Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.40
Liaison Olivia Herron
Submission Date March 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Miami University
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.13 / 2.00 Yvette Kline
Dir. Sustainability & Energy Conservation
Physical Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
No

A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:

New and renovated residence halls provide secure bike storage, but all bike commuters do not yet have access to a facility with the amenities cited.


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking (e.g. racks) within 50 ft (15 m) of all occupied, non-residential buildings and make long-term bicycle storage available within 330 ft (100 m) of all residence halls (if applicable)?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

Racks are within 50 ft, but not all quads have long-term bicycle storage within 330 ft. This is being added as quads are being renovated.


Does the institution have a “complete streets” or bicycle accommodation policy (or adhere to a local community policy) and/or have a continuous network of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths and lanes?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle/pedestrian policy and/or network:

As per Miami University's circulation master plan. https://pfd.muohio.edu/projects/CMP.pdf
The network of trails is growing as the City of Oxford's Perimeter Trail is constructed in stages, with support from Miami.
Miami's Police Department helps bicyclists understand how to ride safely and in an environmentally friendly manner in town, on campus and on Miami's natural lands. http://miamioh.edu/police/safety-tips-resources/bicyclesafely/index.html


Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:

Bike rental is available from a nearby local bike shop, and a bike sharing lean team is currently completing an assessment of whether or not a bike sharing system is a safe, timely and affordable fit for our campus and local area. In addition to conventional bike sharing systems, other models to support an emerging bike culture are being considered.


Is the institution certified as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists (U.S.) or under a similar third party certification covering non-motorized transportation?:
No

A brief description of the certification, including date certified and level:
---

Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit program(s), including availability, participation levels, and specifics about discounts or subsidies offered (including pre-tax options):

Miami University provides transit service on its Oxford campus through the Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA). The service, called “BCRTA”, offers daily service throughout the campus, off-campus high-density residential areas, retail shopping areas, and between its Oxford, Hamilton, and Middletown campuses. The program also offers airport shuttle to Cincinnati and Dayton during Miami University breaks and park and ride services for commuters. Students, faculty, and staff can ride at no cost by showing their Miami University ID card. BCRTA offers single ride tickets in $2.00 and $5.00 increments for the general public. Discounted fare is available to the elderly, passengers that are disabled, and Medicare cardholders in which they pay half fare. Annually, Miami University contributes about $1.7M to fund BCRTA, although that number fluctuates a bit depending on additional services and the cost of fuel. BCRTA covers capital expenses. During academic year 2014-15, BCRTA provided transportation for 543,465 passengers. (Transit data for the number of passengers was taken from July 2014- June 2015 numbers provided by BCRTA.)


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip (GRT) program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the GRT program:
---

Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:

Miami University participates in the AlterNetRides ride sharing program which allows drivers and riders to advertise and connect for transportation to and from Miami University. The program is available at no cost to users who register through the Parking & Transportation Services Website.
Miami also offers discounted parking passes for those individuals vowing to carpool/vanpool. Carpool members can purchase a faculty/staff parking pass 60% off the original price. Those that are willing to vanpool will receive the same pass for free.


Does the institution participate in a car sharing program, such as a commercial car-sharing program, one administered by the institution, or one administered by a regional organization?:
No

A brief description of the car sharing program:
---

Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:

One PEP SAE-1772 level 2 charging station can charge two electric vehicles simultaneously at the Marcum Center. The stations are available to all.


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
No

A brief description of the telecommuting program:
---

Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
No

A brief description of the condensed work week program:

Some work units use a condensed work week, which helps with the number of vehicular trips made to campus, but the practice isn't fully optional.


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
No

A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
---

Does the institution have other incentives or programs to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
Yes

A brief description of other sustainable transportation initiatives and programs:

The University actively promotes the use of RideShare Ohio, which connects people who are seeking walking, biking, car or van pool partners. The program provides 80% reimbursement for a guaranteed ride home for registered carpoolers. http://www.rideshareohio.com/rp/service.asp?Authenticated=False

Freewheeling Fridays, a monthly group bike ride, started on campus in 2014. It inaugurated new bike lanes with a ribbon cutting, refreshments and prizes. http://miamioh.edu/news/campus-news/2014/08/bikelane-inauguration.html


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable transportation program(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The University has facilitated distribution of an on-line transportation survey to the entire campus every three years. Information received helps planners assess the needs, desires and concerns of students, faculty and staff. The 2015 survey included a focus on bike sharing, and 1700 people completed it.


The University has facilitated distribution of an on-line transportation survey to the entire campus every three years. Information received helps planners assess the needs, desires and concerns of students, faculty and staff. The 2015 survey included a focus on bike sharing, and 1700 people completed it.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.