parking permit is necessary.
Parking on Campus
General Stanford parking information is available on the Parking & Transportation Services web page.
Disabled person parking spaces are located throughout the campus and are for the exclusive use of vehicles with state-issued disabled person plates or placards.
Marguerite Shuttle Buses
The Marguerite shuttle buses have regular schedules along major routes on campus. All shuttle lines except the Downtown Express are fully wheelchair accessible. The service hours are 6:00 a.m. through 7:45 p.m., Monday through Friday (except for University holidays).
Service for the Midnight Express shuttles starts on Fridays as soon as regular Marguerite service ends at 8pm; the first bus departs the train station on Saturdays at 4pm; the last bus leaves the train stations both nights at 2am.
For more information call (650) 723-9362 or visit the Marguerite web page.
Marguerite Paratransit Service
Marguerite Paratransit provides free curb-to-curb service to wheelchair users on campus with lift-equipped vans, and to limited off-campus destinations.
For more information or to arrange a ride (during regular Marguerite service hours only, first-come first-served) call 650/723-9362 or visit the Parking & Transportation Services web page.
Public Transportation in the Bay Area
There are several SamTrans and VTA bus routes that have stops on campus, including the SamTrans 7F and 5M lines and the VTA's 22, 35, and 300 lines. All of these are wheelchair accessible. Theoretically the drivers announce each stop. The 7F is a great way to get to the San Francisco airport if you don't have too much luggage. The 22 will take you to the grocery store, the DMV, the Department of Rehabilitation offices in Mountain View, or San Antonio Shopping Center, among other places. Check the SamTrans and VTA web sites for schedules, route maps, prices, and access information.
Caltrain is a great way to get to San Francisco or San Jose. The conductors are very good about announcing each station. The Palo Alto Caltrain station is wheelchair accessible if your chair is 30 inches or less in width, as are many other stops. Check the Caltrain web site to find out which ones, as well as to find prices, schedule information, and a route map.
There are two local paratransit services which provide point-to-point service for people who can document difficulties using regular public transportation because of a disability (note: you must apply for these services at least three weeks before you'll be eligible to use them). RediWheels (phone number: 1-800-660-4287 voice, 650-508-6448 TTY) serves San Mateo county but will also pick up in Palo Alto. Outreach (phone number: 408-436-2865 voice, 408-436-0155 TTY) serves Santa Clara county and sometimes Menlo Park. All rides on both services must be arranged ahead of time.
Disabled passengers pay a reduced price on all public transportation in the Bay Area. To get this discount, you must show a regional transportation discount card, available at several locations throughout the Bay Area. The closest one to Stanford is the SamTrans office in San Carlos, located at 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306. Their telephone numbers are 1-800-660-4287 voice, 650-508-6448 TTY.
The San Francisco Bay Area Transit Information web site is excellent place to find links to detailed information about public transportation throughout the Bay Area.