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Green travel is a Smart Move
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| Ben Tongue, environmental manager with the University of Bradford |
"As an institution, we are working towards being as sustainable as we possibly can be, and transport is a key area."
Ben Tongue, environmental manager with the University of Bradford, stresses how vital a role transport plays in the overall aim towards a greener future.
Four years ago, the University of Bradford introduced a green travel plan. It was drawn up with the prime purpose of reducing emissions, and also as part of the institution's involvement in the West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network.
Run by Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive), the network brings together large organisations and employers across the county to encourage and help them with travel plans.
Running from 2004 to 2009, the university's travel plan - called Smart Move', leaves no stone unturned in examining options to promote greener, cleaner travel choices.
The detailed plan offers staff and students a different approach' to travelling to the university, to reduce the amount of traffic and promote a wider range of more environmentally-friendly and healthy transport options.
"We are not anti-car," says Ben, "What we are doing is providing people with possible alternatives."
Since 2004, an annual survey has been carried out to look at the methods of transport people use to arrive at the university.
"We conducted a large survey in 2004, followed by snapshot surveys, then last year we carried out another detailed survey, both online and through questionnaires," adds Ben. "It looked at how people travelled here to work or study."
The results enabled Ben to look at possible ways to make people's journeys easier and greener. "We looked at how people could be encouraged to use more environmentally-friendly ways of travelling."
Well-publicised beforehand, the most recent survey was conducted over a two-week period and generated more than 900 responses. The information from each set of results enables Ben to identify any existing and emerging trends as well as the most popular methods of travel.
"We found that around half of staff drive to the university on their own, between ten and 15 per cent share a car or use the bus or train, and the rest walk or cycle.
"With students, many who live close to the university, about 40 per cent walk, a quarter drive alone, 15 per cent use the bus or train and the rest either car-share or cycle."
"The information also helps us plan our car parking strategies for the future," he adds.
The survey also asked what improvement people would like to see. Among those put forward by staff was being encouraged to work from home, easily accessible, affordable car parking and more reliable public transport, while students looked towards improved bus services, subsidised travel cost and ample, affordable car parking.
The university is currently undergoing a review of its car parking, introducing changes to eligibility criteria for passes, and to the way the car parks are managed.
Members of staff or students who may be striving to reduce their personal carbon footprints, have a number of green travel options available. Among these is a car-sharing scheme, bradfordcarshare.com.
"There is not a great uptake at present - with between 60 and 80 members - but the numbers are growing, and we are hopeful the scheme will expand," says Ben, who is carrying out a consultation as to whether dedicated car parking spaces and financial incentives would encourage more people to use it.
All of the university's four campuses are sited along or within 400 metres of key public transport corridors. For those who travel by train or bus, discounted Metro cards are available to staff, giving a 15 per cent reduction. "Students are eligible for student Metrocard offers, with significant reductions too," says Ben. "We are also starting to offer discounted First bus tickets."
Running every weekday during term time, a free bus service for students, the UBUS takes students living with a two-mile radius to the campus. With 11 timetabled rounds, the bus is well-used.
Real-time information screens, broadcasting bus and train information are also planned. "The university's School of Management is keen for us to pilot some real time' bus and train information," says Ben. "
They already have plasma screens in buildings on that site which can broadcast the information, and if it catches on we will hopefully extend it to the city centre campus.
Cycling is promoted and encouraged by the University of Bradford Bicycle Users' Group UNIBBUG, who represent the views of cyclists both within the university and Bradford Council.
The group's website invites cyclists to fill in a questionnaire with the details of their cycle usage and interest in cycling. The information is collated and used towards improving facilities for cyclists. It also gives information as to how to report thefts or other cycle-related problems, and also how to report potholes.
Secure bike cages are being installed around the campus to give cyclists peace of mind when they leave their bikes.
"We will have at least three and possibly up to six," says Ben. "The first one has already been built on the city centre campus, for around 40 bikes. We are going to build one at the School of Management in Heaton and one at the School of Health in Trinity Road."
Tax-free bike loan schemes are also in place for staff, and the students' union runs an affordable bike hire scheme.
The Smart Move travel plan includes not only greener methods of travelling to work, but alternative ways of working that do not involve travel or cut down on the amount of travelling.
Video conferencing facilities are available at the university's JB Priestley Library, with a variety of rooms available for meetings involving different numbers of people.
Another option is working from home, which is possible through web-based applications put in place by the university's learning support services.
A major push towards greener travel at the university was made during Green Travel Week, held last November, when a number of activities take place to promote all the different kinds of transport that are available to people.
These included free breakfasts on Ditch the Car Day', prizes for car sharers, cycle maintenance classes, fuel efficiency driver training, a public transport awareness day and a learning lunch session on remote working.
"It was very successful," says Ben. Next on the agenda is a series of activites during national Bike Week from June 14 to 22.
"More people are looking for alternatives, looking at how they can be greener, and we are helping them decide what they can do," adds Ben.
For more information visit
bradfordcarshre.com or brad.ac.uk/campus/uni-cyclist. The national journey planner website, transportdirect.info, calculates your carbon footprint for individual journeys.
8:12am Wednesday 23rd April 2008
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