Probably one of the most unique things about navigating Davis is its transportation network. Legions of bikes and a fleet of double-decker buses are its signature features.
Getting Around Town
On campus, TAPS regulates both bicycle and motor vehicles. It is best to follow a simple rule: the shortest distance between any two points in Davis isn't a straight line — it's a bike.
Amtrak Shuttle
see Amtrak Shuttle
Bike
Davis is well-known for its fleet of bicycles and corresponding infrastructure. Everywhere in Davis is accessible by a bike lane or path, including several tunnels and bridges that span under/over roadways. Various intersections, the most prominent being Russell and Sycamore, even sport a green/red light specifically for bicycles. The bike system culminates at campus which is closed to general auto traffic. Bicycle circles and lanes dominate the campus streets which become flooded with pedaling traffic between classes. Visitors are usually amazed at the sheer number and volume of bikes. See Bicycling for further information.
Bus
Unitrans
Another novel aspect of Davis transportation is the bus system, Unitrans, which runs several London-esque double-decker buses as well as a fleet of single-deck buses that operate on natural gas engines. This system spans the majority of Davis and lines originate from the Memorial Union and the Silo on campus.
Yolobus
Yolobus has several routes going through Davis.
Car Rental
see Car Rental
Disabled, Transportation for the
Davis Community Transit is a paratransit bus that serves residents of Davis who have a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as well as general public (when time and space permit). Davis Community Transit is a curb-to-curb (they'll pick you up and drop you off) transportation service provided by the City of Davis. You must register with Davis Community Transit in order to use this service. Reservations are required and fares are $2.00 for each one-way trip. Davis Community Transit serves Davis only.
Motor Vehicle
If you are driving a motor vehicle, you get to deal with parking. It is best to park someplace and then walk. Even better, if you have a bicycle, it would be easier to use it to get around the downtown and campus area than having to find a parking space and/or having to pay to park. Be careful of time limitations. Some people discover that they can go Car-free in Davis.
The coolest motor vehicle in Davis has to be RoboChair but unfortunately it is not street legal, however one of these days we hope to get it capable to go 25mph, yes that would be an armchair going by at 25mph!
Motorcycles and Scooters
Finding parking for a motorcycle may be easier, given its size; however, the city does not have the best record for safety concerning motorcyclists. The California Office of Traffic Safety compares the accident statistics of cities with similar populations, giving those with the poorest records the worst rankings, with 1st place being the worst. That year, Davis ranked 17th out of 104 cities for motorcycle safety.
Statewide, the incidence of fatal and personal injury accidents involving motorcyclists is decreasing. In 2009, 394 riders were killed in crashes, a decline of 29.6 percent from 2008, when there were 560 fatalities. 2009 marked the first decrease in fatal accidents that occurred in California since 1998. Motorcyclists account for a disproportionate rate of collisions and are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than the occupants of other vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Although riders in their teens and twenties represent only a small percentage of motorcycle owners, they account for nearly twice the percentage of fatalities suffered each year.
Students considering using a motorcycle to get around should first take a training course. The California Highway Patrol offers such courses through its California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/motorcycle.html.
see Motorcycles
Shortcuts
see Shortcuts
Skating
Inline skating
Many students skate to class on campus.
Skateboarding
Taxicab
Davis has a few small taxicab companies which include: 16/7 Taxi Cab Services, A Taxi, Checker Cab Company, College Cab, Dan's Cab, Davis Cab, Friendly Cab, and Village Cab.
Fare rates are deregulated in Davis, so different cab companies may have different rates. Some of the cab companies have multiple rates.
Some UCD students may use the Tipsy Taxi during restricted times and for restricted uses.
Walking
Some say everything in Davis is within walking distance (but they would be severely mistaken). GPS navigation systems on mobile phones are available with directions for walking as well as driving.
Getting Out of Town
[see also Travel Agencies] [see also Transit Destinations for which train, bus, etc. to take, for your destination]
Air
For commercial flights, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the nearest and most convenient major airport (approx. 20 miles / 32 km away) (source: https://www.google.com/maps/). A medium-sized airport, it is served by nine airlines and offers direct service to numerous destinations in the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Mexico. (source: http://sacramento.aero/smf/flight_and_travel/nonstop_destinations/) Oakland International Airport (OAK), about 75 miles, is the next closest airport. San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a major international travel hub and one of the busiest airports in the US, is 85 miles away. San Jose International Airport (SJO) is about 105 miles away. Regional airports include the Yolo County Airport (2Q3) and the UC Davis University Airport (KEDU). See Airports for more information.
Airport Shuttle
Davis Airporter davisairporter.com provides on-demand shuttle service to and from Sacramento International Airport and San Francisco airport. Contact Davis Airporter at (530)756-6715 or (800)565-5153.
Davis Sacramento Airport Shuttle Travelers find the most affordable and highest rated airport shuttle services, private car service, and limo service at ShuttleWizard.com . Reservations Phone 310-626-0067
Bicycle
Amtrak has bicycle racks on all of its Capitol Corridor trains. The line connects Davis to the BART system, which also allows bikes on its trains (except during select peak hours). All Yolobuses are equipped with bike racks which are pretty simple to use. You can also bike to San Francisco, Sacramento, Winters, Dixon, Woodland, Vacaville, and Vallejo. See Bicycle Rides for further information.
