The majority of the UK’s higher education institutions now have sustainable development strategies.  Much is being done to encourage the saving of energy and implement environmentally friendly means of transport, as the following examples demonstrate.

Reducing car use at Bournemouth
Bicycles and free buses at Durham
Bicycles for Leeds staff and students
Car sharing at Northumbria
University steers new direction for campus transport

Reducing car use at Bournemouth

The Bournemouth University Travel Plan 2008-2012 aims to effectively utilise existing transport infrastructure and services to reduce dependency on cars for those travelling to and from the University.

BU has provided staff and students with a range of alternatives including:

• Provision of secure covered cycling parking and promotion of safe cycling
• Subsidising fares on the University’s bus fleet
• Expanding the service to incorporate new student residences, and promoting a car share scheme.

BU has also stopped issuing parking permits to those staff who live within a mile and a half of the University.

Bicycles and a free bus service at Durham

Durham University’s inter-campus bus service has been further developed.  The service now provides a regular half hourly service for staff and students to travel free between Queen’s Campus and Durham during term time.

Bicycles are also available for free hire.  Students can pay a deposit, which is refunded if no damages are incurred.  The University has also just introduced a new scheme whereby staff can purchase cycles tax free, saving staff money as well as improving fitness, health and the environment.

Bicycles for Leeds staff and students

Leeds Metropolitan University is part of the Velocampus scheme, along with partners in Leeds, which provides low cost bike hire to students, helping to reduce carbon emissions and also improve students’ fitness. The University also has a cycle to work scheme which allows staff to hire bikes for a fraction of their wage, with the option of purchasing at the end of the contract.

Car sharing at Northumbria

Northumbria University has signed up to a green car club scheme to encourage staff to leave their own vehicles at home and use a shared car for work-related errands.

The move has been praised by the Be Air Aware campaign, which is seeking to increase awareness of the issue of poor air quality in Tyne and Wear among private car users, school children, and businesses.

University steers new direction for campus transport

The University of Greenwich has taken possession of five electric vans as part of its drive to go green.

By ditching its old diesel-powered vehicles in preference for the zero-emission electric fleet, the university will help the environment – and cut costs.

Simon Earp, Transport & Green Travel Manager, says: "Electric vehicles are ideal for short journeys and stop-and-go use, and have a much lower carbon footprint than vehicles fitted with internal combustion engines. The vehicles will be used around the campuses for building and grounds maintenance, delivering the post and other portering tasks."