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Lancaster University 2009

Organisational challenge/context

• Lancaster University has 11,000 students of which 40% live off-campus and over 2,500 staff. Lancaster is a Cycling Demonstration Town with good cycle links between the campus and the city
• The University was looking to expand but was already having difficulties in accommodating car parking demands from staff and students
• The University adopted its Travel Plan in 2004 in which it committed to reduce sole occupancy car use amongst students and staff, and increase numbers travelling by sustainable modes of transport.

Sustainable travel intervention(s)

The University introduced a very restrictive car parking policy for its students in 2006. The University also implemented a package of incentives to travel by other means, managed by a full time travel coordinator:

• Additional cycle parking across the campus, with further secure cycle parking compounds for students
• Improvements to shower and changing facilities in some campus buildings
• New sign-posted University cycle route to the city centre via the towpath beside the Lancaster Canal
• Initiatives and freebies such as Cycle Challenge Events, Mass cycle rides to campus on University Cycle Days, Free ‘Dr. Bike’ services, police post-coding of bicycles and cycling promotional stands around campus
• Sale of cheap used reconditioned bicycles on campus to students through ‘Green Lancaster’.

Results/benefits

• Proportion of students cycling and walking to Lancaster University has almost doubled in less than two years
• 10% of students living off-campus now cycle to the University, up from just over 5% in 21 months
• Student car use dropped by 4.8% between February 2006 and November 2007
• The proportion of staff cycling to work is one of the highest in Lancashire at just over 13% and fewer students and staff are now driving to the campus
• 30% of postgraduate research students cycle as their main mode of travel.

Company Description
Lancaster University (The University of Lancaster), is the 16th highest ranking research institution in the UK, based in Lancaster, Lancashire

Website
www.lancaster.ac.uk