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Bus Pass Program FAQ
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, 3rd 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 e-mail 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 e-mail 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.