UNIVERSITY OF WALES INSTITUTE, CARDIFF
TRAVEL PLAN Annual Report 2010
AT H R O FA P R I F Y S G O L C Y M R U, C A E R D Y D D
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TRAVEL PLAN
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The Board of Governors and Senior Managers at UWIC recognise the obligation which the Institute has to adopt a responsible attitude towards the environment within which we live and work. UWIC is committed to the concept of sustainable development and the pursuit of continuous improvement in environmental performance. The development of a Travel Plan for staff, students, visitors and business partners is a fundamental aspect of UWIC’s Environmental Strategy. The aim is to minimise the impact of Institute generated travel and to set an example to our students which they will take with them into the world of work. This Travel Plan update is intended to report upon the significant progress we have made in this area of our work and builds upon our successes to date. Our plan continues to raise awareness of transport choices and in consultation with internal and external stakeholders, to identify, prioritise and implement further initiatives that will deliver more sustainable ways of conducting UWIC’s transport activities. The commitment of UWIC is amply illustrated by the progress which has been made to date and by the framework which has been put in place to progress, steer and review the Travel Plan and to integrate it with city and regional sustainable transport developments. Professor Antony J Chapman, Vice Chancellor
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TRAVEL PLAN
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Cardiff Council’s travel planning team have worked closely with UWIC for a number of years during the on going development of their Travel Plan. We have been extremely pleased to develop a strong relationship with such a progressive and proactive organisation. UWIC are now sharing the benefits of their experience with other institutions in the city through the Cardiff Higher and Further Education Green Travel Group. Ms Cheryl Owen, Travel Plan Officer, Cardiff Council.
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INTRODUCTION Sustainable travel is fundamental to UWIC’s philosophy and underpins our recognition of the need to reduce our impact on the environment and the community as a whole. The established UWIC Travel Plan is an indispensable part of UWIC’s corporate values and has also ensured the implementation of the ongoing Estate Strategy. The introduction of the UWIC Travel Plan in 2008 has led to continued consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Local Authority, Cardiff Bus, Sustrans and the South East Wales Travel Alliance. This report highlights the effects of the UWIC Travel plan to date and identifies future plans to ensure that UWIC continues to go beyond the expected boundaries and influence Cardiff’s infrastructure for the benefit of the local community.
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TRAVEL PLAN
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Changes resulting from UWIC’s Travel Plan initiatives have positively contributed to the lives of students and staff. The continuing aims and objectives are: • To develop, implement and promote travel options that reduce single occupancy and non-essential travel. • Raise awareness of environmental impact and promote sustainable travel and benefits to health. • Install an ethos of sustainable travel UWIC wide. • Minimise UWIC impact on Cardiff environment and the local community. • Introduce sustainable travel to the curriculum.
UWIC – Some Basic Facts At the time of the most recent study UWIC employed 1,266 staff and has in excess of 13,000 full and part time students with approx 10,000 studying in Cardiff. Staff and students are based at three academic campuses and a fourth residential campus located throughout the City of Cardiff. Attracting students from more than 125 countries and a wealth of tradition in providing an extensive range of career focused programmes and training opportunities, many of which are accredited by professional bodies, UWIC consistently achieves one of the best graduate employability rates in the country. UWIC receives considerable visitor numbers due to its community-training facilities, public art exhibitions and other public and community events.
Top: OYBike initiative Llandaff Campus Centre: UWIC Students walking home from Campus. Bottom: UWIC BUG members.
TRAVEL INITIATIVES UWIC has established and encouraged the following travel initiatives: • UWIC Rider – Over 2,000 permits purchased annually by students and staff. • POOL CARS – Since introduction UWIC Pool Cars are now being used each day by groups of staff on local business. • CARSHARE2UWIC - As of November 2010 the scheme has in excess of 150 active Car Share groups. • UWIC BUG – Largest Bike User Group in South Wales with over 20% of staff now members. • WALK2UWIC – Annual promotional events have raised awareness of the Health and Well Being benefits, along with increased participation in walking to UWIC.
