Bikes

With more than half of its roads equipped with bike lanes and more than 20,000 bicycle parking spaces, the campus of Michigan State University has long been bicycle friendly.

To ride your bike on campus, you must register it and obtain a permit online. The registration process is meant to help MSU community members locate their bicycles in the event of theft. Bicycle registration requires your serial number, which is most commonly located on the underside of the frame, near the pedals. You will also need to know the bicycle make, color and whether the style is male or female.

Note: If you are a commuter student, your bicycle registration from the City of Lansing, the City of East Lansing, or Meridian Township are acceptable if current, valid, and adhered to the stationary frame-post below the seat, facing the handlebars.

For more on bikes, check out our MSU Bicycle Tips page.

Buses

CATA: CATA is the Greater Lansing local bus system and includes all MSU campus service. MSU students can take advantage of free rides on-campus or a discounted fare off-campus (upon showing valid MSU ID) or a discounted semester pass. You can purchase a discounted semester pass at the MSU Union or online at CATA’s website.

Megabus: For travel beyond the Greater Lansing area, students often use the Megabus. If you are leaving from East Lansing, you may travel to Chicago, Detroit, and Grand Rapids in the Megabus. In addition to East Lansing, the Megabus also leaves from Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor.

Greyhound Lines: Greyhound Lines also provides bus transportation to the Greater Lansing area with stops in both Lansing and East Lansing, among other Michigan locations.

Motorized Vehicles

As a MSU community member, you are definitely able to commute and get around campus in your vehicle. There are a number of parking options. For specific parking information, see the Parking Options page.

Safe Rides Home

MSU has a number of safe ride home options. Check out the options available to you, both free and low cost options, on our Student Safety page.

Airport

If your travel requires flight accommodations, there are airports conveniently located within a 90 mile drive:

Fly Lansing Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, MI
Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI
Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Detroit, MI

For transportation between East Lansing and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, you may choose to utilize the Michigan Flyer.

Train

The Greater Lansing area is fortunate to have an Amtrak station that is conveniently located close to the MSU campus. The East Lansing station, which is found on the corner of Harrison & Trowbridge Rd, has quickly become one of the busiest Amtrak stations in Michigan.

Amtrak offers riders reasonable fares and a multitude of destinations to choose from for a quick getaway. Learn about the routes, timetables, fares, price deals and more at the Amtrak website.

MSU Off-Campus Life

MSU's Community Laision, now known as the Office of Community and Student Relations, has been promoting positive town-gown relations between MSU and Greater Lansing since 2006. We aim to increase University-Community relations and help students learn how to be good neighbors and community members.