All Madison Metro buses are equipped with lifts to accommodate riders who use wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility devices. However, sometimes this isn't enough. If you are affected by a disability which makes it difficult to get from your bus stop to your destination or otherwise prevents you from being able to use the bus, you may qualify for paratransit service.

Paratransit services takes riders from one building to another, rather than from one bus stop to another. This is called "curb to curb service".

You may qualify for this service whether your disability is temporary or permanent, and whether it prevents you from using the mainline buses all the time or only under certain circumstances, such as when the weather is excessively hot or cold.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this service. You will have to schedule your rides in advance, for example, and there is no same-day service. On the other hand,being driven from building to building may help you bypass the challenges presented by the campus terrain and traffic.

If you do qualify for paratransit service, your ASM Bus Pass will cover the passenger fare, just as it does on Metro's bus routes. There are no additional charges.

In order to qualify for paratransit service, you must apply to Madison Metro and meet certain requirements set by federal regulations. It may take up to 21 days to process an application, so the sooner you begin the process the better.

For more information on how this service works and for access to an application form, go to Madison Metro's paratransit info page. Completed applications must be mailed or dropped off at Madison Metro. An original signature is required; faxes and emails are not sufficient due to federal regulations.

If you are approved you will also have to show evidence that you are a university student (a WisCard) and have an ASM Bus Pass.

If you need additional information contact Karen Darcy at Madison Metro: 267-8758 or kdarcy (AT) cityofmadison (DOT) com.

If you have questions about picking up an ASM Bus Pass in an emergency situation, please call Margaret at 263-3950.

Additional Resources

The McBurney Disability Resouces Center paratransit and transportation webpage contains more information about paratransit, parking permits and Wisconsin disabled license plates/cards check out the For information on accommodations available for students with temporary impairments and links to information useful to students with longer term impairments, see  the McBurney Center's page on temporary impairments.

There are also four cab companies in the Madison: Union Cab, Badger Cab,Madison Taxi. and Green Cab. All take reservations and accept credit cards. Union Cab also offers wheelchair accessible service (lift-equipped vehicles). When you are trying to make it to class or other appointments, reservations are strongly encouraged.

If you have any questions or concerns about paratransit services or any other aspect of the bus pass program, please contact the ASM Bus Pass Program advisor at buspass (AT) rso (dot) wisc(dot) edu This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 263-3950.

UW Transportation Services offers annual bus passes to UW and UW Hospital employees. Some affiliated organizations also participate in this program. These passes allow employees to ride for free on all Madison Metro routes excluding special event shuttles.

Eligibility:
All employees paid through UW Payroll excluding graduate assistants and student hourlies are eligible for the pass. This includes faculty, academic staff, classified employees both permanent and project, employees in training, LTEs, and emeritus employees. UW Hospital employees are also eligible.

Please note graduate assistants, TAs, RAs and student hourly employees are served by the ASM Bus Pass Program not the employee program, and will not be eligible for a pass until their classes start. 

For the most complete, up to date information about the faculty/staff bus pass program please see the UW Transportation Services webpage.

• When and where can I get a Fall Spring 2012 ASM Bus Pass?

• Who do I talk to to comment or complain about this program, or about Metro service, or about the Campus Bus lines (Routes 80, 81, 82, 84 and 85)?

• I lost something on the bus...how do I get it back?

• Am I eligible?

• Where can I use my ASM Bus Pass?

• Can I pick up a bus pass for someone else?

• I registered for classes today, why can't I get my bus pass today?

• Is paratransit included in my ASM Student Bus Pass?

• Do I have to fill out my name and address on the back of the pass?

• I lost my UW Photo ID/I never got a UW Photo ID. What do I do?

• Is it a problem if I have a faculty/staff ID? What about if I have one of the old ID cards?

• Why can't we just show our IDs and eliminate the bus pass?

• Where can I get information on Madison Metro routes and schedules?

• Why do I have to sign my pass?

• What if my pass is lost or stolen
  
  
• What if my pass is damaged or won't scan?

• Why do I have to pay a $20 replacement fee if my pass is lost or stolen when I already paid for the pass in my tuition?

• What do I have to do to ride the campus bus?

• Is there any way I can get my money back if I do not want a bus pass?

Fall 2011 ASM Bus Passes will be available to registered students starting Tueday, January 17th at Union South and at the Student Activity Center, 333 East Campus Mall, 3^rd floor. We'll be open from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m the week before classes start. Once classes start on Monday January 23, hours are extended to 6 p.m. These pickup locations will be open through Friday, February 3rd. You must have your valid WisCard in hand to get your pass. No exceptions.

