How to get to University Center from different student dorms by bike (with videos!)

The University Center (UCen) at UCSB is located at the center of the main campus. The University Center provides essential services such as the Post Office, various dining options, Campus Store, etc. All UCSB freshmen would need to go and get their student access card at UCen as well, which means every UCSB student must visit UCen at least once.

If you need directions to UCen by foot, you can use Google Maps. However, it can be confusing for the freshmen to reach UCen by bike following the bike roads around the campus. In this post, I’ll introduce step by step guidance with videos on how to get to UCen from some of the undergraduate apartments and residence halls by bike.

1. From Sierra Madre Village to UCen

0:00 – We start from Parking Lot 65, which is right next to Sierra Madre Village.

2:10 – If you take a right turn here, you will see many bike racks installed for the people who come to Portola Dining Commons. If you bought a meal plan, try the food at Portola Dining Commons!

3:25 – On your right is Santa Ynez Village, another undergraduate apartment.

8:35 – Now we’re entering the main campus site! If you take a right at the fork, you will be following the boundary between the main campus and Isla Vista.

11:38 – We arrived! I’m pointing to the UCen entrance xD

2. From Santa Cruz Residence Hall to UCen

0:00 - We start from Santa Cruz, taking Channel Islands Rd.

1:12 - De La Guerra Dining Commons is on your right! If you live in Santa Cruz, you’ll be eating a lot here.

1:41 - Ortega Dining Commons is in your front! Another place in which you can eat if you have a meal plan.

3:47 - We arrived! I’m pointing to the UCen entrance :)

3. From Manzanita Village to UCen

0:00 - We start from Manzanita Village! De Anza Resource Center is on your left.

0:25 - Carrillo Dining Commons is on your left! It is located very close to Manzanita Village.

0:40 - Loma Pelona Center is on your right. It is a place where I got my COVID-19 test on the move-in date of the 2021-2022 academic year. I believe COVID-19 test is still held here.

1:00 - If you walk down the stairs on your right (where the person with a backpack is going in the video), you’ll see the UCSB Lagoon! It’s a beautiful place to chill and watch sea birds.

3:47 - We arrived! I’m pointing to the UCen entrance :]

4. From Anacapa Residence Hall to UCen

0:00 - We start from Anacapa Residence Hall, taking UCEN Rd.

0:45 - Life Sciences Building is on your right!

0:55 - If you take a right turn here, you’ll see a wide grass field. Most STEM buildings surround this field.

1:40 - MultiCultural Center is in front of you! From here, I’ll walk to the UCen instead of following the bike road since the MultiCultural Center is right next to the UCen.

2:55 - Here’s one entrance to UCen.

3:55 - Here’s another entrance to UCen. This is the main entrance! Again, I’m pointing to the entrance :p

I hope you found this post helpful!

In addition, if you need the directory of UCen, follow this link for the floor plans of UCen.