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I made a conscious choice to change my travel to work habits and abandoned the car in favour of local buses. As a result of this I can integrate some exercise into my daily routine and I find using local transport a much more sociable option for traveling to work. Now travelling by public transport is my prefered method of getting to work and I would recommend it to all colleagues. Mrs. Pam Ackroyd, Director of Operations, UWIC.
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• OY BIKES – First Welsh University to host OY BIKES on campus, supporting Cardiff’s Sustainable Travel City Initiative. • RING FENCED FUNDING – A protected source of funding for sustainable travel initiatives. • STUDENT & STAFF TRAVEL NEWS – Annual publication giving travel advice to all it’s staff and students. • TRAVEL ROADSHOWS – Campus based personal travel advice for students and staff.
The following sections provide further information on each of the above travel initiatives, along with ongoing and future initiatives planned by UWIC.
* To view Pam’s journey to work visit: uwic.ac.uk/journeytowork
UWIC RIDER The UWIC Rider was launched in 1997 initially as a means of subsidised travel for students to academic and residential campuses. In its first year only 102 students purchased Rider permits, this has grown to in excess of 2,000 permits in 2009/10. The Rider service is subsidised to offer affordable public travel to students and staff alike.
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It was very helpful last year to go to my teaching placements around Cardiff. It would have cost me a fortune to travel without it! Jess Andrews, Teacher Training, UWIC
Landmarks: 2010
Permits extended by five weeks to offer 10 months stress free travel.
2009
UWIC Shopper Bus launched with funding provided by Cardiff Sustainable City grant.
2008
Launch of the Fast Track service, linking Roath/Cathays with Llandaff Campus.
2007
Streamlining of routes to incorporate new halls and student/staff residential areas.
2006
Introduction of staff UWIC Rider passes and Inter-Campus travel.
2005
Winner of the National Transport Award for Social Responsibility.
2004
The Rider pass became transferrable across all zones on the Cardiff Bus network.
UWIC Rider Actual Sales 2003 - 2010. 2500
2087 1912
2000
Number of passes
1616
2023
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I have bought a Staff Rider pass for the past five years and I can’t imagine life without it. Apart from using it daily for work, I have also travelled to Penarth, Cardiff Bay and St Fagans using it. Mike O’Toole, Campus Services, UWIC
1532
1500 1314
1000 844
500
0 2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
Academic Year.
2008/9
2009/10
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UWIC Rider cont...
Ongoing and future initiatives: • Changing the Rider routes to provide a link service for students, staff and visitors commuting by train or coach from the City Centre to UWIC Campuses. • A new Cathedral Road route to further assist the travel needs of residents in Canton and Pontcanna as well as students who train at the Welsh Institute of Sport. • Review the ability to freeze or reduce prices to assist with purchase of Rider passes. • To explore a staff Salary Sacrifice Scheme. • To explore the potential of an Alumni scheme to offer UWIC graduates reduced travel within Cardiff. • Explore opportunities for collaborative ventures with other bus service providers.
POOL CAR UWIC has introduced pool cars on each campus to enable staff to leave their cars at home: available through a central booking system for local travel. Landmarks: 2009-2010 UWIC branded cars were made available across all campuses. The scheme benefits have been quickly recognised and are now regularly used by staff/groups in support of local business
2008-2009 The scheme was launched with one car within the Cardiff School of Art & Design.
Ongoing and future initiatives: • Review utilisation with a view to increasing the number of pool cars available. • Review biofuel and hybrid options.
Top: UWIC Rider. Centre and Bottom: Staff usage of Pool Car at Cyncoed Campus.
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HARE2U W A RS I
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Within two years the number of students and staff registered with Car Share has quadrupled to over 670 people making UWIC the largest Car Share operator in South Wales.
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CAR SHARE Landmarks: 2009-2010 • Introduction of pilot scheme for free car parking for car sharers at Colchester Avenue. • Llandaff Campus parking for registered student Car Sharers. • Student Car Share Zone and spaces increased to 40. • New smart card permits introduced.
2008-2009 • Car share spaces at the Llandaff Campus increased to 13.
Ongoing and future initiatives: • 2010/11 will see an expected increase in staff Car Share at Llandaff campus and the relocation of Llandaff student Car Share zone to Plas Gwyn Campus, (following the relocation of the Cardiff School of Management School to the Llandaff campus).