After February 3rd, pick up your pass at Student Print, located on the third floor of the Student Activity Center. StudentPrint is open open weekdays from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm while the Spring Semester is in session, closed during breaks, and open for reduced hours during the summer intersession.

If you need to ride the bus before you can get your ASM pass, Madison Metro has a variety of discount programs which will reduce your cost of transportation. And remember, campus buses (Routes 80, 81, 82, 84 and 85) are always free to all students, staff and visitors.

Who do I talk to to comment or complain about this program, or about Metro service, or about the campus bus lines (Routes 80, 81, 82, 84 & 85)?
Madison Metro has an online customer service report form. We strongly encourage you to use it and identify yourself as a UW student. The form is available 24/7 and filing one means there is a record of your comments.

UW Transportation Services also has an online customer service form. This is the place to go for comments specific to the campus buses (Routes 80, 81, 82, 84 and 85) and Campus SafeWalk/SafeRide/SafeCab.

If you are inclined please send a copy of your comment to the ASM Bus Pass Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We track comments so we can to represent your interests more effectively.

Comments and complaints regarding the ASM Bus Pass Program itself can be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 263-3950.

How long is the bus pass valid?
Fall Passes are valid through the end of the first week of the Spring Semester; Spring/Summer Passes are valid through the first week of the Fall Semester. Look on your pass for the exact dates.

I lost something on the bus...how do I get it back?
Call Madison Metro Lost and Found at 266-6524. It will help if you know what route you were riding, the direction the bus was heading, and the approximate time. If you've lost your WisCard or ASM Bus Pass, you might also want to check with WisCard at 262-3258. The WisCard office handles all lost IDs and passes as well. If you find a lost WisCard or pass, please send it to the WisCard office.

Am I eligible for a free bus pass?
The "acid test" of eligibility to get an ASM Bus Pass is whether or not you are charged the student segregated fee that pays for this program. All students who are currently enrolled for at least one credit (including dissertators, part time students and most special students) are eligible for an ASM Bus Pass. Enrollees not eligible include guest students, senior auditors and postdoctoral fellows and researchers who are not charged and do not pay student segregated fees here at UW Madison. This includes students in the following programs:

• Senior Guest Students/Auditors
• Students enrolled at MATC or other campuses like UW-LaCrosse nursing students who are attending courses at Madison but registered via their home institutions.
• Cytotechnology
• Radiation Therapy Technology
• Orthopedic Training
• Sonography
• Radiologic Technology
• Nursing students enrolled through UW-LaCrosse
• UW-Extension course participants
• Any other student enrolled in classes through another UW Campus or MATC, including Crossroads students.

Where can I use my ASM Bus Pass?
Your pass is valid any time, anywhere on the Madison Metro Bus System. You just slide your pass through the card reader to board the bus. The driver has the right to ask to see your WisCard and may confiscate your pass and refuse you a ride if you cannot produce a WisCard.


Can anyone else use my ASM Bus Pass?
NO! Only you can use your ASM Student Bus Pass to ride Metro, and you are only entitled to one regular pass and one replacement pass per semester. (See replacement passes below). Do NOT loan or give your pass to anyone else. ASM Student Bus Passes are personal and not transferable, nor are they redeemable for cash.You must show your WisCard to board the bus. Your pass is subject to confiscation if misused, and you may be subject to misconduct and other charges.

Can I pick up a bus pass for someone else?
No, you may only pick up your own bus pass.


I replaced my WisCard today, why can't I get my bus pass today?
Some of the UW's databases are only updated overnight, or even just a few times a week, and until the information contained in those systems is updated, you will not appear to be eligible for a bus pass. This is true for many other campus services. An instruction sheet detailing when you will be able to use your WisCard for various services is available at the WisCard office.


Is paratransit included in my ASM Student Bus Pass?
Yes. You will need to fill out an application form and go through Metro's process for determining eligibility under ADA regulations before you can schedule rides. For more information on paratransit, see our paratransit info page.


Do I have to show my ID with the ASM Bus Pass?
Drivers may request to see your WisCard at any time and refuse you service and confiscate your pass if you do not produce a valid ID. Routes 80, 81, 82, 84 and 85 are free to all and no one has to show passes or IDs. This is the only exception to the rule. Always carry your WisCard with your ASM Bus Pass.


I don't have a WisCard. What do I do?
Go get one. The WisCard office is located at Union South. That office is open Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4:15 pm. You must present some form of personal photo identification such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID. For more information call WisCard at 262-3258 or see the WisCard website.


Is it a problem if I have a faculty/staff ID? What about if I have one of the old ID cards?
No,It does not matter if your WisCard says "faculty/staff" "student" or "affiliate". Many people have been both. However id your ID has the incorrect issue code or is so old it still includes a social security number, it is no longer valid. Please take it to the WisCard office for a replacement if it is an old one; if the issue code is incorrect come back to us with the most recently issued card. Once you report an ID lost or stolen it is deactivated and is no longer valid.


