Transportation

Brown onCall

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Brown onCall

The Brown University Shuttle onCall service provides point-to-point transportation to and from areas within the onCall service area not accommodated by the Brown Evening Shuttle route after 7 p.m. (5 p.m. after Daylight Saving Time ends in November) as part of the University’s commitment to a safe and secure campus environment.

OnCall Service Area

The onCall service area covers a designated area around campus, including Rhode Island, Hasbro, Women and Infants and Miriam hospitals, among other locations.

Like other Brown University Shuttle services, onCall service is available to all Brown University students (including Brown/RISD dual-degree students), faculty and staff members. You will need to show your physical Brown ID when boarding.

Brown onCall Coverage Area

OnCall Shuttle Guidelines

Please keep in mind that the onCall Shuttle is meant to provide safe transportation for locations within the greater campus area but outside of the Evening Shuttle route; check the route before booking a ride with onCall. Below are additional guidelines for onCall service usage.

Guest Policy

Your Brown ID grants you and one guest access to onCall rides (please note: guests must be at least seven years old and do not require a safety car seat. Guests are not allowed on fixed-route shuttles). You must indicate that you have a guest in your ride request. As the Brown ID holder, you must accompany your guest on the shuttle and your guest must have the same pickup location and destination as you

Plan Ahead

If you are traveling late at night, please ensure that you can get to your final destination before the onCall service ends. Wait times are generally 10-15 minutes, but this may vary depending on weather conditions, traffic and call volume at a particular time. Please note that there may be increased wait times if the shuttle is busy.

onCall Shuttle Knowledgebase    Brown onCall Coverage Area

Using the TransLoc App

The preferred way to request an onCall ride is to use the TransLoc mobile app.

Install and set up the TransLoc app

  1. Download Transloc for iOS or Android.
  2. When prompted, give the app permission to access your location.
  3. From the list of shuttle agencies, select BOTH of the following:
    1. Brown University Shuttle — this is for regular, fixed shuttle routes
    2. Brown University onCall — this is for requesting an onCall ride
  4. Log in to the app.
    1. Select the Settings item on the bottom menu.
    2. Select Log In.
    3. Type your Brown email address and Next.
    4. Log in with Brown single sign-on (SSO).

If you have already installed the app in the past, and would like to add onCall functionality:

  1. Select Settings.
  2. Select Agency Preferences.
  3. Select Brown University onCall. 
  4. Toggle the visible option on.
  1. In the TransLoc app, select OnDemand from the bottom menu.
  2. Swipe on the bottom card to select the correct service, depending on the day of the week:
    1. Brown onCall Sunday-Wednesday
    2. Brown onCall Thursday-Saturday
  3. Select your pickup and drop-off locations in one of two ways:
    1. Tap a dot on the map to select a common location, and indicate if it’s pickup or drop-off
    2. Tap the pickup and drop-off fields at the top and type an address or landmark name.
      Tip: Addresses are only allowed if they are in the bounds of the service area or represented by a dot on the map.
  4. Select the Next Step: Confirm Details button.
  5. After reviewing the information, select Confirm Details and Request Ride.
  6. If you are not logged into the app, you will be prompted to log in with Brown SSO.
  1. Select Me from the bottom menu.
  2. Locate the ride you would like to cancel and select the three dots icon.
  3. Select Cancel Ride, and confirm that you would like to cancel.

Web Requests

We recommend using the mobile app to book and manage your onCall rides. However, if your phone is lost or out of batteries, the web is a backup option.

Access the TransLoc OnDemand site

  1. Visit the TransLoc OnDemand page.
  2. Select Continue with University Login.
  3. Select Brown University.
  4. Log in with Brown SSO (you may be automatically signed in if your Brown account is used in another browser tab).
  5. The first time you log in, select Brown University from the list of agencies.
  1. Choose a pickup location, and then drop-off location, in one of two ways:
    1. Select one of the blue dots on the map, which represent popular stops.
    2. Search for an address or landmark in the search bar.
  2. Select the Confirm Ride button.

You will see your ride and estimated wait time displayed on the map. You can also find this information in My Rides on the menu.

  1. Select My Rides from the menu.
  2. Select the ride you would like to cancel. You will see the ride information in the map view. 
  3. Select the Cancel Ride button, and confirm that you would like to cancel.

Calling Dispatch

In a situation where you do not have access to the mobile app or website, you may call 401-863-1778 to speak to a dispatcher, who can schedule a ride and answer any questions you may have about the onCall service. You must have a brown.edu email address to book a ride and will need to present your physical Brown ID at pickup.