Shift Your Semester · September 15 – December 15, 2026
Quad Bikes, the Evening Van, and getting around Harvard
Quad Bikes is the student-run shop at Cabot House — free repairs during open-stand hours, plus maintenance teaching and group rides.
Harvard students are also taking 10 active trips in 30 days to unlock a $15 reward on Shift. How that works
Getting around Harvard
What Harvard already runs — passes, shuttles, bike space and repairs — with a link to each program.
Transit
Harvard Square is a Red Line hub with bus connections in every direction — most of Cambridge and Boston is a one-seat ride.
Harvard University Police(opens in a new tab)The free Evening Van runs nightly across Cambridge and Allston during the academic year, 7 p.m.–3 a.m.
Harvard Transportation(opens in a new tab)
Bike
Quad Bikes, the student-run shop at Cabot House, offers free repairs during open-stand hours plus maintenance teaching and group rides.
The Harvard Crimson(opens in a new tab)Fix-it stations with pumps and tools around campus, each with a QR code linking to repair instructions.
Harvard Transportation(opens in a new tab)
Around campus
HUCEP walking escorts cover the Yard, River, Quad, and North Yard late nights Thursday–Saturday — flag down a bright vest or call.
Harvard University Police(opens in a new tab)
Programs and prices change each term. Check the linked school pages for current details.
- $15
- reward, unlocked
- 10
- active trips
- 30
- days to take them
- First 200
- to finish
For verified students, faculty, and staff at any Massachusetts college or university. One campaign code per account.
Join Harvard on Shift.
Get the free app and enter code SEMESTER. Then verify your @harvard.edu address inside the app. That puts you in Harvard’s group and starts your 30-day clock: 10 active trips unlock $15. Your account can stay on any email.
Installing from the App Store or Google Play? Enter the code after you sign up. Store installs don’t carry the link.
Where do I enter the code?
How the schools stack up
Schools by shift rate so far in October, the share of trips taken actively. Harvard University is 14 points behind #1.
What’s around campus
Everywhere you can walk, bike, or ride to from Harvard. The live map opens centered on campus, with real-time arrivals for every route.
Trains & buses
- Harvard2 min walkRed LineAshmont/Braintree ↔ Alewife · every few minutes
- Central18 min walkRed LineAshmont/Braintree ↔ Alewife · every few minutes
- Porter20 min walkRed LineAshmont/Braintree ↔ Alewife · every few minutes
- Massachusetts Ave opp Holyoke St1 min walkRoute 1Harvard Square ↔ Nubian Station · every ~10 minRoute 68Harvard Square ↔ Kendall/MIT StationRoute 69Harvard Square ↔ Lechmere Station · every ~25 min
- Harvard2 min walkRoute 77Arlington Heights ↔ Harvard Station · every ~15 minRoute 96Medford Square ↔ Harvard Station · every ~30 minRoute 74Belmont Center ↔ Harvard · every ~30 minRoute 75Belmont Center ↔ HarvardRoute 78Arlmont Village ↔ Harvard Station
- Harvard Square /Johnston Gate (MBTA Stop)2 min walk
Brandeis Shuttle · Brandeis ID required to board
Weekday daytime frequencies. The live map has real-time arrivals.
Bike routes
- Harvard Science Center Plaza1 min ride away
Shared use path · 0.6 mi through the area
- Cambridge Common1 min ride away
Shared use path · 0.8 mi through the area
- Charles River Paths2 min ride away
Shared use path · 10.1 mi through the area
- Charles River Greenway2 min ride away
Shared use path · 19.8 mi through the area
Bluebikes docks
Where you can get to
- Kendall / MIT
T & bus 13 min · Bike 17 min
- Downtown Crossing
T & bus 18 min · Bike 28 min
- Back Bay
T & bus 24 min · Bike 32 min
- Fenway Park
Bike 22 min · T & bus 30 min
- North Station
Bike 25 min · T & bus 31 min
- Seaport
T & bus 33 min · Bike 35 min
Weekday morning times; ~ marks an estimate.
Events near Harvard
A few picks over the next 30 days — the full calendar has everything.
Roams to try
Guided routes — preview the full route here, then check in at each stop in the Shift app to earn the badge.
The Bakery Run
Starts on campus · transit · 5.7 mi route · ~90 min · Greater Boston
The Sunset Pedal
Starts 0.9 mi from campus · bike · 1.6 mi route · ~10 min · Boston · Cambridge
A City of Squares
Starts 1 mi from campus · walk + transit · 4 mi route · ~36 min · Somerville · Cambridge
Your first 10 trips are worth $15.
Get Shift, enter SEMESTER, verify your Harvard email, and turn the walk to class into something more.