Year-on-year improvements in sustainable travel
Year-on-year improvements in sustainable travel
As we’ve all returned to campus post-pandemic, we’ve seen new travel patterns emerge.
Overall, our survey results show that roughly the same number of people are travelling by car now as back in 2019. But while students have generally returned to their familiar patterns of travel, staff (and the region’s wider working population) have adopted far more hybrid ways of working.
We’ve seen reduced staff car travel (due to hybrid working practices) but an increase in student car use (due mainly to current challenges on the regional bus network). We’ve also seen more people moving from public transport to walking and cycling.
Recognising the challenges facing public transport
There’s no doubt that public transport has suffered disproportionately over the last year or so, with route cancellations and a slower recovery of public confidence. But, with local government, service operators and key stakeholders putting their combined effort into rebuilding the network, there’s a real sense that the lost ground will be recovered over the next three years.
Our commitment to our Strategy 2030 remains unwavering, and we continue to work towards the foundations set in the Travel Action Plan – balancing the need to travel alongside our net zero carbon ambitions.
Breaking it down: Our Sustainable Travel Hierarchy
Do you really need to travel?
In responding to the climate crisis it is important to consider more purposeful travel to help determine when and why it is essential to travel. We continue to encourage more active and sustainable travel choices like walking and cycling to help reduce our collective environmental footprint.
Do you really need to travel?
In responding to the climate crisis it is important to consider more ‘purposeful travel’ to help determine when and why it is essential to travel. We continue to encourage more active and sustainable travel choices like walking and cycling to help reduce our collective environmental footprint.
Do you really need to travel?
In responding to the climate crisis it is important to consider more ‘purposeful travel’ to help determine when and why it is essential to travel. We continue to encourage more active and sustainable travel choices like walking and cycling to help reduce our collective environmental footprint.
Walk, cycle, scoot
We all know how good cycling and walking are for us – and the environment around us. So, we continue to help our students and staff adopt active travel modes, by providing support such as bike loans, free cycle maintenance and salary sacrifice schemes. Very soon, the e-scooter trials that we’ve been hosting will also be formalised, along with a complementing e-bike hire scheme at all our sites.
Metrobus
We’ve recently installed a second Metrobus stop on our Frenchay campus. This provides a direct link to Bristol Parkway rail station, the soon to open Brabazon Arena, and the Mall at Cribbs Causeway.
Our Electric Vehicle strategy
We have a clear EV strategy in place. We’ll now only replace UWE Bristol fleet with zero emission vehicles. (We’ll only consider fossil fuel vehicles if there’s no real alternative.)
We’re trialling alternative vehicles too, like e-cargo bikes. And naturally, we need somewhere to charge our EVs, so we’ll continue to ensure that we’re providing a good quality charging provision on all UWE Bristol sites.