eCar Program

College of the Atlantic’s eCar sharing program, designed and administered by students, utlizes an all-electric Ford Focus sedan provided to the College by Darling’s Ford of Bangor, Maine. The vehicle is recharged at the college’s on-campus Level 2 charging station, which is directly attached to a solar PV system as well as the grid. The eCar is primarily intended for student use, and is occasionally extended to faculty/staff as scheduling allows. Use of the eCar has greatly expanded since the program’s inception in 2014, and first priority is given to educational-based needs. All drivers must register on the COA driver list and take a brief eCar training session. Participants can sign up to use the vehicle through an online reservation form, available here .

Day Bus/Night Bus

Public safety operates a student-driven night bus service while school is in session. The night bus operates between 7:30 and 11:30 p.m., making trips from campus to various locations around Bar Harbor. During the winter term, the college also operates a day bus that runs from 7–11 a.m. Hours, routes, and contact information will be circulated to students during the term.

Bicycles

All bikes need to be registered using this google form. A sticker will then be provided for you to put on the bike for identification.

Bicycle racks are located at the entrances to most college buildings. We recommend the use of bike locks, especially for overnight parking. Bike sheds for longer-term, covered storage of bikes are located by Blair/Tyson and in the Kathryn W. Davis Village. 

Bicyclists are encouraged to ride on the Eden Street sidewalk between the college and downtown Bar Harbor. Please be mindful of pedestrians!

Public Transportation

Downeast Transportation runs a year-round bus service between Bar Harbor and Ellsworth that runs seven times a day and can be waved down in front of or asked to stop at COA. A bus also runs from Bar Harbor to Bangor once a day, leaving the Village Green at 8:00 am and leaving Concord Coach bus station at 1:50 pm. A round-trip ticket to or from Ellsworth costs $6 and a round-trip ticket (same day only) to or from Bangor costs $9. All tickets must be paid for with exact change.

The Island Explorer is a free bus that has routes all over Mount Desert Island and runs from late June until Columbus Day.

Parking

COA students must register their vehicles each year with the Office of Public Safety to receive a parking permit. Staff and faculty (including visiting) must only register once per car. Registration is required within the first seven days of the fall term or within seven days of any term in which the owner/driver of the vehicle becomes a COA community member. Register by reading the Parking Policy and signing the Parking Contract, and email it to the Office of Public Safety. ADA permits are available.

If you are not using your car for more than a week, park in the North Lot. If you are away for a term and would like to store your car on campus, please email or contact the Office of Public Safety.

Vehicles parked on the COA campus, whether for delivery or otherwise, are not allowed to idle for more than five minutes.

For more parking policy information, look at the Parking Policy, and Parking Maps attached or email the Office of Public Safety.

COA Parking Map
COA Parking Policy
Snow Parking Map