Carshare2UWIC staff and student members and groups.
Debra Jones, Web Manager, UWIC
800 685
700
Number of members and groups.
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Aside from the clear financial benefits, car share enables me to enjoy my commute and to discuss relevant work issues as I work in the same department as my car sharer. We also never have to worry about parking; there is always a space available!
600
500
400 299 300
249
200 137 100
68 Actual Members
24 0
Actual Groups 2007/08
2008/09
Academic Year.
2009/10
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UWIC BUG The UWIC Bike Users Group (BUG) has grown substantially and now equates to 20% of all UWIC staff. This figure has increased due to incentives such as: • Cycle to work free breakfasts (four weeks of the year): Resulting in an increase of 100% of staff participating in the initiative. • Participation in the government’s Cycle to Work Scheme, entitling UWIC staff to purchase a bike and pay directly from monthly salary.
Landmarks: 2009-2010 • Introduction of Commute to Work-UWIC Cycling Officer assisting staff on safe daily routes.
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• UWIC Cycling Proficiency Officer appointed following collaboration with Cycle Training Wales. • Dedicated cycle lane introduced at Llandaff Campus.
I cycle to work everyday and apart from saving me money, it means I don’t have to go to the gym. I use the all weather cycle stores and love the free breakfast offers for cyclists.
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• Seven members of staff volunteered to undertake a cycle maintenance course and have responsibility for assisting with student/staff cycle repairs. • Multi-use shower room made available for cyclists on Llandaff Campus. • Introduction of bike health checks and security coding for staff and students. • Provision of four all weather cycle shelters (capacity of 200 cycles).
Ongoing and future initiatives: • Dedicated shower and changing facilities for cyclists and walkers • Increase all weather cycle storage • Team UWIC participation in local charity cycling event.
UWIC Cyclist statistics 2008 - 2009 1000
UWIC’s dedication to sustainable transport has never been more evident. With the introduction of cycle stores, lockers, bike coding sections, tax free bikes and the support given to 200 plus cyclists, cycling to UWIC has never been easier.
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Stuart Scott Chair of UWIC Health Promotion Group
Number of members and groups.
Liam Reid, Student Support Administrator Llandaff Campus
• Purchase of six campus Pool Bicycles.
800
728 Student cyclists
600
Staff cyclists
515 400
200
101
91 0 2008
2009 Academic Year.
OYBIKE UWIC became the first Welsh University to offer communal bicycle access to students, staff and the public. Working closely with Cardiff City Council, spaces for 18 bicycles were installed at the Llandaff Campus, Plas Gwyn Campus and Evelian Court. Cardiff OYBIKE scheme allows student staff and visitors to register to use any of the 100 plus OYBIKE’S in Cardiff. Ongoing and future initiatives: • Expansion of the scheme to include Cyncoed and Howard Gardens campuses. • Increase bicycles and bike stations at Llandaff Campus. • Review of utilisation data in conjunction with OY and Cardiff City Council.
WALK/RUN TO WORK Landmarks: 2009-2010 • Participation in the Cardiff 10k Kidney Research race with 14 UWIC staff participating. Staff used their walk/run to work as an excellent training opportunity. • Walk around the world - a UWIC initiative where staff were given pedometers and virtually circumnavigated the world in 59 days!
2008-2009 • Intercampus Staff Walk. The inaugural walk saw 20 members of staff walking from Howard Gardens to Llandaff campus.
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During 2009 I decided to walk to work at Llandaff Campus rather than take my car. It was only 40 minutes along the Taff Trail and I would normally arrive earlier than if I had brought my car. I found the whole experience far less stressful and I arrived at work awake and ready for the day. On the plus side I helped the environment, lost weight and it saved me having to go to the gym after work!
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Rachel Luke Internal Communications Officer, UWIC
• UWIC pedometers were made available to all staff who regularly walk to their work campus, to help monitor mileage and calorie loss. • Introduction of ‘Walk2UWIC’ free breakfasts (four weeks of the year); In it’s first year attracted 42 participants.
Ongoing and future initiatives: • In conjuction with UWIC’s Health and Well Being initiative more walking events are to be scheduled including Social Walking Groups and Running Clinics.
