LANCASTER UNIVERSITY TRAVEL PLAN – ENGAGING STAFF AND STUDENTS Thursday 8th March 2012 Presented by Philip Longton, Travel & Environment Co-ordinator, Facilities
Introduction Transport achievements Methods of staff and student engagement
Example of engagement in: Parking policies Increasing bus travel Cycling initiatives Car sharing initiatives
Key points
Established 1964 Located in north Lancashire on the north-west coast of England Top 10 UK University No. 1 University in NW England Top 1% Universities in the world
Over 2,500 staff Over 12,800 students 6,800 students resident on campus 2,700 car parking spaces 1000 cycle parking spaces 19 buses per hour to city centre
Travel Plan in place since 2004 (planning condition). Travel Plan Co-ordinator post since 2005 (planning condition).
Original drivers:
Conditioned through Planning Development plans for growth Highway capacity issues Parking problems
More recently also:
Carbon reduction e.g. CRC Student experience (fees)
Promoted by Department for Transport as best practice since 2008. Awarded Carbon Trust Standard in 2009 Commuter Friendly Workplace of the Year 2011 Shortlisted for a Public Sector Sustainability Award 2011
Sustained and significant modal shift to sustainable transport amongst staff and students.
STAFF: Bus use up 71% from 2007 to 2011. Doubled since 2004. SOVU down 17% from 2007 to 2011 to just 46% mode share Car sharing up 17% from 2007 to 2011. A 288% increase in the sale of Staff Car Share Permits from 2009/10 to 2010/11 following a 33% price reduction for the permit and other benefits. The highest cycle to work rate of any Lancashire employer. A 17% increase in business use of train travel.
STUDENTS:
32% reduction in student car use in just 21 months. Doubling of student cycling commuting from 5.4% to 10.4% in less than 2 years. Doubling of student walking commuting from 3% to 6% in less than 2 years. More postgraduate research students cycle than travel by car, either as a driver or as a passenger (30% cycle mode share compared to 29% car mode share – November 2007). 23% reduction in student permit sales since 2010/11.
Travel surveys Focus groups Transport Working Group Roadshows Web-based communications – website, email Paper-based communications Senior management sponsorship / support Freshers Transport Talks iLancaster – Mobile phone application
Policies and initiatives - Carrots and sticks
Most comprehensive form of engagement Can also be most effective form of engagement too Response rates: Staff – 41%, Students – 14%. Every 3 years Quantitative – monitoring mode share, statistical benefits, some policy benefits. Qualitative – excellent tool for policy formulation if used.
So much good quality survey time, money and data is wasted by not using it properly or even not using it at all!
Transport SWOT analysis prior to survey design Establishing objectives for the survey Clear response rate targets Electronic communication most effective for staff Senior management sponsorship and emails to all staff Prize incentives don‟t help as much as we thought Manual staff targeted via line managers – compulsory Presence of key transport issues in the organisation Promoting feedback opportunities and ideas for improvement
What are the objectives of the travel survey? - Use the results to ensure the objectives are met. Mode share data – review progress against targets Forming policies and initiatives based on survey results is a great way to respond to consultation Additional comments – collate into themes. Should be referring to results regularly. Key document. Costly exercise – ensure value for money
Feedback to staff / students on results crucial.
2007 Staff Travel Survey revealed:
50% of staff lived < 5 miles away 49% of staff lived < 500m of a bus stop with a direct service to the University Staff bus use only 11% Many respondents wanted more frequent and direct services Many respondents commented on high costs of bus travel relative to parking permits
Partnership developed with Stagecoach to exploit potential
Not used by Lancaster University.
Can be helpful for engaging with specific groups about specific issues or ideas.
Feedback strongly encouraged through surveys and email
Bicycle User Group – now all electronic
Embeds formal governance and structure Formalises consultation Chaired by a Pro-Vice Chancellor.
Facilities, HR, Finance, Unions, City Council, County Council
All policy changes and new initiatives proposed via the TWG
Very important part of our success. Senior level support.
