The FREE XtraMile pilot on-demand shuttle service works to get you around Middletown on your schedule.  The shuttle will pick you up where you are, take you to your destination, and bring you back to campus. For Spring 2023, XtraMile runs Fridays and Saturdays 12 - 7 PM beginning January 27.  A big thank you to the Wesleyan Green Fund for extending this pilot program!

How do I use XtraMile?

1. Download the TransLoc app in the Apple or Google Play stores.  Don’t have a smartphone? Call the dispatch center at 860-346-0212.  
2. Click the search icon at the bottom and type in "XtraMile."
3. Scroll all the way to the bottom to select "XtraMile Middletown;" note that there are different links for Monday-Wednesday and Thursday-Saturday service.
4. Select your pick-up and destination locations (any of the blue dots on the map or anywhere on Main Street) and pick-up time.
5. The shuttle will pick you up in about 5-15 minutes to bring you to your destination.

Where can I go?

XtraMile currently has 18 stops within central Middletown, including:

• Washington St. (Price Chopper, CVS, Aldi, Big Lots, Chipotle, Goodwill)
• On campus (Usdan, Weshop, Hi Rise, Butts, Hewitt Circle, Brainerd/Lawn, William/High)
• Anywhere on Main St. (restaurants, movie theater, bookstore, etc.)
• Russell Library
• Macdonough Elementary School

 

If you're just looking to get around campus more easily, hop on The Ride, the free campus shuttle that runs nightly from 7 PM to 4 AM.

WesPass Program: As of Fall 2021, riding Middletown Area Transit and 9-Town Transit buses is FREE for students!  Just show your WesID when you hop on a bus and you're good to go. 

Middletown Area Transit (MAT) Buses stop at the corner of William/High Streets (Route 583, Route 584, and Route 590) every 50 minutes. Use MAT's Trip Planner to figure out your route, your stop, and when the bus is coming (scroll down below the map). Additional bus stops near campus are now on the Wesleyan map or you can see this handy poster of nearby destinations. Links to MAT bus schedules are below.   

• Route 581 (Stop & Shop, Bob's Stores, Dollar Tree, Marshalls, Saybrook Rd. medical centers)
• Route 582
• Route 583 (Price Chopper, Big Lots, Chipotle, Goodwill)
• Route 584 (Shop Rite)
• Route 585 (Walmart, Price Rite)
• Route 586
• Traveling off-campus: Route 590 gets you to Meriden Train Station in less than 20 minutes.  In Meriden, you can connect to New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, Bradley Airport, and beyond via train.  Meriden is also home to the Meriden Mall with service on Saturdays.  This poster gives more information on how to connect to other transit using MAT, or read more below.

9-Town Transit buses leave from the downtown terminal.

• Route 644 connects Middletown to Old Saybrook, where you can get on an Amtrak or Shoreline East train
• Route 645 connects Middletown to Haddam, Killingworth, Clinton, and Madison (home to Hammonasset State Park)

Map

Eco Facilitator Kayla Loubriel '22 created a map of Middletown Area Transit routes to make it easier for you to get around! Bus routes are color coded; each stop notes what routes stop in the same location.

CTrail Hartford Line service offers 17 round trips a day between New Haven and Hartford, with some trips continuing up to Springfield, MA.  Take the Hartford Line to connect to buses and trains continuing on to Boston, New York, and beyond.  The nearest Hartford Line station is in Meriden, which is accessible via a 15-20 minute ride on Middletown Area Transit's Route 590 service.  See how to connect north and south on the Hartford Line via this poster.

• In Hartford, you can connect to Bradley Airport via the Bradley Flyer.
• In New Haven, you can connect east and west via CT Rail Shoreline East, Metro North New Haven Line, and Amtrak.
• In Springfield, MA, you can connect to Amtrak trains running west toward Albany or east toward Boston.

CT Transit Route 55 offers buses to Hartford and Bradley Airport from the downtown Middletown Bus Terminal (340 Main St.).

Transportation Services offers weekly shuttles from campus to the New Haven Train Station.  Before and after breaks, Transportation Services offers shuttles to Bradley Airport, New Haven Train Station, Boston, New York City, and occasionally to Philadelphia/Washington, D.C.  Tickets for all shuttles can be purchased online through Transportation Services.

Map

Eco Facilitator Kayla Loubriel '22 has created a map of regional transit (bus and rail) to make it easier for you to get off campus without a car! Lines are color-coded for ease of use.

• Parking: The Wesleyan campus map shows bike parking locations on Wesleyan's campus and in downtown Middletown (note: Middletown locations are in progress).  Indoor bike racks are available to residents of the following buildings: High Rise, Malcolm X House, Bennet, Clark, Butterfield A and B, Fauver, Nicolson, West College, and Hewitt.  Bikes must be parked at a bike rack and may never block sidewalks, roads, ramps, porches, parking lots, or building doors.  Always lock your personal bike (U-locks recommended and available to purchase for $20 at the Public Safety Office).  

