Evening and campus perimeter shuttle services now available through Leaper X app

The Leaper X shuttles are providing on-demand campus transit for anyone with a Purdue email address. (Photo provided by Administrative Operations Communications) Download image

The Leaper X transit pilot program is now available to West Lafayette campus faculty, staff and students as an additional, app-based campus transportation option. The program is testing marketplace innovation that may expand campus transit coverage and reduce overall travel time.

As was recently announced, the service primarily offers evening rides to users between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight from one campus location to another seven days a week, except when the University is closed for holidays. Additionally, rides between campus proper and locations that are west or south of the academic campus, such as Purdue airport facilities or Zucrow Laboratories, are available between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Leaper X fleet offers fully accessible transit, and the number of vehicles can be scaled to meet demand during the pilot.  

Leaper X is operating concurrently with existing CityBus routes. Advance notice will be provided prior to any changes to the existing CityBus Black Loop or Av Tech stop on the Gold Loop.

The Leaper X app is available through Google Play or the App Store. Users will be required to create an account with their Purdue email address in order to use the service. Once the account has been verified, the user will be able to log in to the app and select pickup and drop-off locations from the map of available options, provide the number of riders and select a fully accessible shuttle if needed.

An estimated arrival time will typically display in the app after the ride request is submitted. These are frequently recalculated based on recent shuttle usage and traffic conditions. Vehicles should arrive within 10 minutes of the submitted request, and users can track the location of the shuttle in real time. 

After the ride completes, users are encouraged to answer the questions that appear in the app and provide comments about their experience. This, along with other data, will be used to evaluate the usefulness of the pilot program and viability of continuing the service.

Information is available at www.purdue.edu/leaperx, and questions may be directed to leaperx@purdue.edu.