TAKE FLIGHT

Flight—a new, on-demand evening shuttle service for Temple students, faculty and staff—is replacing Owl Loop and TUr Door. Take Flight starting the night of August 24th.

Download the TapRide app, select Temple University and use your AccessNet login to request a ride from your smartphone. Flight will operate from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. seven nights a week during the academic year.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have a problem/question, who can I contact?

If you are calling during Flight shuttle operating hours (5:30 p.m. - 5:45 a.m.) and need immediate assistance, please call 215-204-7377.

What is Flight?

Flight is a new, on-demand evening shuttle service for the Temple community, initiated August 2016.

Who can use Flight?

Any student, faculty or staff member with a valid TUid.

When can I get a ride?

Shuttles operate from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. seven nights a week during the academic year.

How do I request a ride?

To request Flight:

• Download the TapRide app and select Temple University.
• Log in with your AccessNet username and password.
• Select where you are and where you want to go.

Using the app is easy. You can identify your current location by entering it manually or clicking a “Show me where I am” button. Gray bubbles automatically appear on a map to show campus pickup and drop-off locations, and you can select a destination using those bubbles or by doing a keyword search.

Plan ahead. Ensure you schedule your ride in advance.   

Use the web version. You can also access the web-based version of TapRide on a personal computer via TUportal or the TUmobile app.

What happens when I request a ride?

The app will automatically assign a shuttle to you. Once one has been assigned, the “waiting for driver” message will change to let you know an estimated time of arrival. Your bus number will appear in a white box below the ETA.

You can track your shuttle’s progress on the map. Once a driver arrives, he or she can activate a “honk” feature that pushes a notification to your smartphone so you know your ride is ready. That way you can keep working or relaxing until the shuttle has arrived.  

Where can I go?

Trips must begin or end at a residential address. Trips go to or from a residence to or from the following Main Campus pickup/drop-off locations:

• the bus shelter between Paley Library and the TECH Center
• Johnson and Hardwick halls
• the IBC Student Recreation building
• Morgan Hall
• the SEPTA Regional Rail station
• the Student Center
• the Tyler School of Art

What is the service area?

Flight’s service boundary around Main Campus is Cumberland Avenue to the north; Girard Avenue to the south; Fifth Street to the east; and 20th Street to the west. See map below:

Can I still take the Owl Loop and TUr Door shuttles?

No. The Owl Loop and TUr Door shuttle services will end the morning of Monday, March 14. These two services are being disbanded, and the new on-demand format for Flight will be served by Temple’s four 18-passenger buses. Separate shuttles to Ambler, the Health Sciences Center and TASB remain in operation.

Are there other Temple transportation options around Main Campus?

Yes. To enhance student services during peak ridership times, Temple has augmented Flight with the TECH Express, which takes students from the 12th Street bus shelter, across from the TECH Center (between Polett Walk and Montgomery Avenue), to their residences on or off-campus (within the Flight service area).

Students do not need to make a reservation for the TECH Express, which operates from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the academic year. Each student must present a valid TUid when boarding.

Effective Feb. 20, 2017, the TECH Express is scheduled to stop at the bus shelter for pickups once an hour on the half hour (5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., etc.).

The TECH Express will also include pickups, once an hour on the hour (6 p.m., 7 p.m., etc.), from the Temple Sports Complex on the corner of 13th and Master streets. Drop-offs will be at Pearson-McGonigle halls. Pickup times are approximate.

After midnight on weeknights, the 12th Street bus shelter is served by the regular Flight service, which requires a reservation. That is also the case on Saturdays and Sundays.

Why is there a new shuttle service?

Temple is transitioning from a walk-on, regular-route evening bus service to an on-demand service supported by mobile technology. Ridership for the prior services plateaued, and the student body, led by Temple Student Government, advocated for a two-way transportation system.

This on-demand service also leverages GPS technology and an app-based interface to increase user convenience and driver efficiency. Temple is always exploring ways to innovate and improve student services and, above all, doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our students.

Who are the drivers?

Flight shuttles are driven by the same trained, contracted drivers as the former Owl Loop and TUr Door services.

Are Flight shuttles accessible to students with disabilities? 

Yes. As with other university-provided transportation services, Flight buses are ADA accessible with wheelchair lifts. While submitting a ride request via TapRide, students have the option to choose a bus with this equipment.

Does Flight cost anything?

Members of the Temple community may use Flight for free. There is also no cap on the number of rides per semester.

How can I provide feedback?

Direct questions, comments or concerns to Associate Director of Operations and Logistics, Mark Gottlieb by emailing shuttle@temple.edu. You can also provide feedback specific to the quality of service by completing this quick and easy questionnaire.