If The Davis Enterprise keeps its word you can see this; If not, sorry. Amtrak Bike Commuter John Hill Photos
Bus
Regional Buses
Yolobus is a county-wide bus system also serving parts of Solano County, and Sacramento County. (This link is to Daviswiki.org/Sacramento. The prior link was to Daviswiki.org/Sacramento_County which is merely a redirect to Sacwiki.org/Sacramento_County.)
The Solano Express serves Solano County.
Fairfield/Suisun Transit For those who do not wish to pay the Capitol Corridor prices, but are not able to ride the Berkeley shuttle, Fairfield/Suisun Transit offers some solutions. Route 30 connects Sacramento and Davis with Fairfield and Route 90 connects Fairfield with the "El Cerrito Del Norte" BART station. As of 7/11/08, fares from Sacramento and Davis to the BART station are $10.50 and $9.50, respectively. You may pay the full amount when you first board the bus and you will receive a transfer. There are also monthly and 10-ride passes available. Bicycles are allowed on Route 30, but NOT on route 90. Bicyclists may choose to take route 30 to Vacaville (or arrive in Vacaville by other means, such as Yolobus). In Vacaville you can catch Route 40 (also Fairfield Suisun Transit) which will take you to the Pleasant Hill and the Walnut Creek BART stations. Please be aware that each bus can only accommodate 2 bikes in the front rack. The bike policy and fare structure are printed on all of the route schedules.
Sacramento Regional Transit serves the Sacramento area east of the Sacramento River.
Davis Berkeley Shuttle
The Davis Berkeley Shuttle operated by Fleet services runs twice daily on weekdays between the UCD campus and UC Berkeley. Only UCD affiliates may ride. You must reserve a seat ahead of time on their website if you plan to go home on a Friday - it's always packed, oftentimes for more than a week or two in advance! A one-way ticket costs $9.75, and can be purchased using the online registration system. The current schedule is 7:30 a.m. leave UCD, arrive UCB 9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. leave UCB, arrive UCD 1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. leave UCD, arrive UCB 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. leave UCB, arrive UCD 8:00 p.m.
Poolbusters Vanpool
The Poolbusters Vanpool runs between UC Davis and El Cerrito Plaza Bart Station. Its main purpose for commuters who live in the East Bay and work at or attend UC Davis. It can also be utilized for occasional trips to the Bay Area. Ending at a Bart station allows a wide array of other locations to be reached. In the mornings the van leaves El Cerrito at 7:40 am, and in the evenings it departs Davis at 5:10pm. In Fall 2013 the occasional rider fee was $13 one way.
UCDMC Shuttle
The UCDMC Shuttle runs between the UCD campus and the UC Davis Medical Center. It is open to UCD affiliates, but not to the general public. A one-way ride costs only $1.
Nation-wide
Amtrak There are Amtrak buses as well as trains. Greyhound
Car
Note that cars are listed under "Getting Out of Town", as bicycles are usually faster than cars on Davis streets. See Driving in Davis. See Directions heading
Carpool
Carpooling helps folks out with rides and you meet interesting people. Find or post a carpool on the Wiki Ride Board. University affiliates can use AlterNetRides with their university login, others can access it without id.
Car Rental
see Car Rental
Davis Airporter
The Davis Airporter provides on-demand shuttle service to and from Sacramento International Airport and San Francisco airport. Contact Davis Airporter at (530)756-6715 or (800)565-5153.
Directions
If traveling by car, I-80 West leads to the Bay Area and ends at the junction with U.S. Highway 101 in San Francisco. I-80 East heads toward Sacramento and ends at the junction with Interstate 95 in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Highway 113 leads North to Woodland where it connects to northbound I-5. I-5 is about 12.5 miles east of Davis. Heading south, it goes through the Central Valley, leading to LA, San Diego, and the Mexican border. Heading North, it goes through Redding, Portland, Seattle, and terminates at the Canadian border. To reach I-5 heading North, take Highway 113 North to Woodland. To reach I-5 South, take I-80 and then US 50 to Sacramento. (See Navigating Davis - Freeways.)
Taxicab
Train
Amtrak has three routes that run through Davis. The Capitol Corridor travels as far east as Auburn and as far south as San Jose. This train runs 16 times/day each way between Sacramento and Oakland, Mon.-Fri. The line makes the Bay Area accessible from Davis by connecting to the BART System in Richmond and at the Oakland Coliseum. The California Zephyr also passes through Davis, going all the way to Chicago. The Coast Starlight line runs between Seattle and Los Angeles. The latter two trains operate once a day each way, and require advance reservations. To catch a train you'll want to go to the train station.
UCD Vanpools
The UCD Vanpools operate Monday through Friday, with the exception of University-observed holidays and are an excellent alternative to the Davis Berkeley Shuttle or the train. Currently there are vanpools between the East Bay (El Cerrito in Contra Costa County) and Davis; Placer County and Davis and Solano County and Davis.
