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.
Road closures and certain holidays may impact RamSafe's operating times; however, notifications will posted in advance.
View the RamSafe service areas: RamSafe Service Area- Monroe Park Campus and RamSafe Service Area- MCV Campus
RAMSAFE SERVICE DURING WINTER BREAK:
RamSafe will operate on its normal schedule (5 p.m. to 8 a.m.) throughout the winter break, with the exception of Sunday, December 23 through Tuesday, December 25. On these days, RamSafe will operate from 5 p.m to 1 a.m.
RamSafe Hours of Operation | |
---|---|
Monroe Park Campus (RamSafe) |
5 p.m. to 8 a.m. |
MCV Campus (VCUHS Security) |
5 p.m. to 8 a.m. |
Fall/Spring Cross-campus Hours |
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.) |
Summer Cross-campus Hours |
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.) |
About the RamSafe app:
VCU faculty, staff and students can access the RamSafe app through any Android or iOS app store. Requests are also accepted through the VCU Mobile app or at ramsafe.vcu.edu. Changes to requests should be made by calling the RamSafe dispatcher at 828-SAFE (7233).
For a step-by-step guide on how to use the RamSafe app, download "How to use the new RamSafe app"
- Notifications: Drivers will notify you when they are about a block away, and again when they arrive at the pickup location. Notifications occur through the app and/or on your mobile device.
- You must accept to receive notifications when prompted upon opening the platform and should have the app launched to take advantage of these features.
- Users who call 828-SAFE AND have installed the app as well as provided their eID to dispatcher for their "rider name" will receive notifications, tracking info., etc. through the app. Otherwise, notifications for all other users will occur via SMS.
- Real time ETAs: Estimated arrival times are adjusted in real time; however, keep in mind that traffic, weather, etc. can alter these estimates.
- Enhanced tracking: Track your driver when you are next in line to receive a pick up when you reserve online or through the app.
- Accommodations: Request ADA and bike rack accommodations through the app.
- Cancellations: Cancel only when absolutely necessary; but, remember, cancelling and resubmitting a request places the requestor at the bottom of the queue and does not provide a faster response time.
Questions/Feedback:
For feedback and/or questions regarding RamSafe, call 828-SAFE (7233) or email ramsafe@vcu.edu. You can also submit feedback directly through the RamSafe app following completion of your ride. For ADA service assistance, please contact 828-SAFE (7233).
Faculty, staff and students on the MCV Campus should continue to contact 828-WALK (9255) for MCV Campus transports.
How to Schedule a Ride:
- Access RamSafe (ramsafe.vcu.edu) via desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You can access the RamSafe app through VCU Mobile or download the RamSafe standalone app for iOS or Android. The RamSafe platform works best in the stand alone applications.
- At ramsafe.vcu.edu, enter your eID and password and follow the prompts to enter a ride request. First-time users will need to enter a phone number in order to receive notifications.
- Provide the following information so that we may easily identify you and document our activity:
- Current pick up location
- Desired destination
- Number of people in your party (The passenger making the reservation must have a valid VCUCard; guests must have a guest pass)
- Any needed accommodations.
- Once your vehicle is assigned, you can track it until it arrives.
- Changes to requests should be made by calling the RamSafe dispatcher at 828-SAFE (7233).
- You will receive notification once the RamSafe bus reaches your destination. The driver will wait 3 minutes before leaving.
- Enjoy your ride!
PLEASE NOTE: More than 3 no-shows and/or cancellations during the semester may result in termination of riding privileges for that term.
Guest Policy:
- Two guests can be brought onto the RamSafe bus. Guests are considered to be non-VCU staff, students and faculty. The VCU requestor is expected to ensure that his/her guest(s) abides by RamSafe's "Rules of the Ride."
- All VCU staff, students and faculty MUST present a VCU ID when boarding the RamSafe bus.
- Guest(s) must present a valid guest pass to the driver and be accompanied by a passenger with a valid VCUCard.
- Requests should include the total number of passengers, including guests (non-VCU passengers).
- The requestor is responsible for their guest(s) while on the RamSafe shuttle.
All RamSafe guests must present a guest pass to the driver upon boarding the vehicle. RamSafe/RamRide guest passes are available online.
To retrieve your guest pass:
- Paste https://vcu.t2hosted.com into your browser, or hit the "Download Guest Pass" button above.
- Oncel logged in to the portal, select “Get Permit” and log in with your VCU credentials.
- Select “Transportation Guest Pass.”
- Agree to the policies and procedures.
- Select the date you would like the guest pass to start. Passes will automatically expire four days after the date you select.
- Select “Print at Home.”
- Simply print the permit and make sure your guest presents the paper pass to the driver. This pass is valid for VCU's RamRide and RamSafe transit services.
*UPDATE: Alternate RamSafe Pickup Locations
Due to the new traffic pattern at the Campus Learning Center (900 Park Avenue), RamSafe is unable to pick-up and drop-off passengers safely from this location. The pickup location for this building has been transitioned to Cabell Library. Please note, all system requests for 900 Park Ave. will be redirected to Cabell upon entering.
The existing construction barricades on Franklin Street prevent a safe passenger pickup for RamSafe vehicles. As a result, the Cabell Library and Franklin St. gym have been identified as a safer alternate pickup location for requests made within this area (drop-offs, however, will be made). Please note, all users requesting pickup service from these locations will receive a notification stating that the location(s) is unavailable. Users should instead enter alternate locations into their pick-up request aside from Rhoads, Brandt and Johnson Hall. Drop-offs at these areas, however, are still possible.
- A VCUCard must be presented when boarding. A maximum of 2 guests can ride with a valid VCUCard.
- The driver may also ask for verification of the last 4 digits of your phone number to verify the request.
- No smoking is allowed, 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.
- Changes to requests should be made by calling the RamSafe dispatcher at 828-SAFE (7233).
- Items that are 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 transport to any passenger if, based upon the judgment of the driver, the passenger’s behavior presents a danger to the vehicle, the driver, and/or other passengers.
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.