Staff and Student Travel Survey Summary of Findings, 2019 CONTENTS
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Staff and Student Travel Survey Summary of Findings, 2019 CONTENTS Introduction 3 Trends in Travel Patterns 4 Commuting Patterns - Staff 6 Commuting Patterns - Students 8 Travel at the Start of the Academic Year 11 Business Travel 12 Carbon From Commuting 13 Walking 14 Walking Initiatives 16 Cycling 18 Cycling Initiatives 20 Driving 24 Driving Initiatives 28 Public Transport 30 Public Transport Initiatives 34 3 INTRODUCTION The first Travel Plan Strategy was put future initiatives, ensuring these are in place at the University of Sheffield complementary to the Travel Plan in 2002. Since then there has been an Strategy objectives and targets. This ongoing commitment to promote and is in line with the broader aspirations support sustainable modes of travel. of the University in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. This effort includes the identification, delivery and monitoring of activities In May 2019 the University of Sheffield aimed at improving how students and issued a travel questionnaire to staff staff can access the University. and students – this document details the key findings which will feed into our As part of its Travel Plan Strategy, the Travel Plan. University is committed to reviewing and analysing the travel and transport We aim to survey our University preferences of its staff and students on community every two years to allow a regular basis. for comparison of trends over time. Key findings from the survey and a Questionnaire surveys are used to more detailed, technical report can be assess both the impacts of measures viewed here. and activities delivered to date. They also inform on the development of 4 TRENDS IN TRAVEL PATTERNS An indicator of success within the travel planning programme is the overall change in modal split. This is the proportion of staff and students that travel by each mode of transport. The aim is to improve the ease with which staff and students can access the University and in particular to promote and support sustainable modes and reduce single occupancy car travel. The staff and student travel surveys are the principal mechanism through which people can provide feedback on the travel issues that affect them and, in turn, this helps shape the Travel Plan moving forwards. There are a range of broader benefits of an effective Travel Plan for staff, students and the University itself. These include cost savings, improved health and wellbeing, and reduced environmental impact. The trends in modal split amongst students and staff are summarised opposite. 5 Modal Split Summary, Staff 2012 - 2019 Mode of Travel 2012 2015 2016 2019 Walk 24% 25% 19% 28% Bicycle 8% 9% 9% 8% Public Transport 28% 27% 21% 29% Bus 14% 14% 11 % 12% Train 4% 4% 4% 5% Supertram 9% 8% 5% 8% Park and Ride 1% 1% 1% 3% Car Alone 22% 21% 32% 24% Car Share 9% 7% 9% 6% Other 6% 6% 5% 5% It varies 3% 5% 5% 0% Modal Split Summary, Students 2012 - 2019 Mode of Travel 2012 2015 2016 2019 Walk 76% 75% 67% 73% Bicycle 4% 4% 6% 7% Public Transport 14% 13% 18% 11 % Bus 8% 7% 7% 7% Train 4% 3% 5% 3% Supertram 2% 3% 4% 1% Park and Ride N/A N/A 2% 0% Car Alone 4% 4% 6% 4% Car Share 1% 2% 1% 2% Other 1% 2% 2% 3% 6 COMMUTING PATTERNS - STAFF The University currently employs over 8,300 staff, an increase of around 6% since the previous survey was undertaken in 2016. How staff commute to work is influenced by a number of factors and the Travel Plan Strategy aims to support those staff who can feasibly travel by alternatives to their car (alone). This is achieved by providing high-quality infrastructure on campus alongside ‘soft’ measures that provide an incentive to use more sustainable modes and disincentivise driving. Working Hours Distances Travelled to Work Working hours can have an impact Commuting distance is a key determining on the availability and practicalities factor in choice of travel mode. Typically of sustainable modes of travel. Over those who live further away will have more 25% of respondents to the survey work limited options available to them and part-time. Staff typically work standard may be more heavily car dependent. The ‘office hours’ with around 50% arriving average one-way distance respondents between 08.00 and 09.00 and leaving commute to University is 6.8 miles, between 16.00 and 17.30. however, this varies significantly by mode. The average daily distance on foot was 1.5 miles, by bike was 7.1 miles and by car (alone) is 6.2 miles. Average One-Way Commuting Distance per person (miles) Walk 1.5 Bicycle 7.1 Bus 4 Train 5.1 Supertram 9.5 Car Alone 6.2 Car Share 4 7 STAFF BASE LOCATIONS The University currently has 8,306 members of staff, an increase of 504 from 2016. The majority travel to the main city centre campus to work (80%). With the remaining staff (20%) working across other sites in the city such as AMRC (5%). 