For individuals on campus with mobility impairments, Harvard’s Daytime Van is a vital transportation service that helps ensure accessibility and convenience. While all the university’s shuttle buses are fully accessible, some community members need additional assistance when travelling to classes, work, or extracurricular activities. Harvard Transportation Services (HTS) is now adding capacity to the Daytime Van to ensure even more people can rely on this important resource.
“As a service provider, we’re striving to make sure our offerings meet the diverse needs of all community members, ensuring everyone can access the full benefits of the campus,” said HTS Director of Transit and Fleet Management Dave Harris. “One of our guiding principles is to act in the university’s best interests and once we realized we needed more capacity on the Daytime Van, we made the easy decision to add an additional driver.”
The Daytime Van is designed for those who, because of physical impairment or medical condition, find it difficult to use the regular, fully accessible shuttle bus. This service operates year-round throughout the Cambridge and Allston campuses and is available to faculty, staff, and students. For many years, the service operated with two full-time drivers but recent feedback from the community made it clear that additional capacity was needed. As a result, HTS has added a third, full-time driver increasing capacity by 50%.
“A large percentage of daytime van ridership comes from FAS students who register with our office,” says Associate Dean of the Disability Access Office Grace Moskola. “We have taken student feedback very seriously over the years to better meet students’ needs.”
“The van service fills an important role, ensuring that everyone in our community can journey to their destinations and make the most of every moment on campus,” added Senior Director of University Disability Resources Kate Upatham. “I consistently hear compliments about the Daytime Van service. Everyone talks about how friendly and helpful they are. They really foster a welcoming environment for all our community members!”
For more information about accessing the Daytime Van service, please visit the Campus Accessibility section of the Transportation Services website.