Transit

The Ann Arbor and U-M parking systems explained.

Parking Violations

The fine for an expired city meter is $15 if paid before the end of the next business day, $25 within 14 days, $60 within 30 days, and $70 after 30 days. The initial fine for unauthorized parking in a disabled parking space or for violating city snow-removal parking restrictions is $115. Fines for most other parking violations are $35-$50 if paid within 14 days. All fines increase after 14 and 30 days. Other penalties may include default fees or impoundment charges if your vehicle is towed.

Parking tickets can be paid in 5 ways: online at annarbormi.rmcpay.com (credit card only; fee of $2.95 per ticket or 3%, whichever is greater); by phone at (866) 890-4982 (same fee as online); in person at the Customer Service Center, City Hall, 301 E. Huron, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; at drop boxes inside the city hall (301 E. Huron; box is at the north/Ann St. entrance) or across from the city hall at 300 E. Ann and S. Fifth intersection (drive-by 24-hour access); or by mail, addressed to City of Ann Arbor Customer Service Center, P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 (check or money order only). Postmarks are accepted as evidence of timely payment.

Parking tickets can be appealed online at a2gov.org/services/pages/parking-ticket-appeal.aspx (see form on webpage).

parking@a2gov.org, a2gov.org/services/pages/parking.aspx

Accessible & Senior Services

328 S. Fifth Ave., Blake Transit Center

(734) 973-6500

A-Ride is a shared, reservation-based ride service for disabled people. Buses have lifts and can accommodate wheelchairs or scooters, and riders can bring a personal care assistant with them for free. Fare Deal cards allow eligible people to ride fixed-route buses at a reduced rate. Eligibility is based on income, age, or disability. GoldRide allows people ages 65+ to travel free on TheRide’s regular fixed routes, including a recent expansion to Ypsilanti. GroceryRide provides weekly trips from several senior housing communities in Ann Arbor to local grocery stores for $1.50 total. Applications are required for A-Ride, GoldRide, and Fare Deal; visit theride.org/services/accessible-senior-service to apply.

Ann Arbor Airport (City of Ann Arbor)

801 Airport, State & Ellsworth

(734) 994-2841

Corporate and private flights, air ambulance service, flight instruction, aircraft fuel, and aircraft maintenance. Charter flights provided by Flagship Private Air (929-1477). No commercial passenger service. Car rental by Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and National Rental (all can be reached at 769-1144). Terminal bldg. open daily 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; summer, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. airport@a2gov.org, a2gov.org (click Departments, then Airport).

Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide)

2700 South Industrial

(734) 996–0400

TheRide provides public transportation to the greater Ann Arbor–Ypsilanti area. All buses are equipped with a ramp and can accommodate 2 wheelchair users; bike rack in front can carry 2 bicycles. For real-time information on bus locations, routes, schedules, and discount fares, visit theride.org

TheRide’s main office is at 2700 South Industrial. (734) 973–6500. Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The central boarding point in Ann Arbor is the Blake Transit Center, 328 S. Fifth Ave. Lobby open Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Sat. 7:15 a.m.–11 p.m., and Sun. 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m. The central boarding point in Ypsilanti is the Ypsilanti Transit Center, 220 Pearl St. Lobby open Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sun. 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Sign up for MyAlerts for changes to TheRide bus service and detours/delays at theride.org. Service hours for most routes are Mon.–Fri. 6:30 a.m.–11:45 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–10:45 p.m., and Sun. 8:15 a.m.–7:15 p.m.

Fare is $1.50 for fixed-route bus service. Transfers are free and valid for 90 minutes. Students in grades K–12 ride for $.75. Children age 5 & under ride free.

The MRide program allows U-M faculty, staff, and students with a valid yellow MCard to ride regularly scheduled buses at no charge. Thirty-day unlimited-ride passes ($45, $22.50 for K–12 students and Fare Deal cardholders) can be purchased online, at the Blake Transit Center, TheRide’s main office, Michigan Union, and these Bank of Ann Arbor locations: 125 S. Fifth Ave., Traver Village on Plymouth Rd., 801 W. Ellsworth, 2240 W. Stadium, and 7 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti. Fare Deal cards allow people ages 60–64, people with a Medicare or Medicaid card, or certification through an authorized agency to ride for $.75. GoldRide cards allow people age 65 & older to ride fixed routes free of charge. Many downtown Ann Arbor businesses also offer the go!pass to their employees; this card enables employees to board fixed-route service at no cost.

