Getting Around Radford
Bus routes, parking info, bike paths, and regional connections — everything you need to navigate the city.
Radford Transit (RT)
Fare-free bus service for all riders
Radford Transit provides fare-free public bus service throughout the city. Service levels adjust based on the Radford University academic calendar.
Full Service (Fall & Spring Semesters)
- Mon – Thu: 6:50 AM – 10:30 PM
- Friday: 6:50 AM – 1:50 AM
- Saturday: 9:45 AM – 1:50 AM
- Sunday: Route 10 only, 5:40 PM – 11:40 PM
City Service (University Breaks)
- Mon – Fri: 6:30 AM – 7:50 PM
- Saturday: 9:50 AM – 7:50 PM
- Sunday: No service
Key Routes
University Express
RU campus loop
New River Rapid
City connector
NRV Connect
Regional link
Highlander Circle
Campus & city
No service on: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Regional Connections
Radford Transit connects to several regional services for travel beyond the city.
Blacksburg Transit (BT) — Two Town Trolley
Transfer at Uptown Mall (weekdays) or Virginia Tech Transit Center (weekend evenings) for service to Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and Christiansburg.
Smart Way Commuter Bus
Links the New River Valley to Roanoke. Runs Mon–Sat. Transfer point on Laurel Street in Christiansburg. Connects to Roanoke Amtrak station and regional airport.
Virginia Breeze — Highlands Rhythm Route
Daily bus service from Radford (Parking Lot JJ, Radford University) to Washington, D.C. (Union Station), with stops including Dulles Airport and West Falls Church Metro.
Parking
Downtown Radford has street parking and small public lots. During Radford University events, expect heavier traffic and limited parking near campus.
Downtown
Free street parking on most downtown streets. Small public lots available on Main Street and side streets.
Near Radford University
Campus parking requires a permit during weekdays. Visitor lots available. Check RU parking services for event-day details.
Parks
Free parking at Bisset Park, Wildwood Park, and Riverview Park. Multiple lots along the Riverway Trail.
Game Days & Events
Plan ahead for RU football/basketball games. Streets near campus may be congested. Consider using Radford Transit.
Biking & Walking
Radford is a walkable small city, especially in the downtown corridor and around the university. The Riverway Trail is the main paved bike/pedestrian path.
- • Riverway Trail — 3.5 miles, paved, connects Bisset Park to Wildwood Park along the New River
- • Downtown corridor — sidewalks along Main Street and connecting streets
- • University area — pedestrian-friendly campus with connections to city streets
- • Wildwood Park trails — unpaved hiking trails through wooded areas
Flock Safety License Plate Readers
The Radford City Police Department uses Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras positioned at various locations around the city. These cameras are part of a growing network of surveillance technology used by law enforcement agencies across Virginia and the country.
Approximate Flock camera locations in the Radford area. Source: DeFlock.org crowdsourced data.
What the Cameras Capture
Flock cameras create a “vehicle fingerprint” by recording license plate numbers along with vehicle make, model, color, and distinguishing features such as bumper stickers, roof racks, or damage. Data is stored on encrypted servers with a standard 30-day retention period. The cameras do not use facial recognition and are not used for traffic enforcement (e.g., speeding or red-light violations).
How Radford Police Use Them
Radford PD uses Flock cameras primarily to locate vehicles connected to criminal investigations, missing persons cases, and welfare checks. In one documented case reported by Cardinal News, Officer J.K. Caudell used the Flock system to locate a suicidal person's vehicle — a black Toyota Corolla — helping officers respond quickly to a mental health crisis. Official camera locations are not publicly disclosed by law enforcement, though crowdsourced data (see map above) provides approximate placements.
Virginia Law (Effective July 1, 2025)
Virginia enacted regulations governing ALPR use that took effect July 1, 2025. Key provisions include:
- • ALPR data may only be used for criminal investigations with reasonable suspicion, missing persons, stolen vehicles, or outstanding warrants
- • Data must be purged within 21 days if not connected to an active investigation
- • Sharing data with federal or out-of-state agencies is prohibited except in specific circumstances
- • Agencies must submit annual reports on ALPR usage
Note: Reporting has found some Virginia agencies are still adjusting to comply with the new requirements.
Privacy Considerations
Civil liberties organizations including the ACLU and EFF have raised concerns about ALPR networks, describing them as a form of mass surveillance that tracks the movements of everyone — not just criminal suspects. A 2021 study found approximately a 10% error rate in plate readings, which can lead to incorrect police stops. Cases of officer misuse of ALPR data have been documented in other jurisdictions. Residents should be aware that driving on public roads in Radford means your vehicle may be logged by these cameras.