<p>i was looking at my tuition charge statement and apparently u-pass is included. i wasn't really thinking about getting one since i'm going to be staying in the dorm, so i won't be commuting frequently. however, i don't really want to pay in cash whenever i get on the bus, so does anyone know if there is a way i can just deposit less than $99 (cost of u-pass) in a card? will i have to buy a separate card for the bus?</p>
<p>if i remember correctly, upass is mandatory this year, so i think you’re stuck with it.</p>
<p>I got my UPASS in the mail today. There was a return envelope in case I didn’t want it. I don’t think it’s mandatory… as of now.</p>
<p>@OP: Get an orca card. You can deposit money at any of the Metro Kiosks (Closest to UW campus is Westlake Station I think). It’s like a debit card and you tap it on the Orca machine on buses (easy to see) to charge it. It also logs the time you use the orca, so if you transfer, you aren’t charged extra unless you transfer to a Sound Transit or go from 1 zone to 2 zone (see Metro Bus guidelines). You can get an orca card by applying for one online or going to one of the Kiosks and buying one from the employee at the window. I think it’s $5. Don’t load too much money into the card at one time in case you lose the card. If you are under 19, you can show your ID (ie. Drivers License, passport) to the kiosk employee and s/he will set your card to charge only Youth fare until your 19th birthday.</p>
<p>hmm there was talk about decreasing the price and making it mandatory for everyone, but seeing as it’s still $100, it looks like they didn’t do that.</p>
<p>yeah if you don’t want it I’m pretty sure you can still either mail it in or just walk over to Schmitz and return it</p>
<p>For people who have used the U-PASS in the past years, is it worth the $99? Was more than 100 used with the U-PASS?</p>
<p>I didn’t use the bus enough last year to justify the price…$100 a quarter means riding the bus around 40 or so times each quarter as per the stated fares: [Metro</a> Fares](<a href=“http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/fare/fare-info.html]Metro”>Page redirect - King County Metro Transit)</p>
<p>Although, I did get a little bit screwed over because I didn’t notice that the youth fare also applied to 18 year olds. Regardless, I didn’t spend close to $100 on the bus, and the other discounts you get with the pass wouldn’t have really helped me out much.</p>
<p>it’s definitely more convenient. WAY more convenient.
It’s also more than just free buses. you get discounts at various places on the ave for one, and also can use night ride and night walk for free.
Not to mention it’s nice to be able to bus around campus on your lazy and/or the rainy days.
just my $0.02</p>
<p>Nice to see it from both perspectives :)</p>
<p>You pay for it quarterly, so if you’re not sure if you want to spend the $99, you can pass on it Autumn Quarter and get it Winter Quarter (not mailing it back) if you feel like you really need it.</p>
<p>for those of you who received u-pass in the mail, did you guys pay it online?
i heard that there is an envelope or something that you can return the u-pass, so that you don’t have to pay for it this quarter, but i obviously did not receive a u-pass because i haven’t made any payments yet. i’m confused…</p>
<p>If you do not wish to retain the U-PASS and do not wish to be charged:</p>
<pre><code>* Return the U-PASS unused on its paper carrier card by the tuition due deadline (third Friday of the quarter).
- You may return it by mail in the blue business reply envelope that comes with your enrollment confirmation or in person to the Student Fiscal Services (129 Schmitz Hall) or to the ID Center (ground floor of OUGL).
</code></pre>
<p>[UW:</a> FS: Commuter Services: Returning the U-PASS: Students](<a href=“http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/commuterservices/u-pass/return/students]UW:”>Getting to UW | Transportation Services)</p>
<p>@iloveuw: yes it is charged to your tuition. You can check the full statement on myUW. You should receive it sometime soon. I haven’t paid tuition yet and I got it last week.</p>
<p>thank you!
i checked my mail today and my u-pass came. :)</p>
<p>@OP: I agree with Speedsolver. Get an Orca Card if you don’t have the need for a U-pass</p>
<p>Orca stands for One Regional Card for All. As soon as you make the first leg of your trip, it becomes a 2-hour free transfer to any bus/light rail for Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, etc.</p>
<p>It will cost you $5.00 to purchase at Ticket Vending Machines at all Central Link Light Rail stations, which includes all stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT)*.</p>
<p>If you use the E-purse option, you can now reload your card at local Safeway stores.</p>
<p>*Tunnel stations are (from south to north):</p>
<ul>
<li>International District/Chinatown Station</li>
<li>Pioneer Square Station</li>
<li>University Street station</li>
<li>Westlake Center Station</li>
</ul>
<p>Be advised that Light Rail is not free in the DSTT, but the buses are.</p>