FlexRide on-demand service provides connections to TheRide’s fixed-route bus system and to other destinations. Call (734) 794–0377 or visit myflexride.org to make a reservation. FlexRide Night and HolidayRide provides a shared-ride service when TheRide’s fixed-route service is not operating. Visit theride.org or call (734) 528–5432 to reserve a trip. Free Park & Ride lots are at Plymouth Rd. and US–23, Green near Baxter, Pioneer High School, Miller at M–14, State north of Eisenhower, and 220 Pearl in Ypsilanti (which requires a free hang tag). From these lots, buses run downtown and to U-M campuses. Shared-use Park & Ride spaces can be found at Meijer (3825 Carpenter, Ypsilanti) and the Washtenaw County Service Center (4125 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor). A-Ride is a shared-ride service for people who are eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act and whose disability prevents them from riding the regular fixed-route buses. Service is provided in lift equipped vehicles. A-Ride card holders can also ride fixed-route service at no cost.

GroceryRide. (734) 973–6500. Provides weekly group trips, $.75 each way, to grocery stores from select senior housing complexes in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

Bicycles

Bicyclists generally must follow the same laws as motorized vehicles when riding on the street. Bicyclists must ride with the direction of traffic, come to complete stops at all stop signs and red lights, and use a white headlight and red rear reflector half an hour before sunrise and after sunset. Ann Arbor’s Safe Passing Ordinance requires that drivers, when passing a bicyclist, pedestrian or wheelchair user on the roadway, maintain a distance of at least 5 feet. Details about Michigan biking laws can be found here.

Ann Arbor was named a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly City by the League of American Bicyclists in 2021, and a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly City in 3 different years. Ann Arbor has 90.2 miles of on-street bike lanes, 35.3 miles of shared-use paths, 8.7 miles of marked shared lanes, 4.8 miles of protected bike lanes, and 11.4 miles of buffered bike lanes. For maps of city and county bike routes, see a2gov.org/departments/engineering/transportation/Pages/Biking.aspx.

The City of Ann Arbor has authorized Spin to operate electric scooters and e-bikes within the city​. Rules for where to ride e-bikes can be found at michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/hike-and-bike/ebikes. Information about Spin scooters, including how to request removal of one parked improperly, can be found at a2gov.org/departments/engineering/transportation/Pages/Biking.aspx.

TheRide fixed-route buses have exterior bike racks that accommodate 2 bikes at no extra charge. There are more than 1,000 bike parking spaces downtown, including bike lockers and seasonal on-street bike racks. Commuters with valid go!passes through their employers are eligible to rent space in secured bike houses at the Maynard and Ann/Ashley parking structures for $75/year. Run by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority; for more information, call (734) 994-6697 or email parking@a2dda.org.

Common Cycle, 416 W. Huron, #11, is a community-based organization empowering Ann Arbor to ride bicycles by providing access to education, tools, and other resources. Volunteer mechanics teach and assist with repairs, from fixing a flat to overhauling a headset. Programs include public hours, maintenance courses, a femme/trans/women program, and supporting underserved communities through bike distribution. See website for hours and volunteer opportunities: info@commoncycle.org, commoncycle.org

D2A2 Detroit–Ann Arbor Service

Ann Arbor stop: 328 S. Fifth Ave. (Blake Transit Center)

(517) 333–0400

Pilot express bus service connecting Ann Arbor and Detroit. Offered by the Regional Transport Authority of Southeast Michigan. Buses from Ann Arbor to Detroit approximately every hour between 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; approximately every 2 hours between 7:45 a.m.–10:45 p.m. Sat. & Sun.; no service on some holidays. See detailed schedule and track buses on website. One-way, nonrefundable fares: $8 base fare, $6 online booking discount, $100 for a book of 20 tickets, and $4 eligible senior/disability fare. info@michiganflyer.com, d2a2.com

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

General information (daily 24-hour automated assistance; personal assistance Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.): (734) 247-7678

Parking information: (800) 642-1978

Nonemergency airport police: (734) 942-2222

Website: metroairport.com

Detroit Metro (DTW) is south of I-94 at exit 198 (Merriman Rd.), about 25 miles east of Ann Arbor. An alternate route to the McNamara Terminal is I-94 east to I-275 south and then to exit 15 (Eureka Rd.). For drivers meeting arriving flights, “cell phone lots” are located on the East Service Dr. and Eureka.

