Stay Safe

The campus escort program provides walking escorts between campus buildings and nearby bus and train stops.

The campus escort program is available 24-hours per day, seven days per week. 

Students and employees may request an escort at any SAIC security desk. A security officer will be dispatched to your location on campus to walk with you between campus buildings. Escorts should be requested at the Security Desk approximately 10 to 15 minutes before you would like to leave.

SafeRide is an on-demand, ride-sharing service provided by SAIC in partnership with TransLoc. Riders can watch their vehicle live, receive notifications as it approaches, and change or cancel their request.

For the 2025-26 academic year, SafeRide will begin service on Thursday, August 21, and will run from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily. Service will pause on December 15 for the winter break. Service will resume on January 26 at 8:00 p.m. Service will end for the academic year on May 16.

SafeRide reserves the right to reduce or suspend operations during inclement weather or during other circumstances that may place our drivers and passengers at risk.

You can request a ride via the app or on the TransLoc website; see the instructions below. All rides must be within the hours of operation and have a pick-up and a drop-off specified at one of the predefined locations. See the coverage area below for more details. For questions, contact saferide@saic.edu.

Using the App:
Using the TransLoc app is the fastest way to get a ride. See our How-To Guide for more information on how to download the app. Download the app through the Apple Store or Google Play.

If you’re a first-time user, follow our User Guide to start using TransLoc to request a SafeRide. The SafeRide van is wheelchair accessible. Select the option in the mobile app when booking a ride.

Requesting a Ride Without a Smartphone:
If you don’t have a smartphone, you can request a ride via a computer by visiting the TransLoc website. You may also visit a security desk or call 312.516.5300 to have a ride dispatched to you. The dispatcher will ask you for your name, SAIC ID, location, and destination. When you request a ride in person, you will not receive updates on your ride and will need to wait in the building lobby for it to arrive.

The SafeRide service will only pick up and drop off at pre-defined locations (see list below). Please adjust your request to match the SafeRide requirements in order to obtain a ride. Upon boarding the SafeRide vehicle, you will need to swipe your SAIC ID. 

Pick-up and Drop-off Locations:

• MacLean Center – 112 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
• Lakeview Building – 116 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
• 280 Building – 280 South Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60603
• Sharp Building – 37 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
• Sullivan Center – 36 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603
• Jones Hall – 7 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60602
• 162 Residences – 162 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60601
• The Buckingham – 59 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60605
   

Drop-off Only Locations:

• Presidential Towers – 555 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60661
• Millennium Park Plaza – 151 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601
• MDA City Club Apartments – 63 East Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60601
• 73 East Lake Apartments – 73 East Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60601
• Marquee at Block 37 – 25 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601
• East South Water Street – multiple addresses
• Fisher Building – 343 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604
• Infinite Chicago – 28 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604
• Adams/Wabash (Brown, Pink, Orange, Green, and Purple Lines)
• Washington/Wabash (Brown, Pink, Orange, Green, and Purple Lines)
• Monroe (Blue Line)
• Jackson (Blue Line)
• Washington Street (Blue Line)
• State/Lake (Red Line)
• Jackson (Red Line)
• Monroe (Red Line)
• Ogilvie Transportation Center and Citigroup Center, 500 West Madison Street #3610, Chicago, IL 60661
• Metra Electric Van Buren Station
• Union Station 225 South Canal Street Chicago, IL 60606
• Millennium Station

There are also regulations and etiquette that pertain to receiving a SafeRide. Students agree to these policies when they request a ride—SAIC is able to deny a ride if these policies are not being honored.

• SafeRide is a safety service, not a taxi.
• SafeRide service is for SAIC students and employees only.
• SafeRide will only pick up a max of three people per ride.
• Only service animals are allowed. No other animals, including emotional support animals, may be brought on the SafeRide.
• SafeRide does not provide medical transport. Please contact the security desk in any building if you have a medical concern.
• SafeRide doesn’t allow scheduled destinations to be changed after being picked up.
• SafeRide will only pick up and drop off at pre-defined locations.
• If for whatever reason you can’t make your pick-up, please cancel through the TransLoc app. Since we’re a ride-sharing service, we want to give your seat to someone else if you can’t make it.
• You must be on time for your pick-up. Other passengers are waiting so the van cannot wait more than two minutes.
• If you are unsure of where or when your pick-up will be, please check the TransLoc app for a pick-up location and ETA.
• Be ready to go when your vehicle arrives and enter and exit your vehicle promptly—it helps us keep our wait time down.
• You may not eat, drink, smoke, or vape in the SafeRide vehicle.
• Clean up after yourself. Please don’t leave any garbage in the vehicle.
• Check to make sure you have all your possessions before exiting the vehicle, especially your keys and cell phone.
• Please be respectful to the driver, vehicle, and other passengers at all times.
• SafeRide reserves the right to refuse service in situations that place our driver partners or other passengers in danger. Examples of this may include intoxicated, disorderly, or abusive passengers.

