Parking permits required at Stanford's main campus and Stanford Redwood City

Commuters and residents are required to have a valid parking permit purchased through the online ordering system to avoid potential citations. Read our article to learn more.

For COVID-related transportation updates, please visit our Stanford Transportation COVID-19: Featured Topics page. If you are interested in learning more about your commute options as you return to campus, please refer to our Returning to Your Stanford commute page.

Caltrain operational and financial updates

Some Stanford commuters have expressed concern about whether or not Caltrain will continue to operate given the financial challenges caused by ridership decreases due to COVID-19. We have developed a Caltrain Updates: COVID-19 page to help provide context about Caltrain’s current situation and the proposed eighth-cent sales tax measure to provide the agency with a direct funding source.

If you choose to take public transit for your commute, please take a look at some tips that we’ve created to help protect yourself and others.

Tips for taking public transit during COVID-19

Read our tips to learn more about how to protect yourself and others while making essential trips on public transit.

Take Your Bike on Transit

Bicycles on public transit

All the public transportation options in the Bay Area are bike friendly. Caltrain, VTA buses, VTA Light Rail, BART, and even Stanford Marguerite shuttles accommodate bicycles with bike racks to mount bikes. Refer to specific sites for rules and regulations as there are restrictions on some modes of travel: Caltrain (800.660.4287), VTA (408.321.2300), and BART. In addition, a great reference for all transportation-related services is located at http://transit.511.org.

  • Caltrain operates two types of train cars that accommodate bikes. Gallery (enter through one door) and Bombardier (enter through two doors). The gallery train set can accomodate 80 bikes (40 in each of two bike cars), while the Bombardier train set can handle 48 bikes (24 in each of two bike cars). The gallery and Bombardier sets aren't always used on the same train numbers. Look for the yellow sticker on the northern-most train car. Because of high demand, there may be insufficient bike space at commute hours, especially on southbound AM and northbound PM express trains. This is especially true during on Bike to Work Day in May, so plan accordingly. For more information on bikes on the Caltrain, check out the Caltrain Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.
  • Folding bikes are allowed on BART and Caltrain (see each agency's website for folding bike policies).
  • All Santa Clara County (VTA) buses can carry 2 bikes on front-mounted racks and 2 more inside the bus at driver's discretion.
  • The Dumbarton Express bus from the Union City BART station can carry 2 bikes on front-mounted racks.
  • VTA Light Rail vehicles carry 4 bikes per car in the center swivel section; each train typically has 2 cars.
  • The Line U bus from the Fremont BART station and Centerville ACE Train station can carry up to 6 bikes per bus.

Bicycles on Marguerite

  • You may load and unload bicycles only at designated Marguerite bus stops.
  • Notice — Each bicyclist is responsible for securing his/her bicycle in the exterior bike rack (and cargo area). You must load and unload your own bike from the bike rack or underneath cargo area of the bus. The bus driver will not provide physical assistance with your bike.
  • Stanford University is not responsible for any loss of or damage to bicycles carried on buses.
  • Space on all the bike racks and in the cargo bays (on double-deckers) is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If the space is full, please wait for the next bus.
  • No additional fare or permit is required to carry your bicycle on a Marguerite bus, although we recommend registering your bike with Stanford Transportation. This will help identify the bicycle and its legal owner if it ever is lost or stolen.
  • If you accidentally leave your bike on the bus, you can report it to dispatch at 650-724-4309.

Resources