Safe Ride
The Virginia Tech Police Department sponsors a nighttime safety escort service called “Safe Ride.” This service is available to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university. Safe Ride operates from dusk until dawn and provides transportation or a walking escort, upon request, to persons who must cross campus during the nighttime alone.
Safe Ride Hours
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday through Friday | 8pm to 3am | 7pm to 3am |
| Saturday | 8pm to 4am | 7pm to 4am |
Although the van is not being operated during all hours between dusk until dawn, the service itself is still available. If Safe Ride is requested outside the normal operational hours of the van, the police department will offer either a ride with a police officer, or a walking escort, depending on availability.
In order to request the service between dusk and dawn, customers should utilize the TransLoc Rider app, which is available free through the App Store and Google Play. Safe Ride may be contacted by using the TransLoc Rider app or calling 540-231-SAFE (7233).
After downloading TransLoc app from the App Store or the Google Play Store, users can request a ride by logging into the app and selecting a pickup and drop-off location.
The ability to request a ride via the app streamlines the process for both the rider and the Safe Ride driver. In addition to being more user friendly, the app alleviates hold time and busy phone lines, reduces wait time for riders by grouping ride requests on similar routes, and increases student safety with real-time tracking and text notifications that allow riders to wait in a safe place until their ride arrives.
Once the request is submitted, the driver is automatically notified and dispatched using GPS location to reduce missed pickups. With an Uber-like convenience, riders can track the vehicle’s approach in real time and will receive a text message when the vehicle has arrived.
Security Center representatives can monitor pending, in progress, or completed rides and schedule call-in rides to be added to the automatic routing and dispatch system.
For more information, call the Virginia Tech Police Department general information line at 540-231-6411.