Our Future First: focus on travel
18 January 2024
With the Travel Survey taking place this month, we’re focusing on travelling sustainably in January as part of the Our Future First campaign.
Our Future First is the University's sustainable behaviours programme, encouraging each of us to make small changes at work that, collectively, could have a big effect and reduce our impact on the environment.
The 2022 travel survey found that at least half of the respondents who would consider a greener commute live close enough to campus to make a switch especially viable. There is plenty of support on offer for anyone considering a greener commute.
Sustainable commutes
Cycling and walking
- Get to know the best walking routes to, from and around our campuses.
- Keep your bike safe by following our cycling security advice. You can also purchase a quality D Lock through Security Services.
- Keep your bike in tip top condition with the help of Dr Bike. If you need to borrow a tool for a quick adjustment or to inflate a tyre, you can also drop into the Chaplaincy.
- Improve your road cycling skills with training from the Sustainability Services team, and learn about the different cycle routes in and around the University
- Take advantage of the Cycle2Work scheme and save on bikes and equipment
Travelling by bus or train
- Take advantage of cheaper fares, with single bus journeys capped at £2 until December 2024
- Get an easitCARD and save 15% on South Western Railway journeys on certain routes.
- Take out a season ticket loan and spread the cost of your commute
Car sharing
- Limit single occupancy vehicle journeys and get matched with a colleague for a car share through Doing UoRBit.
This is just a snapshot of the support available. Visit Sustainability Services’ travel offers page for more details.
Sustainable work travel
Our approach to travel for work allows staff the flexibility to choose the greenest transport mode available to them when booking tickets.
Our Travel Policy also sets out the responsibilities of staff and managers when planning travel for University business. Colleagues are encouraged to:
- Consider if travel is needed at all, or if digital meeting technology could achieve the same result.
- Choose the lowest carbon option available, including when considering accommodation
- Avoid air travel within mainland UK, and nearer Western European destinations where the train is a viable option
Professor Bill Collins spearheaded the Department of Meteorology’s Dr Carbon scheme. Even before the policy change was brought in, it encouraged colleagues to think about the carbon cost of their travel, and offered a platform to highlight alternatives to flying to colleagues within the department with stories and travel tips.
Speaking back in December 2022, he shared his experiences of making sustainable choices and the impact of the scheme among colleagues:
Making a difference
For more advice on making greener choices, visit the Our Future First site.
Colleagues can also join the Sustainability Services team for its monthly online drop in session on 18 January (12:00 – 14:00), which this month looks at all things travel.
Our Future First: Travel round-up