Green Gown Awards 2013 - Carbon Reduction - Lancaster University - Winner

Challenging climate and geography - The unlikely success of a travel plan

Lancaster University is situated on a rural campus 4.5 km south of Lancaster city centre. The area is hilly and can experience inclement weather, not ideal geographical conditions for a successful Travel Plan.

Commuting travel options for staff and students were limited, with car commuting dominating, leading to significant congestion on local roads and parking problems on campus. These issues, together with plans to expand the campus led to the adoption of the Travel Plan.

Since implementing the Travel Plan dramatic progress has been made in resolving these problems and encouraging staff and students to adopt sustainable commuting travel modes such as a car share scheme, new student parking policy, subsidised bus services, work with the City Council to improve cycle routes and projects with the Student Union to encourage student and staff walking and cycling.

This has reduced annual staff and student commuting carbon emissions by 24.5% p/a, (2,500t/CO2e).

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