This resource guide gives information on the area's major transit providers, other transportation options, parking, and links to transit-related governance/advisory groups.
MAJOR TRANSIT PROVIDERS
BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT
Bloomington Transit is the main public transit operator in the City of Bloomington. Its primary hub is the transit center at the southeast corner of 3rd and Walnut. It also operates BTaccess, a service for people with disabilities.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS BUS
IU Campus Bus operates bus services within the university. It coordinates with Bloomington Transit – students, staff and faculty can ride BT buses at no cost by showing their Crimson Card.
RURAL TRANSIT
Rural Transit is a rural bus service that operates in Monroe County outside of Bloomington, as well as in the counties of Lawrence, Owen and Putnam. It is a unit of the Ellettsville-based Area 10 Agency on Aging.
Bloomington Transit is the main public transit operator in the City of Bloomington. Its primary hub is the transit center at the southeast corner of 3rd and Walnut. It also operates BTaccess, a service for people with disabilities.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS BUS
IU Campus Bus operates bus services within the university. It coordinates with Bloomington Transit – students, staff and faculty can ride BT buses at no cost by showing their Crimson Card.
RURAL TRANSIT
Rural Transit is a rural bus service that operates in Monroe County outside of Bloomington, as well as in the counties of Lawrence, Owen and Putnam. It is a unit of the Ellettsville-based Area 10 Agency on Aging.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
BIKING
The City of Bloomington maintains a Biking in Bloomington site, with a Bloomington/Monroe County bicycle map, bicycle registration info, and other useful resources. Monroe County's Alternative Transportation site provides Bike to Work Day Employer Packets, complaint forms for county cycling infrastructure, among other information. The Bloomington Bicycle Club is another resource for cycling in this area.
SCOOTERS
Two scooter companies operate in Bloomington: Bird and Lime. For information about how the City of Bloomington regulates scooters, click here.
ZIPCAR
The Zipcar car-sharing service primarily serves the IU campus. Click here for information on car locations and membership.
RIDE-SHARING
The Bloomington IN Rideshare Group on Facebook connects people who want to share long-distance rides, often to Indianapolis. Indiana University offers carpool and vanpool programs. People with IU affiliations also have access to Zimride, a private ride-sharing network.
RENTAL CARS
Most major rental car businesses operate in Bloomington, including Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget.
HOOSIER COMMUTER CLUB
IU offers a variety of incentives to reduce driving alone through the Hoosier Commuter Club, available to IU staff, faculty and students.
The City of Bloomington maintains a Biking in Bloomington site, with a Bloomington/Monroe County bicycle map, bicycle registration info, and other useful resources. Monroe County's Alternative Transportation site provides Bike to Work Day Employer Packets, complaint forms for county cycling infrastructure, among other information. The Bloomington Bicycle Club is another resource for cycling in this area.
SCOOTERS
Two scooter companies operate in Bloomington: Bird and Lime. For information about how the City of Bloomington regulates scooters, click here.
ZIPCAR
The Zipcar car-sharing service primarily serves the IU campus. Click here for information on car locations and membership.
RIDE-SHARING
The Bloomington IN Rideshare Group on Facebook connects people who want to share long-distance rides, often to Indianapolis. Indiana University offers carpool and vanpool programs. People with IU affiliations also have access to Zimride, a private ride-sharing network.
RENTAL CARS
Most major rental car businesses operate in Bloomington, including Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget.
HOOSIER COMMUTER CLUB
IU offers a variety of incentives to reduce driving alone through the Hoosier Commuter Club, available to IU staff, faculty and students.
PARKING
The City of Bloomington operates parking structures as well as metered parking lots and on-street parking. Street parking costs 25 cents per 15 minutes and is enforced Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. til 9 p.m.
The City of Bloomington's Downtown Parking website and Visit Bloomington's online parking guide provide detailed descriptions of downtown parking options, both metered and free.
The city's site also includes information about the following topics:
- Business parking permits
- Neighborhood parking permits
- Monthly garage parking permits
- Parking tickets
- Temporary parking permits for special events
- Contractor and all-zone service permits
- Permits for dumpsters, moving trucks and PODs
- Local parking studies
Information about parking on the Indiana University campus is available:
TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT
In 2020, the City of Bloomington adopted a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan.
TDM is a strategy to provide options and incentives that encourage the use of non-single occupancy vehicles. Those options include public transportation, ridesharing, and infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. Click here for information on the TDM plan.
TDM is a strategy to provide options and incentives that encourage the use of non-single occupancy vehicles. Those options include public transportation, ridesharing, and infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. Click here for information on the TDM plan.
GOVERNANCE & ADVISORY GROUPS
NOTE: Starting in early 2020, these meetings are being held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation Board: Oversees Bloomington Transit operations. Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at BT headquarters, 130 W. Grimes.
Bloomington Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Commission: Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Bloomington Parking Commission: Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Bloomington Traffic Commission: Meets at 4:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Monroe County Traffic Commission: Meets at 1:30 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the North Showers Building, 501 N. Morton.
Bloomington Public Transportation Corporation Board: Oversees Bloomington Transit operations. Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at BT headquarters, 130 W. Grimes.
Bloomington Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Commission: Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Bloomington Parking Commission: Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Bloomington Traffic Commission: Meets at 4:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month at city hall, 401 N. Morton.
Monroe County Traffic Commission: Meets at 1:30 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the North Showers Building, 501 N. Morton.