1% Main Campus 2% 13% 3% 1% Solly St/Cathedral Court AMRC (Waverley) Staff Base Locations AMRC (SBP) Student Village 80% Other/Various Where Staff Live and How They Travel A61 4 RAVENFIELD M1 M18 4 5 5 ROTHERHAM MALTBY BRADFIELD DALE 4 A631 4 A61 9 47 M18 7 TINSLEY M1 HOLLOW 137 5 MEADOWS 22 36 6 SHEFFIELD A630 6 CITY CENTRE M1 DINNINGTON 41 12 18 77 50 7 A57 14 13 51 4 15 12 6 KIVETON PARK A57 19 9 A6102 HATHERSAGE BRADWELL 19 7 4 8 6 COAL ASTON 5 ECKINGTON 10 M1 HOLMESFIELD 4 Bus Bicycle Car (alone) Car share Walk Park & Ride Train Varies day to day Others (Supertram) 8 COMMUTING PATTERNS - STUDENTS Since 2016, the average distance students commute to campus on a daily basis has increased. As expected, the longest average daily distances are by train and shorter distances are by active travel modes such as walking and cycling. Interestingly, those travelling by car typically live within a 9.8 miles radius of the University and are often not commuting considerable distances. Average One-Way Commuting Distance per person (miles) Walk 0.9 Bicycle 1.1 Bus 3.7 Train 21.1 Supertram 4.3 Car Alone 9.8 Car Share 9 A fifth of students indicated they have access to a car, however, only 6% choose to get to their studies on a regular basis using this mode (alone). In previous years, the proportion of student respondents with access to a car was around third, the reduction in the proportion of students travelling to University alone may, therefore, in part be as a consequence of fewer students having access to a vehicle. 9 The University currently has 29,666 students, an increase of 10,631 from 2016. There are a sizeable proportion of students that live in student accommodation. This is typically within walking or cycling distance of the University, however more than 50% of respondents live elsewhere. 7% University owned student accommodation 25% 15% Private sector student accommodation Accommodation Type 2019 Shared student house Parental/Family Home/Own home 31% 22% Private rental (non-student) NORTHERN Where Students Live andGENERAL How HOSPITAL They Travel in Term Time M1 LOXLEY RD LANGSETT RD A6178 A61 5 CARLISLE ST E TINSLEY GREENLAND RD DARNALL RD A6178 KELHAM 32 ISLAND A61 19 SHEFF IEL 20 D P K W STER 18 A CHE R D SHEFFIELD Y MAN 42 CITY CENTRE CROSSPOOL A630 60 8 CITY RD NORFOLK HERITAGE PARK FULLWOOD RD 4 A625 NETHER EDGE MANSFIELD RD RIDGEWAY RD B6388 S A61 D R MEERSBROOK LL A H S E L C C E Bicycle Bus Bus and Tram Car (alone) Car Share Motorbike/Scooter Walk Supertram Train Others 10 11 TRAVEL AT THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR Whilst students commuting to University on a daily basis have an obvious transport impact at a local level, trips at the start and end of the academic year also contribute to the University’s carbon emissions. A significant number of these comprise journeys starting outside of the UK. How students travelled to the University Non-Term Time 2019 at the start of the academic year Location Percentage Other UK 68% Car alone Rest of Europe 14% 5% 10% Asia 12% Plane 26% Africa 2% North America 1% 37% Car Share South America 0% (with parents /family) Australasia 0% 15% Public Outside UK 2% transport (non-specific) 12 BUSINESS TRAVEL Around one-third of staff never travel for business, whilst a further third do so less than once a week. Only 7% do so every day. Encouragingly, longer distance trips are dominated by train travel and a significant proportion of local trips within Sheffield are made on foot. However, over a third of local trips are also made by car alone – providing an area of focus for the University moving forwards. University Operations Deliveries around campus are made using eCargo bikes and some security patrols are now conducted by bike. The University is in the process of replacing conventional vehicles with electric and low carbon alternatives - currently, 43% of the fleet is electric. Factors Influencing Business Travel Mode Journey time Cost No. of Interchanges Comfort Ease of booking Carbon emissions Most important Least important factor factor Mode by Business Travel Destination 55% 47% 37% 29% 23% 21% 15% 14 % 14 % 13% 11 % 10% 10% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% Car (alone) Car share Public Walk Taxi It varies / Transport Other Within Sheffield Within Yorkshire Further afield 13 CARBON FROM COMMUTING The Travel Survey provides an opportunity to estimate the environmental impact of accessing the University’s sites.