The Walking Escort Service allows any student, faculty or staff member leaving the Hillman Library to be accompanied by a security guard to certain locations within walking distance, including students living at a facility at Carlow University's campus, or to a bus or shuttle stop. We have an additional location at the William Pitt Union (WPU).
This program is provided for free by the University, but there are limitations. Here are more details:
Walking Escort Service
- The escort will be provided by an Allied Universal Security officer working on the ground floor of the Hillman Library to locations within walking distance and runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday, or from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
- The WPU location (help desk, main floor) is available daily from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; you will need to call 317-827-9936 to reserve the service from this location in advance.
- Anyone needing to get to the upper campus will be escorted to a shuttle or bus stop. The guard will wait with you until your transportation arrives.
- Anyone using the service must first present a valid Pitt I.D.
Here is a general map of where the guards will provide a walking escort:
If you choose to walk on your own, please remember that you are in a public environment. Here are some general tips for walking safely on the Pittsburgh campus:
- Walk your route ahead of time. This way you know how long it will take and if it is a safe way to commute to campus on foot.
- Watch for Port Authority Buses. Buses on Fifth Avenue travel in both directions even though the street is one-way. Always look both ways when crossing the street.
- Dress for the weather! During the warmer months, storms can drop a significant amount of rain very quickly in Pittsburgh. Short-lived flooding is common in the city. A rain jacket is not always enough to keep you dry. We recommend carrying a large umbrella, rain boots, a rain jacket, and if heavy rainfall is expected a pair of rain pants and proper footwear. Of course, you always have the option to ride Port Authority with a valid Pitt ID on those rainy days!
- Oakland is a very popular neighborhood for traffic, cyclists, and other pedestrians. Always walk with your head up, so you can see what is happening around you.
- Don’t forget about the hills! Pittsburgh’s topography can make walking more challenging depending on many factors such as the weather and individual health. There are a lot of great topography apps to help you navigate/avoid those difficult hills.
