Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.63
Liaison Sam Lubow
Submission Date July 30, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Stanford University
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Moira Hafer
Sustainability Specialist
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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?:
Yes

A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:

Stanford has fifteen different bike locker compounds with secure storage capacity for over 256 bikes. There are also three bike cage locations on campus that are accessed via proximity card readers. In addition, the campus contains over 18,000 free-standing outdoor bike parking spaces. Stanford provides shower facilities and clothes lockers for bike commuters. Clothing lockers are available in twelve different campus buildings and shower facilities can be found in all dormitories and residence halls, as well as numerous academic and administrative buildings.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

Bike Rack and bike locker compounds are designed by Campus Planning to provide a convenient and accessible way to park bikes in a safe manner. Bike racks are designed in a state-of-the-art way to keep bikes upright and locked and to deter theft. Bike lockers provide safe storage for commuters through the provision of an individual storage unit rented on an annual basis.


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:

Safety is the highest priority for all users on the campus. The circulation plan for bicycles and pedestrians was created by Campus Planning with input from Parking & Transportation Services, Stanford Public Safety, and Diversity and Access to assure safe passage for all users to minimize conflicts and address ongoing changes in the campus environment.


Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:

Each department, school, and program at Stanford, no matter how large or how small, can start a bike share program. An online guide walks interested groups through the process (http://sustainable.stanford.edu/sites/sem.stanford.edu/files/documents/how_to_bike_share.pdf). Such fleets have been established for many groups on campus, including the School of Medicine, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, and many others. Stanford has nearly 100 bikes publicly available for free through various bike-sharing programs on and off campus.

Although there are many avenues for bike fleet creation, many groups have chosen to work with the Campus Bike Shop to lease a fleet of shared bicycles. Program details are available online (http://campusbikeshop.com/articles/stanford-departments-bikes-lease-program-pg258.htm).

Stanford employs a full-time Bicycle Program Coordinator, and she serves as a resource to all those who participate in bike share programs, connecting the groups together and providing advice and guidance.


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?:
Yes

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

Stanford was awarded the first Platinum level designation as a Bicycle Friendly University in 2011 that is valid through 2015. Platinum is the highest designation recognizing our efforts in the areas of education, encouragement, enforcement, engineering and environment to improve the bicycling environment. We attribute the success of the program to our collaborative efforts with a multitude of departments on campus including Campus Planning, Public Safety, School of Medicine, Environmental Health & Safety, Sustainability and Energy Management, Graduate School of Business, and the Stanford d.school.


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):

Stanford's Marguerite Shuttle:
http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/

The Marguerite is a free, comprehensive campus shuttle system, also open to the public. It connects with local transit and Caltrain, as well as shopping and dining options. A "Midnight Express" night safety service runs all year. The fleet includes three 100% electric buses, five diesel-electric hybrid buses, and 49 diesel buses running on biodiesel fuel. Stanford established an automated Transportation Management System, with real-time schedules viewable online.

Eco Pass/Go Pass:
http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/EcoPass.shtml

Stanford offers passes for free use of VTA buses and light rail, Dumbarton Express, Highway 17 Express, Monterey-San Jose Express, and Caltrain (commuter train) for eligible Stanford employees.

Line U Stanford Express:
http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/BayAreaTransit.shtml#lineu

Free use of East Bay express bus that connects Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Amtrak and ACE trains to Stanford campus.


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip (GRT) program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the GRT program:

http://transportation.stanford.edu/erh

Stanford offers an Emergency Ride Home program to anyone who registers for the program in advance online. If they have a qualifying emergency (e.g., personal or family illness or injury) on a day they use alternative transportation for their commute, Stanford will arrange a cab or a rental car to get them home.


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:

Stanford provides two ridematching services. Zimride is a ridesharing system offered at Stanford and currently includes more than 6,000 participants in the Stanford community. Zimride users can post or request a commute or one-time trip, and the system will match ideal carpool partners with one another. In addition, Stanford provides ridematching via the 511.org website, which helps to find shared rides between Stanford-affiliated commuters.

Carpool incentives for commuters include subsidized parking, preferential parking before 10 a.m., and one free daily parking permit per month for each carpooler. Vanpool incentives include free designated parking and a $300 per month subsidy.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the car sharing program:

http://transportation.stanford.edu/zipcar

Stanford participates in the Zipcar program. Stanford affiliates are incentivized to join the program through a $35 driving credit, which offsets the first-year membership fee. Commute Club members receive additional driving credits. There are currently 62 Zipcars on campus available at 25 different locations.

Stanford also has an Enterprise car rental office on campus that rents cars on an hourly basis.


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:

There are currently six Level 2 chargers on campus available to all EV drivers.

http://transportation.stanford.edu/parking_info/ev.shtml


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the telecommuting program:

Stanford supports a "flexplace" program where employees, with the consent of their supervisor, can work off-site or telecommute. Stanford provides guidelines, sample letters of understanding, and other resources to assist in setting up a telecommute option for interested employees.


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week program:

Stanford supports “flextime” or compressed/alternative work weeks, in which employees still work 40 hrs/week but do not do so within standard 8-hour workdays. Stanford recognizes that such flexible working options can improve cost savings and reduce commuting time. These options can be implemented at the discretion of management.


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

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

The Department of Faculty and Staff Housing (FHS) assists employees with the search for housing close to campus. Eligible faculty and staff can purchase or rent on-campus housing. FHS also oversees more than 700 on-campus and off-campus rental units. Eligible persons have priority for these single-family homes, apartments, and condominiums. Other members of the Stanford community are accommodated as space allows. Each location is managed by professional property managers.


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:

http://commuteclub.stanford.edu

The Commute Club is a free club/rewards program for commuters who do not purchase a parking permit. Membership rewards include $25 per month in “Clean Air Cash” or $12.50 per month in “Carpool Credit,” monthly Zipcar credit, hourly Enterprise car rental vouchers, automatic enrollment in Emergency Ride Home program, automatic entry into seasonal prize drawings, exclusive membership gifts, and more. Commute Club members can purchase up to eight daily parking permits per month for days they need to drive.

http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/capri.shtml

Capri is a program to encourage off-peak commuting and reduce congestion. Stanford commuters with parking permits can earn credits when their vehicle enters and exits campus on weekdays during designated off-peak hours. Credits can then be used to win cash rewards.

The Capri program also includes the “MyBeats” app, which rewards active commuters with credits when they walk or bike to and from campus.

http://transportation.stanford.edu/alt_transportation/BikingAtStanford.shtml#bikepromo

The Folding Bike program offers a discount to qualified commuters to receive a $100 stipend to offset the purchase price of a folding bike to use on alternative transportation modes, e.g. bus and train. We partner with our Campus Bike Shop on this promotion that also includes a free one-week trial rental.


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