* UWIC currently has 27% of students and 6% of Staff walking to campus - * 2009 Stat.
Above: UWIC Halls of Residence staff participating in walking event.
SUMMARY OF THE 2009/10 SURVEY The most recent travel survey provided the following key results:
Student • 76% of UWIC students live within the Cardiff boundary. • 44% of whom live within the Roath/Cathays area. • A decrease of 4% in student car users since 2008/09. • 35% of students now using public transport, and a further 34% either cycling, walking or car sharing. • 28% of UWIC students travel to campus by bus, with a further 3% travelling by train. • Approximately 3,600 students use the UWIC Rider every week. • 26% of student car users said that they would consider changing their mode of transport if there were improved public service options.
Staff • UWIC Staff mainly reside across Cardiff and the surrounding area. • 23% of the staff population use public transport, walk or car share. • A 7% reduction in the number of staff using cars since 2008/09.
Top: OYBike station at Llandaff Campus. Centre: Students walking home from Cyncoed Campus. Bottom: Staff Car Share
WORKING WITH OTHERS Sustainability and travel are vital factors to all businesses and enterprises in Cardiff. Since establishing it’s Travel Plan, UWIC has been working with external companies to assist them in establishing travel plans for their organisations. These include Cardiff University, Welsh Joint Education Committee, University Hospital Wales and the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Further to this we are regularly and actively engaged with the following organisations.
Cardiff County Council: Since UWIC committed to a more sustainable approach Cardiff County Council have provided significant support. Our recognition from the Council as ‘Best Practice’ in achieving the most comprehensive and detailed travel plan in Cardiff, has led to UWIC now being able to assist the council with their efforts to spread the ethos of sustainable travel.
Sustrans: UWIC representatives attend Sustrans Annual Active Travel Champions Networking Event resulting in Sustrans using UWIC’s Travel Plan as a case study. The organisation is investigating student transport in Cardiff and is focussing on how to encourage ‘active travel’ amongst students. Sustrans are also providing signage to UWIC along the Taff Trail.
SEWTA (South East Wales Travel Alliance) UWIC has been liaising with SEWTA to provide a forum and a meeting location for universities and academic institutions throughout South East Wales to meet regularly and share ideas of best practice. SEWTA is a consortium of ten South East Wales local authorities created to carry out their functions in respect of public travel.
Liberty Living UWIC students are nominated to live at approximately 700 bedrooms within Liberty Living residences in Cardiff. UWIC has added four of the Liberty Halls to the UWIC Rider route and are directly responsible for the introduction of OYBikes on another Liberty Campus.
PACT meetings Members of UWIC staff attend local PACT meetings to contribute to the community action work and give feedback.
UWIC is happy to share its experiences with other organisations who are considering developing their own travel plans.
THE FUTURE UWIC continues to monitor and review it’s five year action plan (available at: www.uwic.ac.uk/traveltouwic) The highest level priority will be to continue to reduce single occupancy car journeys. This will be achieved by: Continuing to increase bus travel by students, staff and visitors. Investigating the feasibility of reducing UWIC Rider passes for 2nd and 3rd year purchases. Investigating the feasibility of developing an Alumni Rider pass for UWIC graduates Investigating the possibility of a salary sacrifice scheme for Staff passes. Further engagement with staff and students to identify and overcome travel barriers. (The Vice President of UWIC Student Union has joined UWIC’s Travel Working Group). Increasing the number of staff cyclists and encourage this by installing dedicated showers, storage and drying facilities. Encouraging more staff and students to walk by investigating a time allowance of 15 minutes for walkers in order to change clothing, shower etc. Lobbying the Local Authority to improve the local infrastructure, particularly the Taff Trail. Encouraging more use of trains in conjuction with bus/cycle/walking initiatives. Introducing staff inter campus mini bus travel.
UNIVERSITY OF WALES INSTITUTE, CARDIFF
UWIC is always keen to hear of any travel initiatives. If you would like to get in touch please contact:
email: travel@uwic.ac.uk tel: 029 2041 6712
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AT H R O FA P R I F Y S G O L C Y M R U, C A E R D Y D D