Think Outside The Car!Think Outside The Car!Surveying Commuter ChoicesSurveying Commuter Choices

Zachary Kenitzer MUP, Urban Planning, University of Louisville

Graduate Research Assistant at Ohio State University

Justin MogAssistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives

University of Louisville

Commuting produces 10% ofUofL Greenhouse Gas Emissions

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

To

tal e

mis

sio

ns

(M

etr

ic T

on

s C

O2

e)

Scope 2 T&D Losses

Paper

Solid Waste

Directly FinancedOutsourced Travel

Commuting

Purchased Electricity

Direct Transportation

On-Campus Stationary

Current state of affairs

• Transitioning Commuter Campus• U of L now has more say in matters of the

community than at any other time• Recent successes include

– Development of athletics facilities – Campus growth through 200+ acres of brownfield

redevelopment– Expansion of housing opportunities– Greater research opportunities – Bike Master Plans for UofL and the city

Current state of affairs

• However, the way the campus treats commuters hasn’t changed…

• Instead of reducing the number of campus “interior” parking spots, U of L has actually increased the number of spots

• To evaluate future needs the university developed a survey that was sent out to over 9600 faculty, staff and students.

• Asked about current commuting habits and willingness to consider alternatives.

Who took the March 2010 survey?A random sample of UofL students, faculty & staff

Student Responses 524 (25.8%), Margin of Error 5%Faculty/Staff Responses 1,508 (74.2%), Margin of Error 1%

UofL Transportation Survey ResultsWhat method do you most frequently use to get to and from campus?

How long is your commute?How long does it take you to get to campus?

“I already Live Close to Campus”What method do you most frequently use to get to and from campus?

39% of these Students & 41% of these Faculty/Staff

currently have a UofL parking permit

Where Permit Holders Commute From

WeaknessesBelknap Campus Commuters

Miles from Campus 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 Outside 3

Drive Car Alone 25% 49% 66% 76% 62% 78% 84%

Dropped Off Car 1% 6% 0% 0% 13% 2% 2%

Carpool 3% 0% 10% 5% 4% 5% 7%

Bus 6% 6% 8% 15% 11% 12% 4%

Bike 6% 20% 12% 5% 11% 3% 1%

Walk 59% 18% 4% 0% 0% 0% 2%

Belknap Campus CommutersMiles from Campus 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 Outside 3

Drive Car Alone 25% 49% 66% 76% 62% 78% 84%

Dropped Off Car 1% 6% 0% 0% 13% 2% 2%

Carpool 3% 0% 10% 5% 4% 5% 7%

Bus 6% 6% 8% 15% 11% 12% 4%

Bike 6% 20% 12% 5% 11% 3% 1%

Walk 59% 18% 4% 0% 0% 0% 2%

Would you forgo a parking permit for a free bike?A free bicycle and helmet provided to anyone at UofL willing to forgo obtaining a campus parking permit for at least two years.

Non-permit holders

Permit holders(55% of students & 79% of faculty/staff)

What would get you on a bike?What would make you more likely to bicycle to campus more often?

Do Bike Lanes Matter?If a dedicated bike lane was provided from my neighborhood to campus, I would be more likely to bike to campus.

Respondent’s current commute time

Agree

Disagree

What would make you want to use the free bus service more?

Which do you think would be best for the University to provide?

Students Faculty/Staff

Climate Action PlanClimate Action PlanTransportationTransportation

1. Enhance walkability & bikeability

2. Free bike to students & employees willing to forgo a parking permit

3. UofL-specific electronic ride board & carpool/vanpool matching

4. Incentives to carpools (preferred parking, reduced parking fees, shared permits, etc)

5. More campus area student housing and incentives for faculty/staff to move closer

6. Purchase fuel efficient models as university fleet vehicles are replaced.

7. No idling on campus policy

8. Car-share program w/efficient vehicles

9. Work with government to provide new intra- and inter-city mass transit systems

10. Establish carbon off-set policy for air travel

11. More videoconferencing & telecommuting

UofL President RamseyBike To Work Day