- RamRide
- RamSafe
- RamCharter
RamSafe
Stuck on campus late at night? RamSafe is the point-to-point evening transportation service dedicated for VCU students, faculty and staff. The program provides safe and free transportation to on-campus locations and nearby residences and buildings within defined boundaries on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. That means rather than waiting outside in the dark for your ride to arrive, you may continue studying in the library or dining in the Shafer Court Dining Center and wait for a phone notification that tells you your ride has arrived.
RamSafe will get you home safely, but it is not intended to be a personal taxi service and should not be used as such. RamSafe operates within VCU’s jurisdiction 365 days a year.
View RamSafe's service areas:
RamSafe Service Area- Monroe Park Campus / RamSafe Service Area- MCV Campus
MCV Campus Escort Service
VCU students, staff, and faculty can request rides on the MCV campus through the Ride Pingo app. This free service provides a safe ride to campus locations for any student or employee with a valid VCU ID card. The escort service is available from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.
Once you choose the destination location on the Ride Pingo app, you will be offered ride options (you may see a VCU RamSafe option and a VCUHS option); select the VCUHS option.
(Effective July 8, 2024, the Ride Pingo service request process has replaced 828-WALK)
Alerts
RamSafe cross-campus restrictions have been temporarily lifted, effective Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. RamSafe is now accepting ride requests to the MCV Campus, beginning at 5 p.m. daily.
For a more efficient RamSafe request experience, users should try turning off Wi-fi on their mobile device and enabling cellular data for the app (if not already enabled) before placing a ride request.
RamSafe hours of operation
Road closures and certain holidays may impact RamSafe's operating times; however, notifications will be posted in advance.
*RamSafe wait times are typically higher during peak demand periods (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.). Please plan your trips) accordingly.
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
|
Monroe Park Campus (RamSafe) |
5 p.m. to 8 a.m. |
|
MCV Campus (VCU Health escort service) |
5 p.m. to 8 a.m. |
|
Fall/spring cross-campus* hours *travels to MCV Campus RamSafe cross-campus restrictions were temporarily lifted, effective Nov. 9, 2020. |
Mon - Fri: 12 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (calls are taken until 5:45 a.m.) Sat - Sun: 12 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (calls are taken until 7:15 a.m.) Note: RamSafe service hours may be altered during the winter break. From Dec. 24-25, RamSafe will operate from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. |
|
Summer cross-campus hours RamSafe cross-campus restrictions were temporarily lifted, effective Nov. 9, 2020. |
Mon - Fri: 7 p.m. to 6:45 a.m. (calls are taken until 6:30 a.m.) Sat - Sun: 5 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. (calls are taken until 7:15 a.m.) |
Resources
RamSafe is moving to the Ride Pingo app on December 19, 2022. It is available for download in Google Play, Apple app stores, and VCU Mobile. Use Ride Pingo to schedule requests from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. View the instructional video at https://youtube.com/shorts/i04NBoZnCnc?feature=share.
Using the Ride Pingo app:
- Download the Ride Pingo app from your Google Play or Apple app store.
- Open the app, and click “Get started.”
- Enter your name, VCU email, and mobile phone number.
- Note: VCU Health System employees looking to access RamSafe should enter their VCU eID followed by "@vcu.edu."
- You will be directed to VCU’s Central Authentication System to input your VCU eid and password. If you do not know your eID, visit https://myeid.vcu.edu/.
- Click “Login.”
- You will reach the phone verification process, and Pingo will text a code to your phone. Enter this code.
Placing your request
For a more efficient RamSafe request experience, users should try turning off Wi-fi on their mobile device and enabling cellular data for the app (if not already enabled)before placing a ride request.
- If you need ADA accommodations, click the wheelchair icon in the top right corner.
- Enter the details of your journey- current location and destination.
- Click “RamSafe Request Ride.” You will then be able to view estimated pick-up and drop-off times.
- The system will pair you with a driver.
- Once a driver accepts your ride, you’ll see the driver and their ETA and receive a ticket number. You can also cancel your trip here if needed.
Completing your trip
- Ride Pingo will send you a push notification when the driver is two minutes away and when the driver arrives. Remember, you have three minutes to meet your driver once they arrive.
- You can rate your trip once complete.
For assistance with placing a request, call 828-SAFE (7233) or (804) 250-5019.
PLEASE NOTE: More than three no-shows and/or cancellations during the semester may result in the termination of riding privileges for that term.
For assistance with placing a request, call 828-SAFE (7233) or (804) 250-5019.
- A VCUCard must be presented when boarding. A maximum of 4 guests can ride with a valid VCUCard. Riders must indicate the number of guests on their Ride Pingo reservation.
- The driver may also ask to verify the last four digits of your phone number to verify the request.
- Smoking is prohibited, including electronic cigarette use and/or vaping devices.
- Pets are not allowed. Registered service animals, however, are welcome.
- No alcohol (in open or closed containers) is permitted.
- Food or drinks must be in a closed container.
- Request changes should be made by calling the RamSafe dispatcher at 828-SAFE (7233).
- Items transported on the bus should fit on passengers' laps or between their legs to enable safe ingress and egress.
- Passengers should not chase after the bus under any circumstance.
- VCU Parking and Transportation reserves the right to deny transportation to any passenger if, based upon the driver's judgment, the passenger’s behavior presents a danger to the vehicle, the driver, and/or other passengers.
Guests can now ride RamSafe with a valid VCU ID card. Please note, all guests must be affiliated with VCU and hold a valid ID card to ride the service. A maximum of 4 guests can ride (this includes one rider plus four guests). Riders must indicate the number of guests on their Ride Pingo reservation.
VCU Parking and Transportation maintains a separate lost and found inventory via the web application Crowdfind. The Crowdfind system is designed to make it easier for students, staff and visitors in the area to easily search electronic files for a lost item and file a claim for the item at any time from any device, once they are able to positively identify and confirm that the item belongs to them. If you believe you left an item on a RamSafe bus, please visit the Lost & Found section for retrieval instructions.