Travel to campus

Travel to and from campus is one of the biggest contributors to our Scope 3 emissions, and it directly affects air quality, congestion and how our city feels to live and work in. In South Yorkshire, car use dominates, and commuting patterns at the University reflect this wider picture. Over the last decade we have made steady progress, with commuting emissions falling and more people choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport. Staff walking rates have increased, cycling has more than doubled, and most students already travel sustainably, with the majority walking or using public transport.

Despite this, car use remains the single largest source of our commuting emissions. Around a quarter of staff still travel alone by car, and these journeys account for the majority of emissions associated with travel to campus. We recognise that transport choices are shaped by factors such as where people live, caring responsibilities, cost, disability, shift patterns and the availability of suitable alternatives. Any changes must therefore balance our climate commitments with fairness, accessibility and the realities of people’s lives.

Our vision is for a campus where active and public transport are the default options for those who can use them, and where car parking is not routinely provided as standard. We will build on existing initiatives such as the BetterPoints rewards scheme, travel planning support and discounted public transport, and we will work more closely with local partners to improve routes, frequency and safety. For those who need to drive, we will ensure that parking and access are managed in a way that supports essential journeys while encouraging a gradual shift towards more sustainable modes.

Over the coming years we will invest in better facilities for walking, wheeling and cycling, including secure cycle parking, showers, lockers and maintenance points linked to where people actually work and study. We will strengthen our commuter travel planning, use better data to understand patterns and barriers, and make the impacts of commuting more visible through regular reporting. Our aim is to reduce emissions from travel to campus while also improving health and wellbeing, and contributing to a cleaner, less car-dependent city.

Our fleet

The University’s vehicle fleet plays an important role in the day-to-day running of campus – from maintenance and security to catering, postal services and operational support for teaching and research. These vehicles are a source of direct (Scope 1) emissions, and they are highly visible on and around campus, so decarbonising the fleet is an important part of our wider travel and net zero plans.

We are transitioning our fleet away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner, electric vehicles wherever this is feasible. This will reduce emissions, cut local air pollution and noise, and help demonstrate our commitment to low-carbon transport across the city. At the same time, we will make sure that services remain reliable and that vehicles are well matched to operational needs, including the specialist requirements of some teams.