Can anyone use SafeRide?
Use of SafeRide is limited to current SAIC students, faculty, and staff.

How long does it take to get a ride?
SafeRide wait times can vary depending on several conditions. We recommend always checking the TransLoc app to see the most accurate proposed wait times. The app will display pending ETA when the vehicle is in the process of picking up another rider. When you become the next pick-up the pending will change to live and you will be able to see the vehicle en route to your pick-up location.

What are the requirements to get a ride?
SafeRide operations run daily 8:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m., when classes are in session. SafeRide provides service to SAIC Campus and the surrounding area. SafeRide will only pick up within the coverage area and will only drop off at predefined locations. The use of SafeRide is limited to students, faculty, and staff. In order to receive a ride, you must have a valid SAIC ID.

Where do I go for my pick-up?
SafeRide pick-ups or drop-offs will always be nearby (we try to pick people up as close to the front door as possible. You can always wait inside the building until your ride arrives).

What happens if I can’t make my ride?
If you know you can’t make your ride, please let us know by canceling through the TransLoc app.

How will I know when my car arrives?
SafeRide does not call you when your car arrives. The TransLoc app will send you a notification when your vehicle is nearby and when it arrives. Being that SafeRide is shared with others, we cannot keep other passengers waiting— your driver will only wait for two minutes before reporting you as a no-show.

Note: The TransLoc app will give you an “Estimated” time of arrival which means you are in queue. The “Estimated” time will change to “Live” when the SafeRide vehicle is en route to you. You will then be able to track the location of your SafeRide.

My phone died! Is my ride canceled?
No, you just won’t be able to receive notifications when your ride arrives, so you’ll have to be ready and waiting near your pick-up.

What should I do if I cannot find my driver?
Call 312.516.5300 or visit a security desk.

I think I left something in the car. Is there a lost and found?
Yes, if you just lost the item, please visit the Sharp Building security desk.

Are animals allowed in the SafeRide van?
Only service animals are allowed. No other animals, including emotional support animals, are allowed in the SafeRide van.

To keep your personal belongings safe inside of your locker at all times, we would like to suggest some options when choosing a lock for your locker.

• Locks should be metal and strong, with at least a 6mm (millimeter) shackle. Please DO NOT choose a lock with a small shackle, or a small lock that can easily be broken (i.e. TSA travel locks or small locks that fit on a suitcase).
• A combination lock or a key lock is fine. 

If you ever find that your locker has been broken into, or you notice that your lock/locker has been tampered with, please visit the nearest security desk and inform Campus Security immediately.

We urge all members of our community to be vigilant against scams and fraud. Please know that police will never ask for payment to resolve a criminal matter, and most schemes are designed to capitalize on a fear of not cooperating with government authorities. The following tips can help protect you:

• Safety First. If you are concerned for your safety, contact Campus Security by going to the security desk in any building lobby, pressing the red button on any campus phone, or calling 312.899.1230. Off-campus, contact the Chicago Police Department by calling 911.
• Don’t Answer and/or Just Hang Up. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are fake. Do not press one to speak to a person or to be taken off the list as that could lead to more calls. It's often safest to not answer telephone calls from people you don’t know and let them go to voicemail.
• Don’t Be Pressured. Scammers often threaten you and pressure you to prove your innocence. Hang up and don’t respond.
• Talk to Someone. Before you give money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry and might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert—or just tell a friend.
• Get Others Involved. If someone tells you that you are being investigated, speak to Campus Security, law enforcement, a parent, or a trusted friend.
• Spot Imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company with whom you do business. Do not send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request—whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.
• Google It. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” Search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
• Do Not Believe Your Caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see are not always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
• Do Not Pay Upfront for a Promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit, and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you have won a prize, but first, you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
• Consider How You Pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods do not. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it is nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true of bank transfers, prepaid debit cards, and gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play). Government offices and honest companies won’t require you to use these payment methods.
• Don’t Hand Your Phone to a Stranger. Don’t hand your phone to someone you don’t know, especially if you are logged into a banking, credit card, or other payment app. The other person can easily change the payment amount while entering their phone number or other information. It is often impossible to get bank and peer-to-peer money transfers (such as Zelle) reversed.