Coming to Events

AC Transit

When planning your trip to the UC Berkeley campus, your intended mode of transportation will affect the disability access features most relevant to your plans.  Generally, we recommend that guests and visitors rely on public transport as the best way to get to campus.

Alameda County Transit (AC Transit) maintains several bus lines that service the edges of the campus and which run throughout weekends and most major holidays. For example, the 6, 51B, and 52 lines all have stops adjacent to the main campus.

AC Transit vehicles provide excellent access for people with disabilities, including functional wheelchair lifts on all busses, drivers trained in securing mobility devices while in transit, and a wide array of information about real time departures and interruptions for riders to plan their trip. As a part of campus registration fees, students also receive a pass allowing for limitless AC Transit rides.

Campus Shuttles

The campus also offers wheelchair accessible shuttles. Bear Transit is UC Berkeley’s shuttle system, servicing the campus and vicinity. Operated by UC Berkeley Parking & Transportation, Bear Transit provides convenient transportation between campus, Downtown Berkeley BART, parking lots, Clark Kerr campus, the Hill area, residence halls, Richmond Field Station (RFS) and Campus Shared Services on 4th Street.

Information about Bear Transit, including real time departures, routes, transit alerts, and holiday schedules, please click here

If you are coming from further away,  Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) offers reliable, accessible transportation from around the Bay Area. Info about stop locations, parking at BART stops, real time departures, and elevator outages are available here

Visitors coming to the campus for Football Games and other events that bring large crowds (such as Cal Day) should especially consider using BART. The BART system offers parking at many stations, and the BART stop in Downtown Berkeley is only two blocks from the UC Berkeley campus. Campus Shuttles (described above) offer service on most days at a stop less than one city block from BART’s Downtown Berkeley elevator, preventing visitors for seeking the relatively limited parking options on and around the campus.

Note: Before looking for parking arrangements at a specific campus venue, please see our list of comprehensive Parking Policies.

Finding parking on campus, especially during large events, can be a challenge! The UC Berkeley is committed to providing people with disabilities access to campus events, and we know that for many people that means access to parking. Considering the limited number of spots available for parking, keep this checklist in mind when planning on coming to a campus event:

1. Check Parking & Transportation’s Special Events page for the event you are attending. In many case (including Cal Football, Cal Day, and commencement week, etc.) they make parking arrangements for those events. Those arrangements include providing for disability access for events.

2. Arrive early! In general, parking is limited. Getting to campus well in advance of an event is the best way to assure you will find the parking you need.

3. Plan the route to your preferred parking lot. A map with all available lots is available on our Maps page.

4. If the lot that best meets your needs is not a “Public Access” lot and you have a valid disabled person’s parking permit, purchase a parking pass at a public lot and proceed to the lot that provides you the best access.

5. Some campus venues provide parking information for their specific programs. For example, the Faculty Club has a parking page specifically for their patrons. Try searching the venue’s name + parking.

Finally, the city of Berkeley has several parking lots and options available. If those parking options do not meet your needs, consider the public transit options described above.