Owls, it’s time to take Flight. Temple University is launching a new, on-demand evening shuttle service March 14 to serve students, faculty and staff living around Main Campus.

Flight responds to students’ demand for a two-way transportation system that takes members of the Temple community from Main Campus to their nearby residences and vice versa. The service uses an app-based interface called TapRide to increase user convenience and driver efficiency.

“We’re very excited about this new service, which meets a need we have heard from many students,” said Temple Student Government (TSG) President Ryan Rinaldi. “Flight offers an easy, convenient and safe way to get to or from campus. TSG is a proud partner in this innovative effort to improve student services.”

Owl Loop, which makes a regular loop around Main Campus, and TUr Door, which takes students to their off-campus residences but not back to campus, are being disbanded. The new on-demand format of Flight will be served by Temple’s four 18-passenger buses driven by trained, contracted drivers.

Flight shuttles will operate from 5:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days per week during the academic year. Separate shuttles to the Health Sciences Center, Ambler Campus and the Temple Administrative Services Building will remain in operation.

Trips on Flight must begin or end at a residential address within the service boundaries of Cumberland Avenue, Fifth Street, Girard Avenue and 20th Street.

Pickups and drop-offs will be available at these Main Campus locations

• the bus shelter located between Paley Library and the TECH Center,
• Johnson and Hardwick halls and dining area,
• the IBC Student Recreation building,
• Morgan Hall and Dining Center,
• the SEPTA Regional Rail station,
• the Howard Gittis Student Center,
• and the Tyler School of Art.

Students, faculty and staff can request Flight by downloading the TapRide app and selecting Temple from the list of university partners, logging in with a TUid, and selecting a location and a destination.

Once a pickup location and drop-off destination are selected, the app will assign a shuttle and an estimated time of arrival based on a driver’s current location and the number of other pickups or drop-offs en route to the passenger. Upon arrival, the driver can use the app to push a notification to the passenger’s smartphone to indicate a ride is ready.

In addition to the smartphone app, users can access the web-based version of TapRide via TUportal under the TUapplications menu, via the TUmobile app or by visiting tapride-temple.herokuapp.com/ride/#/. Users should plan ahead and schedule a ride before they're ready to leave.