What many do not appreciate is how vast the campus of Stanford University is. Bikes are an essential part of student life as is the Marguerite Shuttle The concept of free transportation predates the founding of the University. Back then (1880's) Leland Stanford operated a free horse buggy that moved people from the train station to what was his Summer estate (now the vast university). By 1909 there were street cars that performed the task. In 1963 with a subsidy from the city of Palo Alto, the service transitioned to buses. Finally in 1973, Stanford began funding the service completely. The name "Marguerite" is taken from the first horse that pulled the wagon back in 1880. Today the service discoverer the vast University main complex. It also makes runs to the two Caltrain stations in Palo Alto, as well as a spur that heads over to Mountain View, a line to the East Bay, and to the SLAC complex. The Marguerite is free, and you can catch it at any of the stops dotted through the campus or along its routes. The buses can be quite crowded during events and commute times. The service is making a transition to all electric as well as hybrid buses, but they still rely on diesel ones as well. The buses are usually clean and well maintained and at least during the day the buses are pretty frequent. As with most transportation systems they do have different hours for nights, holidays, and weekends so plan accordingly. They do have an app that will have schedules and live updates to make it even more convenient to use. read more

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I'm a big fan of yelping transit whenever possible. This shuttle was twenty minutes late (unheard of in my experience in private shuttles) but ended up working out since the 522 is never on time and I was connecting from it. The transit.511 directions were incredibly confusing (and inaccurate) and the bus sign is fairly hidden from view by another sign but the driver was polite and helpful and I got where I needed to go on time. Be aware that the "Live" VTA they tout isn't actually updated yet for this shuttle. So beyond waiting at the stop, you will have no idea when the next shuttle might show. All in all it helped me out today, but if I had to use this daily I'd go crazy. read more

The free shuttle service at Stanford. I take it every day and while it is almost always running a little or very late, it still gets the job done. The shuttles are clean, the drivers are friendly and the routes are well planned out and can take you pretty much anywhere you are looking to go on the Stanford campus! Najiba is an awesome driver! Thanks, Stanford, for this awesome service! read more

Open to public. I sometimes use to commute when my bike got a flat or somebody picks me up after work. There are many routes. Wifi available in the bus. Although it's slow, it's better than nothing. I wish SE ran in a.m. on weekdays. read more

On my way home from a doctor's visit my car stopped running while on Welch Road at Stanford Hospital. Soon a very kind gentlemen named Thomas, a Road Supervisor at Stanford Marguerite Shuttle stopped. This man deserves a raise! He stayed with me for an entire 5 hours. He let me use his cell phone and called AAA for me. In his vehicle, he drove me back to his dispatch office and let me wait there for AAA to come. He opened his passenger car for me as I'm elderly and had difficulty getting in and out of his vehicle. I am in awe over his kindness and helpfulness. He even called Uber to arrange a ride home about 20 miles away. Then he paid for the ride! Who does things like these in today's society? I don't know his last name but I hope this note will be rewarding to Thomas. He certainly deserves it! With great gratitude I most sincerely thank him for outstanding service far and beyond the norm. Sincerely, Bob Simmons, owner of a disabled car. read more

Stanford campus is so big that it has its own bus lines. The buses are free and run all day. If you need to get from one end of campus to another, the Marguerite can get you there. Don't have the schedule? Don't want to wait outside and hope the bus is coming soon? There's the ability to track the buses online in real-time to see how close they are. On the web if you go to: http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite you can track the buses and see their routes. If you have an iPhone you can down the iStanford application to track the buses too! The Marguerite is great! read more

Stanford Marguerite Shuttle - A Line at Serra Mall - Public Transportation Near Me - Stanford, California

It's the valley, I normally just drive myself. But Marguerite shuttle is awesome! Free rides from the ERC (aka Palo Alto Caltran station) to Stanford. Afternoon shuttle 3pm - 9 pm runs from the ERC to the strip malls of Mountain View (ala El Camino and Arestadero. From here you can catch the free Mountain View shuttle around Mountain View. Although word of warning arrive early and yet the bus may be late. read more

How can you beat free. Come on, this is a gem of a service. If you are in the Stanford, Palo Alto, Menlo Park area, you know Marguerite. It runs often but the reliability isn't that reliable so don't expect on time movements. Not as fast as driving, not as fast as biking but faster than walking. So smile, sit down and leave the driving to them. read more

