TRANSPORTATION

Within Campus

Main Campus Bus Service (RING)*

A free shuttle bus service operates on the Main Campus running from the Main Campus faculty housing area passing by stops marked RING to the dormitories and back every twenty minutes. The Ring service schedule is announced at the beginning of the academic year and provided in the Bilkent News (the University's weekly newspaper), posted on the department bulletin boards in campus buildings.


Inter-Campus Bus Service (RING)*

(Main Campus - Middle Campus - East Campus)
There is also a free shuttle bus service connecting Main, Middle and East campus on a regular basis. Again, the bus schedule and any changes are announced in Bilkent News, and posted on department bulletin boards in campus buildings. Ring Bus stops are marked with an orange and black sign.

* Ring service buses may have different bus stops than city shuttle buses. Make sure you stand at the right bus stop for your route and destination. Visit www.bilkent.edu.tr/~transprt to see an animated map that shows all stops and to obtain bus schedules for every route.


Taxis (Yellow-cabs)

An easy way to get from point A to point B is by taxi. Rates are set and a meter system is used. Tips are not expected. Note that taxis have "after midnight" rates, which is 50% more than the daytime rate.

Murat Taxi, the yellow cab service on campus, is available twenty-four hours a day by calling ext. 1678 or 2406, or 266 4440.


Bilkent University Shuttle Bus ID Cards for Spouses and Children

Bilkent University students, faculty and staff members can use the free shuttle buses with their University ID cards. Even though an affiliate ID card is not available for spouses and children, bus cards for family members can be obtained by filling out the application form for Bilkent University Temporary Access Card at the Housing Department.

Regulations Concerning Cars on Campus and Traffic Rules

Faculty, staff and students who drive their cars or motorcycles on campus must obtain a parking sticker. These are available at the Security Office. Your department secretary can help you with the procedure. Students and faculty are allowed to park in designated areas only. If you do not obey these signs, your car will be towed or chained. You will then have to pay a relatively high sum to retrieve your car.

If you break a traffic rule, you will receive a "notice of traffic violation" and you will be required you to pay a fine. If the fine is not paid, the University Traffic Board will take disciplinary measures.

If a vehicle impedes the flow of traffic, it will be towed at the owner's expense. If a driver commits a moving violation, such as passing another vehicle illegally, driving in the wrong direction or not stopping at pedestrian crossings, the Traffic Board will register the fine on your record.

Please note that these measures are to ensure your safety.

For more information and inquiries regarding traffic on campus, visit www.traffic.bilkent.edu.tr or call Ms. Nermin Fenmen, Head of the Traffic Committee, ext. 5061.
 

TO AND FROM ANKARA

Going to Downtown Ankara

There is a scheduled free shuttle service between both Main and East Campus and two convenient locations: Sıhhiye (near Ulus, and a short walk to a main bus stop, the main train station and a commuter train station, a metro station, and dolmuş terminals) and Tunus (at the south end of Kızılay, with a short walk to a metro station and the Güvenpark city bus and dolmuş terminal). Buses run all day, in the evenings, on weekends and on holidays to downtown Ankara, and have signs on their front windows indicating their route:

TM = Tunus/Main Campus (Merkez)
SM = Sıhhiye/Main Campus (Merkez)
TD = Tunus/East Campus (Doğu)
SD = Sıhhiye/East Campus (Doğu)

Please note: Special bus schedules apply during national holidays and academic recess periods. These schedules are announced.
Please check our Transportation website for more information about the schedules at www.bilkent.edu.tr/~transprt.


Dolmuş/Shuttle Bus

This is a shared minibus. You can flag one down on main campus that goes to the Sıhhiye/Ulus area. On the way, it can stop at Bilkent Center, CEPA, across from Armada, near the main bus terminal, AŞTİ and other locations on its route upon request. No ticket is needed; the fee is paid to the bus driver according to an established list of rates. Costs vary depending on distance. Passengers pass money to the driver, stating where they wish to go. It is a unique and often entertaining way of getting around.


University Cars

The University has a car pool. Cars in this pool are for official use only (e.g. to provide transport to and from the airport for arriving and departing faculty), and are made available on request from the Chairperson of the Department.

TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

The most inexpensive way to get to and from Esenboğa Airport is by the HAVAŞ shuttle buses. These run between the city center and the airport. Please note that Havaş buses do not have a stop in the Bilkent area; however HAVAŞ buses do stop near the Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ). Both the Sıhhiye and Tunus buses stop across from AŞTİ on their way downtown. To return from AŞTİ, you can take a dolmuş or taxi. A taxi from main campus to the airport costs about 100 YTL, where as the HAVAŞ shuttle buses cost about 10 YTL.

More detailed information is available at www.havas.com.tr.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION

City Bus Transportation

EGO (Elektrik-Gaz-Otobüs) is the acronym for public bus transportation in Ankara. You can purchase single and multiple use bus cards at most newspaper kiosks, at EGO booths, and at Metro and Ankaray stations. Private "Halk" buses also provide transportation. EGO cards are not accepted on these buses. Tickets are purchased onboard from a conductor seated near the entrance. For routes and rates, see www.ego.gov.tr. The #111 city bus makes stops along Bilkent Caddesi(street) 1 going by East Campus.


Metro and Ankaray

Ankara has a very clean, efficient underground rail system. There are two lines - Ankaray and Metro. You can use the same EGO payment card that you use on city run buses. For Metro and Ankaray routes and rates, see the website www.ego.gov.tr and click "Rayli sistem Hizmetleri."


Train

A city commuter train runs between Sincan at the far west of Ankara and Kayaş to the east. Tickets can be purchased at train platforms. The easiest station to get to is Yenişehir at Sıhhiye, just a short walk from where the city shuttle bus lets you off. Heading east, the train will go through the Main train station where you can transfer to long haul trains.



INTERCITY TRAVEL

Bus

Ankara Şehirlerarası Terminal İşletmesi - Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ) is located on Konya Road. There, you will find buses with service to virtually every location in Turkey. Bus transportation is an efficient and affordable way to travel. All bus companies are privately owned, and may have varying service schedules. It is best to make a reservation in advance for your trip. Please note that a single person is generally seated next to a passenger of the same sex.

AŞTİ is at the end of the Ankaray underground system line. The following intercity bus companies have branch offices on Campus for reservations and ticket purchasing. They offer special discounts for Bilkenters when you show ID.

Varan Tourism at Bilkent: Located across from the Engineering Building, at the entrance of the Marmara Restaurant, on Main Campus, ext. 2079, www.varan.com.tr

Ulusoy Tourism at Bilkent: Located next to the University Bookstore, ext. 2077, www.ulusoy.com.tr

Kamil Koç Tourism at Bilkent: Located at the entrance of the Café In on the Main Campus, ext.2380, www.kamilkoc.com.tr


Train

Traveling by train (TCDD) can be enjoyable and inexpensive, although there are not as many routes available as there are with buses. Sleeper cars are available, which is nice for long distance travel. Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies and at the main station (İstasyon or Gar). Special rates are offered to teachers. You may benefit from this discount if you show your ID. The best way to get to the train station is to take the Sıhhiye bus (either SD or SM) from the University campus. Get off at the last stop by the Sıhhiye Bridge and take a dolmuş or a taxi. Even though the main train station is within walking distance, it might be difficult to do so with luggage.

For more detailed information, visit the Turkish State Railway's website at www.tcdd.gov.tr .

For more information on travel in Turkey:

www.turktravel.net
www.twarp.com
http://www.tourism-turkey.net/establishments.htm
http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/yeni/kurlar/kurlar.html

TOURISM and TRANSPORTATION

Tourism Information
Esenboğa Airport : Tel: 398 0348

Ministry of Tourism
İsmet Inönü Bulvarı No: 5 Bahçelievler
Tel: 212 8300

Tourism Information
Tandoğan
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı No: 121/A
Tel: 231 5572

Turkish Airlines (THY)
Atatürk Bulvarı No: 154, Kavaklıdere
Tel: 428 0200 (5 lines),
Reservations: 428 1700
Esenboğa Airport: 398 01 00 (5 lines)

Turkish Railways (TCDDY)
Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Gar - Ulus
Tel: 311 0620 (4 lines),
Reservations: 311 9494 or 310 6515

Intercity Bus Terminal (Ankara Şehirlerarası Otobüs Terminali - AŞTİ)
Söğütözü
Tel: 207 1000