Parking and Transportation

Introducing Late Night Otter Rides - CSUMB's rideshare program in partnership with Lyft! As a CSUMB student, you will receive 3 Lyft vouchers worth $15 each per month. These vouchers will be valid from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM on weekdays and 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM on weekends and can be used within a 30-mile radius of the CSUMB campus.  The Lyft program is funded by the Materials, Services and Facilities (MSF) fee.

To participate, you must be enrolled in hybrid or in-person classes and pay the student MSF fee. Once you are eligible, you will receive an email from Lyft Business with instructions on how to sign up.

Current News:

• Due to a current funding shortfall, the Lyft program will conclude at the end of April 15th, 2025 and is expected to resume with renewed funding in the Fall 2025 semester.

• Welcome back, Otters! The Lyft voucher program will be active beginning 08/26/24. Active students can register for this program by following the instructions below. Please use your current CSUMB email address and update the phone number on your Lyft account to reflect the number of the phone you are using.

Program details:

• 3 free rides up to $15 each per month (students will be charged the difference for trips that exceed $15)
• Students will be charged the difference for trips that exceed $15
• Mon-Fri 8:00PM – 7:00AM, Sat-Sun 8:00PM – 7:00AM
• Valid anywhere within a 30-mile radius of the CSUMB campus (see map below)
• Valid on Standard Lyft rides only
• Students must pay the MSF fee to participate in the program.

Please note that rides that do not start or end within the eligible time windows or the designated coverage area will not be eligible for the credit. The student will be responsible for the cost of the trip.

How to Sign Up

Check your CSUMB email inbox for an invitation from Lyft Business, and follow the steps to join. If you are eligible for the program but did not receive an invitation, please email transportation@csumb.edu. If you do not have a Lyft account, you can download the app and create an account using your CSUMB email.

You can also click this link to sign up: https://www.lyft.com/lp/OTTERRIDESCSUMB

Claim your Lyft vouchers today!

You can do this by scanning the QR code provided, following the prompts, and being on your way. Alternatively, you can enter the code OTTERRIDESCSUMB in the Lyft Pass section of the app's 'Payment' tab.

Here are some tips for riding smart with Lyft:

• Verify your ride by ensuring the license plate number, driver information, and car make and model match what you see in the app.
• Share your location and route with a friend or loved one from within the Lyft app so they can follow your ride in real time.
• Follow the Lyft vehicle on GPS via the app.
• Ask the driver to say who they are picking up.

Lyft has also launched a Health Safety Program in response to COVID-19. This program includes personal health certification for drivers and riders, required face masks for drivers and riders, health safety education for drivers and riders, and distribution of cleaning supplies and masks for drivers. For more information, visit the Lyft safety page.

Please note that prices may be impacted by distance, traffic, time of day, special events, and prime-time surcharges. Rides that exceed the voucher value will be paid out of pocket by the rider. If you have any issues with the Lyft app and using the vouchers, please contact our office.

If you have any further questions or clarifications about this partnership with Lyft, please contact us via email at trip@csumb.edu. Happy riding, Otters!

If you’re looking for a carpool, or want to record your commute trips, mileage, CO2 emissions, and other stats, sign up for free to the Countywide Go831! program on the RideAmigos web platform. RideAmigos is a ride-matching and trip-recording site provided by the Transportation Agency for Monterey County. The platform can help you find someone commuting the same way and time frame as you do, and it can also show you just how many miles, gasoline costs, and CO2 emissions your spend on your commute pattern, and possible solutions for reducing these factors, such as mapping bus or bike routes along your commute. This is a powerful tool for improving the way you get to campus. To find out more information or if you want to join check out the RideAmigos webpage.

• Taxi ADA Certification Drivers
  • In conjunction with MV Transportation, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) has developed a training program for taxi operators who wish to provide services to MST customers through the RIDES and Taxi Voucher Programs. The program is called Taxi ADA Certification Training (TACT) and drivers who successfully complete the training will be issued an identification card with their photograph as proof of certification. MST RIDES and taxi voucher customers must use only TACT-certified drivers.
    
  • For more information check out: www.mstmobility.org/taxi-ada-training-certification.htm
• Taxi Vouchers
  
  • Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) offers a taxi voucher program to assist seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans in accessing important locations within their community. The Taxi Voucher Program has three (3) categories of taxi vouchers: seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans, each with its own eligibility requirements.
    
    • To receive senior vouchers, an individual must be 65 years or older and be a resident in one of the following communities: Carmel, Carmel Valley, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Sand City, Salinas, or Seaside. The vouchers can be obtained at one of the distribution locations in the city where the senior resides.
    • To receive vouchers for persons with disabilities, an individual must- be certified in the MST RIDES ADA paratransit program. The vouchers are issued on a quarterly basis and will be mailed when requested. To apply for the MST RIDES ADA paratransit program, individuals may contact MST at 1-888-678-2871 or email mobility@mst.org.
    • To receive the veteran's voucher, veterans may visit one of the distribution locations. A qualified veteran is an individual who served active duty in one of the branches of the U.S. Military. The vouchers are provided on a monthly basis.
      
• For more information check out: www.mstmobility.org/taxi-vouchers.htm