Working hard but commuting smarter is how it goes at UCLA. The university has again made the annual list of the top U.S.-based employers for meeting the Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) program’s national standard of excellence, improving the lives of the nearly 40,000 faculty and staff members who regularly travel to the campus, as well as the university’s population of over 28,000 undergraduate and graduate student commuters.
BWC is a program managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research, an internationally recognized transportation research, education, and technology center. The honor for 2025 was achieved by offering the campus community sustainable, affordable, convenient, and accessible transportation choices.
Commuter benefits offered to Bruins that helped the university receive the designation include subsidized transit passes, bike programs, additional incentives for green commuting, such as access to shower and locker facilities on campus for cyclists, and discounts at local bike shops, plus a guaranteed emergency ride home program. There are also electric vehicle charging stations in campus parking facilities, carpooling matching with reduced-priced carpool permits, and discounted daily parking.
During the 2024 academic year, a new convenient pass for all seven local and commuter transit agencies serving the campus was created for UCLA’s faculty and staff. The simplified Commuter All Access Pass was priced lower than the previously available commuter line passes.
A pilot initiative that became a permanent program in 2024 provides free public transit passes to lower-income employees working in the departments of UCLA Administration. Hundreds of individuals received the quarterly passes and have an alternative to driving to campus.
UCLA’s popular Earn-A-Bike program reopened registration, allowing qualified university employees and graduate students to swap a parking permit for a free $900 bicycle package that includes a standard hybrid commuter bike.
These programs and services contribute to better health and well-being for UCLA’s critical workforce of educators, researchers, administrators, technicians, craftspeople, and other higher education professionals. UCLA, part of the University of California system, is one of the largest employers in the state.
Other personal benefits gained are financial savings associated with not driving a car and less commuting-related stress. The university’s sustainable transportation offerings also reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. According to the annual State of the Commute report from UCLA Transportation, reductions in daily vehicle trips to campus help bring down commuter greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of metric tons.
"This designation represents our commitment to supporting a diverse campus community coming here from different directions. We're proud to offer a variety of sustainable ways to reach campus," said Tony Lucas, executive director at UCLA Transportation.
