Transportation and access
Getting to campus
You can access the UBC Vancouver campus using a variety of transportation methods. Numerous wheelchair-accessible city buses arrive from surrounding communities from early in the morning until late in the evening.
Individuals who are not able to use the bus system because of their disabilities may be able to use TransLink's HandyDART. HandyDART is a shared-ride public transit service that uses specially equipped vehicles designed to carry passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use public transit without assistance.
Disability parking and special needs permits
Disability parking spaces are available in each of the parkades and open lots on campus, as well as at specially marked street meters. You must have a SPARC decal to park in these spaces.
Special needs permits allow you to park in UBC parkades or in faculty/staff lots at half the usual student parkade rate. In the faculty/staff lots, special needs parking is available near buildings for disability-related reasons in special circumstances.
Please contact Access & Diversity and provide the office with your disability documentation. Access & Diversity makes recommendations regarding all requests for disability parking to UBC Parking & Access Control Services.
Shuttles around campus
The public transit system offers wheelchair-accessible community shuttles that travel the perimeter of the UBC Vancouver campus.
Mobility on campus
UBC's Wayfinding can help you locate buildings, identify accessible entrances, and distinguish between power and manual doors.
If getting around campus is a challenge, you may qualify for priority registration and/or classroom moves. If you are eligible for priority registration, you will be able to register one day early. In this way, you will be able to choose sections of courses that most fit your mobility needs.
If your accommodations include classroom moves, you may be able to request the classroom moves in advance of the term.
If you have a visual impairment that requires mobility training on campus, please contact Access & Diversity as early as possible.
U-Pass exemption
If you are unable to ride public transit for disability-related reasons, you may apply for a U-Pass exemption and have the U-Pass fee refunded to you.
Contact Access & Diversity if you believe you qualify for a U-Pass exemption. Medical documentation confirming that you are unable to use public transit will be required.
