University of Iowa Parking and Transportation is committed to providing a safe and accessible campus during inclement weather. With temperatures dropping and snow on its way, Parking and Transportation encourages all traveling to and from campus to review our tips, policies, and procedures to prepare for the arrival of winter weather.
Travel time
Allow extra travel time and prepare for possible bus service delays
Snow removal tools
Keep an ice scraper and other tools in your vehicle to help clear off snow and ice
Extra Layers
Ensure that you are dressed for the weather with gloves, winter hat, coat, boots, etc.
Transit app
Use the Transit app map rather than predictions for accurate locations of buses
Common CAMBUS Route Detours
Polices and Procedures
Parking and Transportation provides 24-hour coverage with three regular work shifts to assure a prompt response to winter weather. In addition to internal staff, external contractors are employed to plow and haul snow. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as our crews make every effort to keep our parking lots and ramps clear during and after winter storms.
More information regarding service areas, requests, lots, priorities, and parking ramps can be found on the Snow Removal Policy page.
The Parking and Transportation Department offers a Motorist Assistance Program for students, faculty, staff, and visitors on the main campus. The program is free and offered year-round, except on University Holidays. Service is provided on an as available basis.
Service can include battery jump starts, locating your vehicle if parked on campus, and pumping air into tires. More information on this program can be found on the Motorist Assist Program page.
CAMBUS will maintain service during severe weather within reasonable and safe practices. During extreme weather events, CAMBUS may need to unexpectedly modify or suspend all service. CAMBUS will announce service modifications and disruptions via the app Transit. Favorite the routes you ride to receive alerts. When possible, CAMBUS may also post alerts to social media channels (@uiowacambus) and the department website. Additional information including severe flooding, warnings, ice, and snow is on the CAMBUS Severe Weather Policy page.
Winter is fast approaching and snow will arrive before we know it. To remove snow from your vehicle, start at the roof and work your way down. It is important to remove snow from the roof because as your car warms up, that snow will melt. If you stop quickly, that snow will slide off your roof and onto your windshield obscuring your vision. As you are cleaning off your vehicle, don’t forget the headlights, taillights, rear passenger windows, and side-view mirrors. If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield don’t use the ice scraper to free them, as they can be easily damaged. Instead, use your defrosters to heat up the windshield, unthawing the wipers from the glass. Some vehicles have their washer nozzles on the hood, so be careful not to break them off when clearing snow.