As a friendly reminder, the Department of Public Safety would like to make the following safety recommendations:
– Travel in pairs or with trusted companions, especially at night or in remote areas.
– If someone is intoxicated or incapacitated, call for a taxi, rideshare or other car service, and make sure a trusted friend safely accompanies the incapacitated friend to their door.
– If you observe a crime in progress, go to a safe location and call DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for the LAPD.
– Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.
– Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible.
– Additionally, use any of the following means of travel recommended by USC:
USC Lyft Rides Program:
Current USC students, faculty, and staff have access to free rides provided by Lyft. The rides must be within either the UPC or HSC geofence. For UPC, the rides must be requested between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., daily. For HSC, the rides must be requested between 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday. You can find the USC Lyft Rides Program boundary here: for UPC at https://transnet.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/UPC-Boundaries.pdf, and for HSC at https://transnet.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HSC-Boundaries-map.pdf. The HSC program enables you to receive free rides within the boundary, and to/from HSC and Union Station. For additional information, please visit https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/how-to-use-lyft/ or contact USC Transportation Services via email at auxtrans@usc.edu.
Bus Service:
USC Transportation provides an extensive network of free buses throughout the year for students, staff, faculty, university guests, and the local community. Multiple routes service USC’s main campus, the North University Park neighborhood, the USC Parking Center as well as the USC Health Sciences Campus, Marina Del Rey ISI/ICT locations, and even Union Station. For bus routes and schedules, please visit the Transportation Services website at: https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/bus-map-schedules/.
Zipcar:
USC has partnered with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, access your vehicle using Bluetooth phone connectivity, and drive away! Return the car to the same location where you picked it up. For more information visit https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/zipcar/.
If you are in immediate DANGER, call the Los Angeles Police Department at 911 or the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321.
USC Department of Public Safety Recommendations
- If you feel you may be in danger, immediately go to a safe location and report the crime to law enforcement. Call DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for LAPD.
- If you observe a crime in progress, STAY CALM AND CALL DPS emergency for UPC at (213) 740-4321, for HSC call (323) 442-1000, or call 911 for LAPD. Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime. Your personal safety and the safety of others around you should be your primary concern.
- Not every person you meet has good intentions. Be cautious of strangers and keep a safe distance. There is safety in numbers, so travel with friends.
- Avoid using cell phones or other technology while walking as criminals target distracted, inattentive individuals using them.
- Be a good witness: It is important to recall what you observed and provide as many details as possible to law enforcement such as: the sex, race, age, height, hair color, clothing, tattoos, scars of any suspects and a description of the make and model of any vehicle used in the crime and its license plate if possible.
- Do not attempt to apprehend any suspects or perpetrators of crime.
For other options to contact DPS, report crime, and ask for help, please visit USC DPS Report a Crime.
USC Transportation provides options to travel around USC including the Lyft Rides Program:
- Get a Ride: Lyft is available at HSC and UPC to cover shared rides. Lyft at UPC is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week (*on home football game days, the program begins 5 hours after scheduled kickoff). Lyft at HSC is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Friday only. Please visit the USC Lyft page for more information.
- Verify your driver and car: Once you have requested a Lyft ride, you can view the driver’s rating. When your ride arrives, make sure the driver’s photo, license plate number, and vehicle description match. Never take a ride you did not request or get into a car that doesn’t match the details provided by the Lyft app.
- Go the extra mile : The Lyft app’s “share your ETA” function allows you to invite friends to see your trip in real-time. The app will draft a text message you can share with friends that includes your ETA and a link to a live map that allows them to track your trip. Too much effort? Call a friend and stay on the line while you’re in the car instead.
To receive more information from USC DPS, please register for TrojansAlert:
- TrojansAlert : Register for USC’s emergency notification system TrojansAlert to allow university officials to contact you during an emergency by sending messages via text message and email. (Please note that students, staff and faculty automatically are signed up for TrojansAlerts.
For additional USC Resources, please visit USC Report & Response.
