Cal Poly’s Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) does way more than direct traffic and give out parking tickets. Here are 10 interesting facts about a department you thought was not very interesting.
- All the money generated from parking citations goes to creating, maintaining and promoting sustainability programs like rideshare and commuting, not paychecks.
- TAPS is a self-sustaining department meaning that it receives no state, or university funding. They pay their employee salaries with parking permit sales.
- TAPS is continuously expanding services and promoting more sustainable transportation options and creating affordable opportunities for students, faculty and staff to commute to and from campus.
- Bike commuting is easy thanks to TAPS and the more than 7,000 bike rack spaces and 252 secure bike lockers available.
- TAPS subsidizes vanpool groups that are open to faculty, staff and students. Carpool permits are available for faculty, staff and students and offer designated premium parking spots in lots throughout campus.
- Rides on SLO Transit buses have been free with a Cal Poly ID for nearly four decades thanks to TAPS.
- TAPS introduced the Mustang Shuttle program last winter. This free shuttle service now runs during the day five days a week and in the evening, until 12:30 a.m. seven days a week.
- Nine new charging ports were installed this winter in Structure 131. Now there are 21 charging stations available on campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
- Have you heard of Mustang Patrol, the folks who are available to walk with you across campus late at night? Yeah, that’s a TAPS program.
- All of this work has helped get Cal Poly recognized as a Best Workplace for Commuters many times, as well as named a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists and one of the Best Universities for Bike Commuters in the nation.