Reducing Car Commuting to College Campuses

In the UK, there is an organisation called the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges: www.eauc.org.uk - they will have case studies on the resources section of their website. There is a similar organisation in the US called AASHE, who may also be able to help.

Ann 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison does not by any means have the problem solved. But it does incorporate a growing number of alternatives and is involved in a holistic approach to the challenge of reducing traffic, improving air quality and promoting a better quality of life--more bike paths, vanpools, ride-sharing services and (my favorite employee and student benefit) free bus passes for 40,000+ students and 12,000 or so employees. That's an incredibly valuable contribution to transit in general as well as the car problem because it gets the transit system a more significant upfront cash flow. Take a look and see if any of the UW's programs might be adapted to your campus and community: http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/trans/TDM/index.htm Community Car, a very progressive private sector firm here in Madison, is also part of the picture. Having started small, Community Car is cleverly marketed on campus with a growing number of cars available to members. It's entirely local, and has an excellent track record for working with large employers and its own members. http://www.danebuylocal.com/member/214 I've given a link through Dane Buy Local because Baltimore has a similar group which promotes local, independently-owned business and the "local living economy." One of the fundamental problems we all face is the dissonance between land use planning, sprawl and transportation systems. Until we can get developers, zoning officials, planners and government officials together before the cul de sacs and far-away campuses are planned, we will be putting the donkeys behind the carts. Having been involved in planning bus routes to places that never took such things into account, I can tell you: the process in most communities is entirely backward and costly. Until we all start thinking about the big picture, working with diverse communities, large and small employers and public bodies in collaboration, we'll be only dealing with a few pieces of the puzzle.

RicK Brooks

University of Wisconsin-Madison
608-265-4077
Professional Development & Applied Studies
School of Human Ecology
www.danebuylocal.com
www.wiscpsa.org

Julie,

You should charge parking (high costs) and close areas to develop carfree streets. That should do it. More info on this in the module on carfree development from www.sutp.org (Documents section, must register) and on parking issues read "The High Cost of Free Parking" by Donald Shoup.

Best regards,


Carlosfelipe Pardo
Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator
GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC)
Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708
Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Tel/fax:  +57 (1) 236 2309  Mobile: +57 (3)15 296 0662
[email protected]        www.gtz.de
([email protected]   www.sutp.org )

Julie,

In West Michigan, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has an arrangement with the GRATA (Grand Rapids Area Transit Authority) where all faculty and students can ride the bus for free. GRATA provides a Campus Connector service from GVSU's downtown campus to it's main campus in Allendale (~12 mi., but outside the city limits and into the next county), and services from main campus some of the off-campus housing and shopping districts within Allendale. These routes continue to increase service, especially now that students (not faculty) have to pay for parking and the high gas prices. I was recently told by the Campus Sustainability Director that the long term plans include a car-free campus with satellite bus lots, but I don't know if that's beyond the proposal stage.

Elaine Sterrett Isely

Research Associate
Annis Water Resources Institute
Grand Valley State University
Lake Michigan Center
740 West Shoreline Drive
Muskegon, MI 49441
[email protected]
Dept: (231) 728-3601
Ofc: (616) 331-8788
Fax: (616) 331-3864

Hi,

Count me in on this discussion. I may have ranted before on this listserv about my local uni (Wollongong, NSW Australia)'s awful record - about 70% of journeys to the uni by car. This despite half- price bus and train travel for full-time students (1/2 price bus for all students), excellent bus and train services, a shuttle bus from the station to uni, bike parking everywhere, promotion of public- transport by the uni and "insufficient parking". There's even a facebook group dedicated to pushing for more parking spaces, and rabidly anti-public transport (at the risk of sounding bitchy, most of the members, from their pictures, look under 25, able-bodied and childless). I suspect the problem's cultural: these people have only recently acquired their licences and are determined to drive, because it makes them feel more mature. If that's the case, then something beyond provision of services is needed. Any thoughts anyone?

cheers,
Lorna

Hello Julie,

It seems fairly obvious to me that you only have a few options.

1. Distance learning
2. Improve public transit
3. Carpool
4. Increase student accomodation on or near campus.
5. Satellite campuses.

Have I missed any?

Norm Ruttan

iWasteNot Systems
www.iwastenotsystems.com
1-800-630-7864
Reuse & Recycling Logistics
Materials Exchanges Recyclopedia
GreenPages Directories
Food & Food Waste Exchanges
Biomass Exchanges

 6. Cash incentives (or equivalent - includes gifts / prize draw, heavily subsidized mass transit )