Why can't we just show your ID and eliminate the bus pass?
Many people have attended or worked at the UW and still have a WisCard. You don´t want them riding on your dime--Metro charges us by the ride. We haven't come up with a secure and inexpensive way to code IDs so they can be read and validated by the card readers on the bus and updated each semester. Hence a separate pass.


Where can I get information on Madison Metro routes and schedules?
Madison Metro route and schedule information is available by calling the Metro Info Line at 266-4466, or on the Web at http://www.mymetrobus.com. You can also use Google Transit or one of the apps that have been developed for Android and IPhones.


Do I have to fill out my name and address on the back of the pass?
Replacement passes cost $20. If there is no name or contact info like an email address, we have no way to return lost passes. Besides, we want to see you sign it so it won't work for someone else.


What if my pass is lost or stolen?
Replacements can be obtained at ASM StudentPrint. ASM StudentPrint is on the 3rd floor of the Student Activity Center at 333 East Campus Mall.

StudentPrint is open 9:30AM until 6:30 PM Monday through Friday during the semester,and 10 AM to 4:30 PM during exam weeks and the summer session. It is closed during recess periods, on legal holidays, and on furlough days mandated by the State of Wisconsin.

If your pass has been damaged and you bring it with you, StudentPrint will exchange it for a new one. Otherwise, replacement passes cost $20.00 and you're eligible for only one replacement pass per semester. StudentPrint accepts cash, checks, and WisCard payments.

What if my pass is damaged or won't scan right?

If your pass is damaged you can get a free replacement at StudentPrint and it won't count against the limit on replacement passes. However you MUST have your damaged pass in hand, or you will have to pay $20.00 and it will count against the limit.

Why do I have to pay a $20.00 replacement fee if my pass is lost of stolen when I already paid for the pass in my tuition?
These passes are very valuable--worth much more than $20.00--so we have to restrict access to replacements and dicourage fraud.

Are campus bus routes and SAFEBus included in the bus pass?
Routes 80,81, 82, 84 and 85 are FREE for students and staff. You do not need to show a pass to ride any of these routes.

Is there any way I can get my money back if I don't want a bus pass?
No, the money towards the bus pass is part of the segregated fee portion of your tuition that is not refundable.

Last Day to Pick Up a New or Replacement Fall Bus Pass is December 23

Spring Passes Available January 17

UW-Madison student government (ASM) has an agreement with Madison Metro Transit which allows us to provide an unlimited ride pass good on Madison Metro Transit buses to most UW-Madison students.The ASM Bus Pass is paid for with student segregated fees which are included in your bill for tuition and fees.

The last day to pick up a new or replacement ASM Bus Pass is December 23. StudentPrint closes at 3 pm, as does the entire Student Activity Center. Neither new or replacement Fall Passes will be available after this date. No exceptions will be made.

Spring/Summer Bus Pass distribution begins on Tuesday, January 17 at Union South and at the Student Activity Center, 333 East Campus Mall, 3^rd floor. We’ll be open at both Union South and the SAC from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. that week.

From the first day of classes through February 3rd our hours will be extended until 6 p.m. weekdays.

After February 3rd, StudentPrint will be the exclusive location to pick up new or replacement passes. StudentPrint is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Activity Center.

StudentPrint hours are Monday-Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm when Spring Semester classes are in session. It is closed for all University breaks, and operates on summer hours from late May through August.

StudentPrint is also the location to purchase replacement passes, which cost $20. Please see our FAQ page for more information on replacement policies.

Please note that you are only eligible to participate in this program if you are taking classes for credit and are charged student segregated fees. Guest students, senior auditors and those registered through other educational institutions such as UW-LaCrosse are usually not eligible for an ASM Bus Pass.

Madison Metro serves Madison and some nearby cities seven days a week from the early morning until late evening. Maps and schedules for every bus route are available online, and there is an interactive page where you can fill in your location and destination and find the best route and schedule for you. It will even show you a map of where to get on and off the bus. If you prefer to talk to someone directly call Metro Customer Service at 266-4466 (TTY: 267-1143)

Paratransit Service
Your ASM Bus Pass is also good for paratransit services, which are transportation services adapted to the special needs of people with temporary or long-term disabilities. Click here for more information and the application form.

UW and UW Hospital, and Emeriti Employees have their own pass program. If you are not eligible for an ASM Pass, you might qualify for one of those.

Frequently Asked Questions about the ASM Bus Pass
Every web site requires at least one FAQ page. For more information about eligibility, lost and stolen passes or other questions please see the FAQ page or call 263-3950.