• Bike Rentals: WesBikes is Wesleyan's semester-by-semester bike rental program. It caters to students for whom owning a bicycle on campus is infeasible for geographical or financial reasons. WesBikes also offers students the opportunity to try out owning a bike on campus.  All proceeds from bike rentals go into maintaining the bike fleet.  Contact Public Safety to rent a bike.

• Biking Safely: Read the rules below to stay safe.  For more information, visit the Public Safety bicycle safety page. 
  • Riders should wear a helmet at all times while riding a bicycle.  Public Safety sells helmets for $20 apiece. 
  • Follow all Connecticut state laws regarding bicycling.
  • Ride on the right, moving with traffic.  Bikes going straight may ride in the left edge of a right turn lane.
  • Obey traffic signals and signs, using hand signals to indicate turns and stops.  When making a turn, you can operate like a vehicle, or like a pedestrian, making use of crosswalks and pedestrian lights.

• • Riders are prohibited from riding bicycles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Only one person at a time is allowed on a bicycle. 
  • Bicycles are prohibited on Middletown Main Street sidewalks per Section 262-43 of City ordinances. 
  • Bikes are discouraged from riding on City sidewalks elsewhere, but if you need to ride on a sidewalk for safety, you must yield to pedestrians.

The City of Middletown and Bird have teamed up to bring e-scooters and e-bikes to the city. The eco-friendly transportation option is available to rent for short rides around the city. They are parked on the sidewalk, lock to themselves rather than a bike rack or a dock, and are activated through Bird’s free smartphone app and user account.

How do I use the bikes and scooters?

Any person who is 18 years old or older can ride the bikes and scooters.  Download the Bird app on your smartphone and set up an account.  When you open the app, the map will show you a pin for every scooter and bike available in your area, so you can navigate to the one closest to your location. When standing next to a Bird vehicle you want to use, simply open the app and scan the QR code on the vehicle to unlock it, and then follow the app’s instructions as prompted. Be sure to park your vehicle in an authorized location (see below) when your ride is complete.

Scooters: The first few times you ride, the scooter will operate in beginner mode to give you time to get used to how they work. Learn about how to safely ride a Bird e-scooter.

How much do they cost?

The exact pricing depends on the ride, but most rides cost $0.49 per minute, plus taxes and fees ($1 start fee, $0.25 compliance fee, plus 6.35% tax).  Bird's Community Pricing Program offers a 50% discount on the per-minute fee to FGLI students, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens. Those who qualify can sign up by downloading the Bird app, creating an account and emailing proof of eligibility to access@bird.co.

Where do I ride?

Scooters and bikes should be ridden in the street, following all traffic rules. Do not ride on the sidewalk. Share the road. People riding bikes scooters are allowed on the road. Bike and scooter riders can be in the middle of the travel lane to be visible and to avoid road hazards. If driving near a bike or scooter, slow down and drive with caution. Drivers may pass people on scooters if they leave at least three feet between the motor vehicle and the rider. You may cross a double yellow line to pass as long as you safely yield to oncoming traffic. Make sure you are safely ahead of the rider before merging back into the right lane. If there is not room to pass safely, follow behind at a safe distance until you can pass.

Where should I park?

Users should park between the curb and the sidewalk. Parked devices should never block the sidewalk, bus stops, doorways, fire hydrants, driveways, or sidewalk ramps. Note that Wesleyan's central campus is a no-park zone (between Church/Vine/High/Washington Terrace).

Any electric vehicle owner, regardless of assigned parking lot, is allowed to park in electric vehicle charging parking spaces while charging. Currently, all EV charging is free.

• 2 Level 2 stations serving 4 parking spots in Q Lot (behind Freeman Athletic Center)
• 2 Level 2 stations and 1 Level 1 station serving 2 parking spots behind 255 Pine St (Transportation Office/Auxiliary Services)
• 5 Level 2 stations serving 10 parking spots in T Lot (behind Center for Film Studies)
• 1 Level 2 station serving 2 parking spots at Neighborhood Preschool (60 Long Lane)

Additional charging stations will be installed in the near-future.  Please email Andres Sarda with any questions or feedback.

• Set up a carpool for one-time or regular commuting travel.  Carpooling is an arrangement between people to travel together in a single vehicle and is a great way to save money, connect with others, and cut your carbon footprint.  Find your carpool buddy through CTrides!  
• For a monthly fee, Commute with Enterprise provides a van, insurance, maintenance, and fuel for vanpool groups, which usually meet daily at a pre-determined location. Great for employees in New Haven, West Hartford, and other highly populated areas.  For more information, contact Matt Lyhne at Enterprise.

• CTrides, a program of CT DOT, offers free bus trial rides and has a ridematching service to help you get where you need to go.  CT Rides offers a number of other commuter benefits, too. 
• CTrides offers rewards every time you walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation, whether you're traveling for work, school, or just for fun.  Download the Android or iPhone CTrides app to make tracking your trips even easier.

Watch a CTrides info video to learn more!