DTW offers short- and long-term long-term parking. Short-term: $4-40 at both McNamara Terminal parking structure and Big Blue Deck parking structure; 24 hour max. Long-term: McNamara parking structure $28/day, Big Blue Deck $20/day, Green Lots $17/day. Most parking structures have a 7’0″ vehicle height limit. Both the long-term McNamara and Big Blue lots have electric car charging stations at no extra cost, and all three lots have free 24-hour shuttle service to terminals and disabled parking spots. Valet parking available at McNamara parking structure. Call (800) 642-1978 for the most up-to-date information.

Private parking lots with approximately 25,000 spaces are north of I-94 along Merriman Rd. Lots offer 24-hour shuttle service to terminals and charging stations for electric cars. These lots cost $12-$14/day, with discounts for AAA or booking online at least 24 hours in advance. Contact Airlines Parking, (800) 300-9069, airlinesparking.com; Park-N-Go, (734) 729-3999, parkngo.com; Qwik Park, (888) 844-7275, qwikpark.com; or U.S. Park (800) 447-7275, us-park.com.

Airport Transportation

Door-to-door transportation to Metro Airport is available 24 hours a day at a flat rate. Rates below are for trips from Ann Arbor to the airport. Pickups at airport typically cost more.

Accent Airport Transportation. (734) 678-8090. Daily 24 hours. accent@atsride.com, atsride.com

Airport One Transportation (248) 805-7800. Shared and private rides available. Daily 24 hours. Online booking available. info@airportonetransportation.com, airportonetransportation.com

AirRide (517) 333-0400. Travel from downtown Ann Arbor to DTW through a partnership between TheRide and Michigan Flyer. $15/person one-way if bought online, $3-5 more if bought in-person (credit card only). Discounts available for youth accompanied by parents. Bathrooms and outlets on board. Stops at Blake Transit Center (parking at the Fourth and William structure across the street, $2/day, 2-week limit), and at the McNamara Ground Transportation Center and North Terminal Ground Transportation Center at DTW. Advanced reservations are recommended and can be made online at michiganflyer.com. Walk-ons are available with online credit card payment. myairride.com

Ann Arbor Airport Shuttle (734) 699-8500. 24-hour door-to-door shuttle transportation throughout U-M campus, Ann Arbor, and neighboring cities. One-way rates starting at $49 for one passenger. Group discounts available. Call, email, or visit website for reservations. reservations@annarborairportshuttle.net, annarborairportshuttle.net

Lisa’s Sedan Service (734) 778-5210. Starting at $49 one-way to airport. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance. Reserve online. Daily 24 hours. lisassedanservice.com

Metro Cab (734) 997-6500. Book by phone or through the Metro Cab mobile app. Last-minute service also possible. Daily 24 hours. metrocabmichigan.com

Metro Cars (800) 456-1701. Reserve through mobile app or website. Call for groups of 7+ people or for a ride within 3 hours. Daily 24 hours. metrocars.com

Stadium Transport (734) 695-0800. Rates starting at $54 (cheapest for U-M students). Reserve online or call. stadium.reservations@gmail.com, stadiumtaxi.com

FlixBus

325 Depot (Amtrak station)

Round-trip and one-way services between Ann Arbor and several cities including Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Chicago. Travel across the country and continent possible with transfers. Outlets and free Wi-Fi on buses. Schedule and track buses through website or app. flixbus.com

getDowntown

328 S. Fifth Ave. (Blake Transit Center)

(734) 219–6596

A program of TheRide in partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor. Supports downtown employers and employees with their commuting needs, including go!passes, carpool and vanpool options, Park & Ride, walking and biking information, individual assistance, the Conquer the Cold event every Jan., and the Commuter Challenge every May. info@getdowntown.org, getdowntown.org

Greyhound

325 Depot (Amtrak station)

(734) 662–5212

Station and office open daily, including holidays, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & 4–9:30 p.m. Credit or debit only; no cash. Provides bus service throughout the U.S. and Canada. Power outlets and free Wi-Fi on buses. Call or check website for schedules. As of June 2023, one-way economy (100 percent refundable up to 30 days before departure) to Detroit from $13 online; one-way economy to Chicago from $29 online. Bus tracker available on website. greyhound.com