The ASUC’s Campus Activities and Student Services Agreement, or CASSA, Fund Advisory Committee voted to forward a resolution that would provide undergraduate students with subsidized Uber vouchers for late-night rides to the ASUC Senate for approval.
If passed, the resolution, sponsored by ASUC Executive Vice President Isha Chander, would provide all undergraduate students with subsidized vouchers for late-night rides within a 3-mile radius of campus during the spring 2026 semester. The pilot program would go into effect at the beginning of February and run until May, Chander said.
“Night safety is a concern that we’ve heard among all students for many years,” Chander said. “This program is an attempt to alleviate any financial burdens or safety concerns that students might face when they’re trying to get home at night.”
Whether returning home from a party or from late-night studying, Chander said the program’s goal is to ensure that students can get from campus to their doors as safely and quickly as possible.
One of the At-Large Community Representatives for the CASSA committee, Komal Sandhu, believes Uber’s popularity will make students more likely to take advantage of the opportunity.
The proposed resolution seeks to allocate $52,500 from CASSA funds toward the voucher program, which would be facilitated through a contract with Uber’s higher education initiative.
“At Uber, we believe that access to education should never be limited by a lack of transportation,” said an Uber spokesperson in an email. “Our Higher Ed partnerships are designed to transform how campuses move.”
Under the pilot program, each undergraduate student would be eligible to receive up to three late-night vouchers per semester, Chander said, each subsidized at $7 per ride.
Chander said the voucher price and funding allocation were determined by the type of program that would “ensure the financial health of the ASUC” and maintain other benefits the organization provides, such as subscriptions to The New York Times for all students. The vouchers would be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the resolution.
If the program goes into effect, Chander said all undergraduate students will receive a message to their UC Berkeley email accounts with instructions on how to activate the vouchers through Uber. Although the exact time when rides would be offered is not finalized yet, Chander said they will run “very late” at night for about five to six hours.
Current transportation options for students at night include the Night Safety Transit Service, a shuttle service operating from 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. From 3-5:30 a.m., the shuttle operates as a door-to-door service that students can book via the UC Berkeley Safewalk app.
According to Chander, the ASUC Senate will vote on the resolution on Jan. 21.
“Vouchers act as a digital safety net, providing a reliable way home and reducing the risks associated with students walking alone or driving in unsafe conditions,” the Uber spokesperson said in the email.