SafeRide

SafeRide is a nighttime demand-response service for University of Kansas students in Lawrence, Kansas. SafeRide service will start back up on August 22, 2026, offering a ride home from anywhere inside the city limits. 

SafeRide operates 10 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. seven nights per week when classes are in session, and on New Year's Eve. In the summer, SafeRide will operate Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. 

New this year

  • Students will be required to show a valid KU or state ID in order to verify they are the passenger who requested the trip. 
  • Free rides from campus and on SafeBus. 
  • $2 fare for trips starting from off campus.
  • "No show" policy for trips that are not cancelled (see below).
  • Requests made from locations within 0.1 miles of a bus stop on campus or 0.2 miles of a bus stop off campus will be picked up and dropped off at marked bus stops. 
  • Ride requests with both origin and destination along the SafeBus route will be required to use SafeBus, if it is operating. 

Rules and Regulations 

Passengers on SafeRide will be required to adhere to the same rules and regulations as on fixed route bus service, with the following additions: 

  1. No drinks of any kind, including water bottles or sealed containers. 
  2. No pets, except service animals. 
  3. No tips allowed for drivers.

Suspension Policy

Purpose

The reliability and performance of SafeRide is important to students who depend on the system for transportation home late at night. Students who are a no-show for several SafeRide requests within a rolling thirty-day period shall be subject to penalties up to and including suspension from service. 

Definition

A student shall be considered a no-show if they request a SafeRide and are not present at the designated pickup location within three and a half minutes of the SafeRide vehicle’s arrival. Repeated violations of this policy will cause the length of the suspension to increase for each additional violation (not counting any waived/rescinded suspensions). 

Warning                             Made the first time a student reaches the suspension threshold.

First Suspension              Ten (10) calendar days

Second Suspension         Twenty (20) calendar days

Third Suspension             Thirty (30) calendar days

Final Suspension             Remainder of the current academic year.

Governance 

The decision to suspend a rider from SafeRide service shall be made by the director of KU Transportation Services or designated staff tasked with monitoring no-shows. Decisions will be made in accordance with this policy. 

Appeals

Students who are subject to suspension may appeal their suspension.

Forgiveness

No-shows and suspensions from a previous academic year shall not impact a user’s ability to make SafeRide requests during any following academic years.