It's free and runs often enough to be useful. When I'm feeling lazy coming home from the train, I put my bike on the rack (that's nice, too), and sit patiently inside, minorly annoyed at how we wait at the station for no one (what are we, Paul McCartney?) and at myself for my two cardinal sins of sloth and inefficiency (it's, average-case, 15 minutes faster to bike from Cal Ave than bus from Palo Alto). It kind of sucks that the schedules are completely worthless, and that they don't time stuff around the trains (e.g. I hate it when the bus gets there just as a train is leaving), but it's understandable. Sometimes it even goes pretty far -- like San Antonio on the weekends. All in all it's a great service. But mostly I'm writing this review to share a story. So it's 7:45 PM the night Texas beat Stanford in March Madness. That morning I had decided to show my support at work, so I'm wearing a Sixth Man t-shirt and a Stanford baseball hat. But while I am a fan I also am cold, and i am cold first. I'm also somewhat saddened by the whomping, so I'm covering up the shirt with a hoodie. Still, I'm wearing the hat. I walked onto the bus, and I am one of two people on the bus. The other guy? Wearing a Texas hat. I stare at him for about 2 seconds, registering that, yeah, it's a Texas hat. The guy sees me, immediately takes off his hat, and puts it away. Why did he do this? Well, it could be that he recently watched that Sopranos episode (Season 1) where Tony tells the dude in the restaurant "Take your hat off" (The dude, indignant, nonetheless obliges, as if he had a choice). After all, I am Italian and EXTREMELY menacing. Or perhaps my anger and hatred was fearsome. Probably not, though. Probably, the fucker felt guilty, knowing he had his abandoned his boy and drank the wrong milkshake -- er, abandoned his team. And now he's probably on the phone with the Lopez twins, begging them for mercy. As well he should be. So yeah. This one's for you, girlfriend, who tells me I look stupid in hats and that they're for 12 year-olds. Today, my baseball cap served society. I'm wearing it to bed tonight. read more

Buses always 10 minutes late. App doesn't work half the time. It's like a discount version of AC transit. It sucks.

A free shuttle bus that runs around the Stanford campus and to other local destinations like the Palo Alto Caltrain and grocery stores in Mountain View. We had something similar at my university called Saferide, except unlike that, which nearly killed my friends and me a couple times, this actually is a safe ride. The drivers are friendly and for the most part very cautious, responsible drivers who don't speed. They changed the schedules a bit this summer and it is now less convenient for me, but it still goes from right near my apartment complex to the central part of Stanford. For the most part it comes within 5 minutes of when it says it will. Its not perfect, but its decent for a free shuttle & it makes getting to Stanford much easier for me, since I'm not able to park on campus. My biggest complaint is that even if you ring the "stop requested" bell well in advance of your stop, they frequently fail to stop and then sometimes you have to remind them AND stand up AND start yelling before they finally stop, several blocks away from where you wanted them to. This has happened to me several times, always on the SLAC route. read more

Stanford has a huge campus so it's wonderful to have this complementary shuttle that will take you around campus. The shuttle includes wifi, bike racks, and newspapers. As other reviewers have noted, the marguerite service has shifted a bit over the years so it's not as convenient but for the most part, if you can time it right, you can get to any destination within 10-15 minutes during the weekday (weekend service is limited). Drivers are nice and friendly, and for the most part safe. It's a free shuttle service so you really can't complain! read more

The Marguerite is awesome like Tracy D. pointed out. It's free. You can check the real-time status of the buses online. It's free. They take you to most places that students/staff would need to go. It's free. BUT, it's still not that efficient. I could take the Marguerite to work, but it would take, from door-to-door, including a reasonable wait-time, 45 minutes to travel about 4 miles... so, minus one star for the Marguerite, because if most people are like me, they're lazy and like sleeping for an extra half hour every day. read more

One star only because it's free and enables people to use public transportation. Why not 5 stars? Maybe because several years ago, a driver ran over one of my co-workers and he became a patient on my floor. I hope it's safer now...for the sake of riders and pedestrians everywhere! read more

I've used this service for years. The best parts are that it tends to be on time and that there are bike racks on the front of the buses. Unfortunately the drivers must navigate roads filled with undergraduates on bicycles who think they are immortal. I've seen some close calls, but the drivers get serious kudos for being able to drive in that environment all day. The drivers tend to be helpful and friendly, though some of them don't speak excellent English. There are a few routes I get a bit car-sick on, but that is due to the twisty roads and frequent stopping-accelerating. The routes change, especially if there is construction going on. Make sure you check to see what is running during the summer and holidays. I've waited for shuttles that weren't going to come for days before. read more

