Sustainable transport and travel

Our targets

Our 2030 strategy targets are:

  • to reduce travel related emissions in support of the university’s goal to be carbon neutral with net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030
  • to contribute to establishing each of our campuses as clean air and smoke-free zones
  • to invest in and secure year-on-year improvement in sustainable travel for staff, students and visitors.

Travel Action Plan 2030 Targets

  • All scheduled buses on campus are to be minimum Euro 6 compliant by 2025 and electric, bio gas, or hydrogen by 2030.
  • Low/no emission vehicle use should be promoted for users where a private vehicle is the only option, and we are improving our electric vehicle infrastructure.
  • University fleet vehicles will be minimised in number and then chosen and replaced with zero emission options where possible. 66% of our own fleet will be zero emission by 2025, rising to 100% by 2030.
  • We are reducing the number of cars travelling onto campus each day by promoting and prioritising sustainable travel options, combined with a 10% per head reduction in car parking spaces available for university activities by 2025, and a 20% reduction by 2030.
  • We are investing resources into projects improving sustainable travel options with financial support obtained by utilising surplus revenue from travel operations and bidding for external capital funding. We are aiming for an 100% increase in covered cycle parking on 2019 levels by 2025.
  • All users of campus parking facilities to contribute financially, via car parking charges at the published rate, towards the sustainable travel budget for reinvestment into sustainable travel modes and associated carbon reduction activities.
  • We share our best practice with other higher education institutions (HEIs), public bodies and other organisations.

Sustainable travel options

There are lots of eco-friendly options for getting to and from campus.

Frenchay Campus is less than one mile from both Bristol Parkway and Filton Abbey Wood train stations and our North Entrance bus stop links to the National Coach network. There is a dedicated car share car park for those with permits, and we are increasing our network of electric charging points and electric pool cars for staff and visitors.

Glenside Campus is on the Frome Valley Cycle route and located near Fishponds and served by local buses.

Our City Campus has an array of public transport options, from walking to the wide bus network, and even the ferry.

You can help make a real difference by making more sustainable transport choices:

  • Get walking: Walk to campus using the Travelwest journey planner, and to join the email list for weekly lunchtime walks at Frenchay contact sustainability@uwe.ac.uk.
  • Get cycling: Use Bristol's great network of cycle paths. Take a look at our Getting to and from UWE page to find out more about our loan/hire bikes and free cycle maintenance. To learn how to ride a bike or update your skills, get in touch with Life Cycle for free sessions and advice on your commuter route.
  • Try out E scooters and E Bikes: Take a look at the Travel West website for alternative modes to travel, such as e-Bike or e-Scooter hire.
  • Catch the train: Our nearby stations are Parkway (20/25 minutes walk away) and Filton Abbey Wood (ten minutes' walk away).
  • Get the bus: Bus travel has never been so easy with the bus checker app.
  • Get sharing: Sign up to Join My Journey for UWE Bristol staff and students to share car, bicycle or walking journeys.
  • Go on a car diet: Try leaving the car at home a couple of times a week, ideally on Tuesdays and Thursdays - our busiest traffic days.
  • Try other modes: Take a look at the Travel West website for alternative modes to travel such as E-Scooter hire.
  • Inter campus travel: Instead of driving the car, if you need to travel between campuses UWE Bristol staff can join the Co-Wheels car club for business travel or use one of the electric bikes.

Better by bike

We asked some UWE Bristol students about the pleasures of cycling to University and around Bristol. In the UK’s first official Cycling City it really is better by bike.

What have we done so far to improve travel?

  • Facilities: We have constructed and refurbished numerous active travel facilities such as new showering and changing areas, lockers, cycle maintenance facilities and secure, covered cycle parks.
  • Cycle loan scheme: We launched a subsidised Student Cycle Loan Scheme with 100 locally built bikes, enabling students to hire a bike for £70 for the academic year. This service is now managed by the Student Union.
  • Cycle routes: New cycle routes to and through Frenchay, Glenside and Bower Ashton campuses have been created. Through working closely with our local authority partners, we have developed car-free walking and cycle routes on and off all our sites.
  • Pool car fleet: The Co-Wheels pool car service provides a fully bookable and funded option for staff to travel for business purposes in electric or hybrid vehicles.
  • Fleet electrification: To address the impact of our own fleet the University became early adopters of electric vehicles. Our fleet is now over 30% electric and we have made electric vehicles available to all car users as an alternative for business travel.
  • Car parking enforcement: Through the last 10 years parking operations have changed and evolved at the University, and the enforcement is now managed by an external partner to help enforce behaviour and discourage those trying to get around the exclusion zone rules.

Contact us

If you have any specific questions, feedback or comments, please email travel.team@uwe.ac.uk.

Student support and study projects

We can support you by providing information and opportunities; email us at travel.team@uwe.ac.uk.

You may also be interested in