| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.79 |
| Liaison | Mike Wilson |
| Submission Date | Jan. 27, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Victoria
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Susan
Kerr Sustainability Coordinator Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability |
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
UVic currently has over 130 bike lockers available for rent located in convenient locations across campus. Clothing lockers are also available for rent. Showers are available in 10 office and classroom buildings, as well as in two gyms (one free and one with membership). UVic opened a Campus Bike Centre in November 2013, located in an underground parking lot that has secure parking for over 250 bikes, plus clothing lockers. The space is filmed with security cameras, patroled by Campus Security and well-lit 24/7. Student residence has a secure bike rooms and individual bike lockers located in the residence areas, close to housing. UVic cycling amenities map: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/tranportation/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map.pdf
Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings and makes long-term bicycle storage available for students who live on-site (if applicable)?:
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
UVic has approximate 2900 outdoor racks all located close to campus classroom and office buildings, many of which are covered. There are also 130 secure bike lockers available for rent in convenient locations across campus. Student residence has a secure bike rooms and individual bike lockers located in the residence areas, close to housing. The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities has 70 indoor parking stalls. UVic cycling amenities map: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/tranportation/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map.pdf
Does the institution have a bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy (or adhere to a local community plan/policy) that sets standards and practices for campus streets to enable safe access for all users?:
A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
UVic promotes courtesy between pedestrians and cyclists through the on-going #sharethespace campaign. The purpose of the #sharethespace campaign is to help make sure UVic stays both pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/share-the-space/index.php
UVic also supports active transportation and it presently sits on two Active Transportation Advisory Committees for the municipality of Saanich and the Capital Regional District.
UVic is just beginning to develop an updated Cycling Master Plan for its campus. While UVic does not have dedicated cycling-only lanes on campus, our campus is very bike friendly with paths all across campus wide enough to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians. The campus cycling/pedestrian pathways connect with cycling paths coming into campus from different directions (through the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich). Large sections of the centre of campus are off limits to vehicle traffic making it very safe for cyclists and pedestrians.
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
SPOKES is a unique bicycle up-cycling and loan program where volunteers give new life to and use of old bikes. Since 2003, SPOKES has been innovatively diverting waste, improving community health and taking action on climate change. See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/spokes/index.php
UVic SPOKES bicycle program loans students, staff and faculty a used, refurbished bikes for as long as they are affiliated at UVic. There are presently over 500+ on loan. Bikes are loaned at a $40 deposit, with $20 refunded when the bike is returned. The loan also includes a helmet and a lock. SPOKES will also rent and sell refurbished bikes, but the loan program is the most popular.SPOKES is run by volunteers who refurbish used bikes donated by the community.
The UVic School of Environmental Studies also runs it's own on-campus bike share for its students. Free bikes and communal locks are provided.
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
A brief description of the mass transit programs:
All UVic undergraduate and graduate students are provided the mandatory Universal Bus Pass (U-Pass) that gives them unlimited access to the regional transit system at a significantly reduced price. This program covers close to 20,000 students. Since the U-Pass was introduced 15 years ago, transit ridership has increased over 55%.
UVic also offers campus staff and faculty an Employee Bus Pass (E-Pass) discount of 55% off the price of a regular monthly transit pass. On average over 650 employees take advantage of this program each month.
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
A brief description of the guaranteed return trip 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?:
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
UVic is a partner in the Jack Bell Rideshare program, an online system that matches campus commuters with other students and employees traveling at similar times along similar routes. The program is free for anyone with a UVic email address. Preferential parking is designated for vehicles registered in the car pool or ride share program. See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/drivingalternatives/index.php
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?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
UVic has two carshare companies on campus: Modo and Zipcar:
Modo is part of UVic's carshare program designed for employees, faculty and students living in family student housing - who do not have a parking permit - to join Modo for free (use is paid for by the individual). UVic owns a block of shares in our local Modo. Graduate students may also receive a membership for only $25. Members are then responsible for personal usage fees. UVic also supports the use of Modo vehicles for business use so employees can commute to campus without bringing their car to campus on days they need a vehicle for business purposes, or if they to do not have personal access to a car. Two Modo co-op vehicles are located on campus, with many others in the surrounding region and Vancouver.
Zipcar is available for all students, staff and faculty to use. Five vehicles are conveniently located across campus. Users are responsible for their own administration and usage fees.
See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/drivingalternatives/index.php
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
UVic has three Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations accessible to the campus community and visitors 24/7. Five more Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations are scheduled to be installed in early 2017. See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/drivingalternatives/index.php
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
Individual departments at UVic can offer employees a telecommuting option at the department head's discretion based on individual circumstances. There is no formal Human Resources policy regarding telecommuting.
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
A brief description of the condensed work week option:
While there is no formal Human Resources policy regarding condenced work weeks, individual departments at UVic can offer employees this option at the department head's descretion based on individual circumstances.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
Does the institution employ other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting (e.g. preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, cash-out of parking programs)?:
A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
UVic offers free video-conferencing services for staff, faculty and students to encourage the use of virtual meetings and interviews to reduce the amount of travel and associated greenhouse gases.
UVic continues to work with community transportation groups, such as participating on the the regional transit authority to improve transit service to campus and surrounding neighbourhoods with an expanded bus exchange that opened September 2014. UVic also works with the surrounding municipalities to improve cycling access to campus including dedicated bike lanes on routes serving the campus.
Engagement and outreach activities include the involvement in and collaboration with committees and groups like the UVic Cycling Advisory Committee, Staff Sustainability Network, the Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, the Saanich Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Capital Regional District's People Power Advisory Committee and BC Transit, which offer support and integration of sustainable transportation options to and from campus.
Student engagement also plays an important role with promoting sustainable transportation, such as through the sustainability and art mural project located in the Campus Bike Centre, the funding of bike repair and maintenance workshops, the availability of the UVic Carshare program (with Modo) to Family Student Housing, and Zipcar for all students, and with the loaning of over 500 bikes primarily to students through SPOKES.
See: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/transit/index.php
http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/cycling/index.php
http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/drivingalternatives/index.php
http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/spokes/index.php
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Since UVic conducted its first comprehensive travel mode study in 1996, the portion of persons choosing to travel to campus by means other than the single occupancy vehicle (e.g. transit, cycling, walking, and carpooling) has increased from 42.5 percent to 60.3 percent. This increase is the result of a number of successful Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs including the student UPASS program, the employee subsidized bus pass program, and the UVic Carshare program.
Since UVic conducted its first comprehensive travel mode study in 1996, the portion of persons choosing to travel to campus by means other than the single occupancy vehicle (e.g. transit, cycling, walking, and carpooling) has increased from 42.5 percent to 60.3 percent. This increase is the result of a number of successful Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs including the student UPASS program, the employee subsidized bus pass program, and the UVic Carshare program.
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.