I really appreciate the shuttle service from Menlo Park Caltrain to Bohannon Road. Whenever possible I try to make use of public transit while commuting, rather than rideshare services. Four stars out of five only because of the wait time. In light of how dense traffic is, it's sad to me that I am often the only passenger aboard the shuttle. read more

With a name like "Marguerite" you can't go wrong with free transportation in the Stanford, Palo Alto and Menlo Park areas. The shuttle has a front 2 slot bike rack and its a nice looking bus. 5 stars...how can you complain about a free ride if you need it and can use it in the areas it travels. read more

Yes, it's FREE public transportation! They've been improving their schedule and now run on time... mostly. I love the Palm Drive Express from the Caltrain station to the Oval; if you need to go to the hospital, the mall, SLAC, or even Mountain View, the Marguerite will take you there too. read more

Super thankful for Ray Turner at Marguerite Shuttle for helping me get a visitor parking spot for my big van. I was circling for a while and he spotted a perfect spot for me, helped me get in it, and then gave me a ride over to the building I needed to get to for a health conference. Many thanks Ray and the Marguerite team. read more

Just started a new job here and was parked in the visitor parking garage. Left something in my car and felt like taking the shuttle back to the hospital. I think it's a great resource for patients and families to get around hospital campus. The shuttle is clean and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend I feel like there is always one around. read more

Marguerite gets the job done. We used to take it from campus to the Stanford Shopping Center but hated how it skipped shifts unpredictably. I think this has improved in the last few years. It runs pretty frequently and timely from the Palo Alto Caltrain station to Tresidder Union on campus, so consider this an option for getting around Stanford if you don't have a car handy. read more

Every 15 minutes like clock work and the drivers are the best! Starts my day with a good morning every day I go to work!!! I hate having to park offsite but the shuttle makes it as painless as possible to park and get there as they possibly can.... read more

Reduce your carbon footprint with this FREE shuttle service! The drivers are always friendly and helpful if you get lost. There are plenty of different lines to get you around campus, to CalTrain, and to the mall. It's also great because you don't have to keep finding parking when you want to get across campus. read more

Buses are such a pain now. Used to be great but never stop when they're supposed to. Always late for my train

While I feel this is a great option for transportation around campus, I work near this office and interact with employees regularly. Sadly, I am regularly hit on by men old enough to be my father which makes me both disgusted and uncomfortable, and doesn't make it all I wonderful to do MY job. Some comments I've received include "hey honey when you cleaning my car," "work it girl," and "you're so beautiful I wish I wasn't married." What. The. F***. Not only are the male employees creepy and don't know that they sound like a predator, they also use the women's bathroom which I unfortunately have to share. They consistently leave the toilet seat up, leave piss all over the floor and toilet, and other nasty things. One day the lock was broken and The door had a please knock first sign. I got walked in on my a male employee twice that day. It's sick. It's unsettling that no one seems to care about the class or hygiene of these employees. Oh well. I guess I just have to deal with it. read more

This is a great free service with lines that cater not only toward students but also working professionals. The RP and V lines run regularly during morning and afternoon rush hours and are reliable (I've never had to wait more than five minutes). The buses probably have half or two- thirds professionals riding them during that time. The buses also go to useful places like the VA Hospital, and unlike some of the campus-geared shuttles, run during the summer and on school holidays. The buses are timed with Caltrain arrivals and the drivers are told to wait if theres a train arriving a minute or two later than usual. Overall, I've been really happy with this service, which makes my commute easy and convenient. read more

Can't believe they sent a bus (RP Research Park) with a broken AC to pick us up in the midst of a heat wave! This is the 3rd time that it's happened. It was over 100° in the bus! I could feel sweat running down my back during the whole ride. read more

I appreciate that it's a free service but find it extremely unreliable, particularly for routes like RP or VA that rub less often. I've been late to meetings or to clinics countless times because some of the shuttles show up late or not at all. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use public transportation to alleviate the on campus parking shortage, but we need a reliable system. There doesn't appear to be any accountability to passengers. read more

Thumbs down on the new service cuts (March, 2011). They're spinning it as "reducing emissions, increasing efficiency," but they've eliminated Line A and effectively removed all connectivity between the Stanford Shopping Center and front campus. A big step backwards. read more

Stanford comes through again for its community. The women actually found it possible to complain about a FREE service should ***please*** use alternatives and let the rest of us carry on with real life. read more