Carbon Awareness Roadshows
Freshers Fair
Very important Commuting to Campus webpages (detailed) Background / rationale Policies Initiatives and incentives Events Feedback - encouraged www.lancs.ac.uk/facilities/travel
Weekly emails to staff
Now really important in engaging with students Facebook Twitter Key communication tools
Maps, guides, leaflets, etc. Freshers Fair Roadshows Flyers limited to events Posters used sparingly e.g. Cycle path
Staff without computer access in their normal line of duties Key communications replicated in paper form Weekly LU Text emails printed by line managers for staff
Crucial
Transport Working Group Sponsorship for travel surveys Sponsorship for policy change Provision of funding
The bigger picture for the organisation – costs of car parking, parking congestion, recruitment and retention of staff, development plans, reducing business costs, other environmental policies and agendas.
Promoting sustainable transport options in students right from the start.... Car parking – what is expected of students Where the buses go Bus stops on campus Cycling parking Where to buy cheap bicycles Walking and cycling on campus In Freshers Week Programme. Four repeated talks Around 10% of freshers attend each year
Carrots and sticks of the Travel Plan will engage stakeholders More engagement prior to implementation of carrots and sticks – more effective they should be and more accepting they should be to stakeholders.
Review and revision of policy and feedback are so important.
“The availability of car parking is a significant contributory factor on travel decision making and a parking management policy can therefore be one of the most controversial elements of a travel plan…..
….it can also be one of the most effective elements”:
Travel plan with basic elements– 5% reduction in Single Occupancy Car Use (SOCU) Travel plan with basic elements and significant discounts to use public transport or additional services – 8% in SOCU Travel plan with the above plus disincentives such as a parking management policy – 10% to 20% reduction in SOCU.
Research by Napier University LU: 17% reduction in SOCU for staff, 32% for students (2006 – 2011)
Restrictive Student Car Parking Policy Introduced in 2006 Permit charges raised for October 2010 Attractive Staff Car Share Permit available Zoned parking Visitor parking charges Enforcement through wheel-clamping
Changes and new policies developed from travel survey results and in consultation with key stakeholders through the Transport Working Group.
Student bus use over 55% Staff bus use doubled since 2004 Underpass Bus stops around the campus
Subsidised staff annual passes Good value student passes
Developing the partnership: Lancaster University offers….. A huge market for bus travel Data on where its staff and students live and when / where they want to travel, etc. (travel survey data) Free access to its private road network and its bus stops. Increasingly restrictive car parking policies. An approved Travel Plan to promote & facilitate greater bus use. An approved Carbon Management Plan to reduce CO2 emissions. A Travel Plan Co-ordinator. A
Engaged with senior management at Stagecoach Met to discuss Lancaster University‟s contribution to Stagecoach and future potential growth. Package of improvements for staff and students
- based on travel survey findings, additional feedback invited from staff and students and known gaps in provision.
FREE annual bus pass for staff on grades 1 and 2 Heavily subsidised annual bus pass for staff on grades 3+ at just £65. Option of paying for subsidised bus pass via monthly payments.
Funded from increased staff parking permit revenues. Financial modelling estimated additional £74,000 revenues from staff annual bus passes could be generated for Stagecoach...... Various bus service improvements agreed
STAFF: Increased by 8% to 14.1%
STUDENTS:
Nearly doubled in less than 2 years to 10.4%
To engage new cyclists To raise awareness of cycling To reward existing cyclists
Inter-departmental competitions. Free Staff cyclists‟ breakfast. Free „Dr. Bike‟ checks all day. Free police post-coding. Free hi-vis vests for cyclists. Pedal-powered smoothie maker Cycling & travel exhibitions. Led commuter cycle rides.
Environmental volunteering unit of the Student‟s Union. Helping to engage students in environmental work
Cheap reconditioned used bicycles for sale on campus from as little as £40 Cheap cycling accessories Over 220 bikes sold since October 2010. Monthly Free Dr. Bike servicing
94% of car share arrangements made informally Sharedwheels for: Other 6% Marketing / branding
Normal Staff Permit - £150 Staff Car Share Permit - £60 Free one-day parking scratchcards Park anywhere Staff feedback: More scratchcards Cheaper price Dedicated car share bays too restrictive
Outcomes: Staff car sharing increased by 17% 2007 - 2011
Financial incentives work best
Effective travel surveys are crucial – use them wisely!
Engage with stakeholders on what they want
Senior management support / sponsorship
Viewing travel planning in the context of the whole organisation and its business plans Encouraging feedback as much as possible / improving twoway communication
www.lancs.ac.uk/facilities/travel Philip Longton +44 1524 594413
[email protected]