Sustainable Travel

With a community of over 15,000 students and 1,600 staff, Staffordshire University acknowledges that it generates a significant amount of travel and subsequent impact in and around the local area.  Perhaps one of the most obvious and detrimental impacts of staff and student travel is single occupancy car journeys and the associated problem of road congestion.

Traffic congestion affects us all, irrespective of our travel mode, the impacts of which include:

• Wasted time and delays impinging on our daily work and home lives
• Wasted fuel sitting in traffic congestion, especially single occupancy vehicles, greatly increases air pollution which can contribute to climate change and local urban air quality and respiratory health
• An increase in the wear and tear on vehicles as a result of idling in traffic and frequent acceleration and braking
• Stressed and frustrated road users

Smarter Campus Travel

To encourage and facilitate sustainable intersite campus travel, the University in partnership with London Midland Trains and Bakerbus operate a public bus service between the Stoke and Stafford campuses, as follows:

The X1

• Stoke to Beaconside at 0650, 0800 and then 5 past the hour until 1805

• Beaconside to Stoke at 0750, 0900 and then on the hour until 1800

The X1 Express (direct service) - during term time only

As an additional bus to the service, The X1 Express favours journeys to Stoke in the AM and from Beaconside in the PM.

• Stoke to Beaconside at 0800, 0940, 1210, 1410, 1540

• Beaconside to Stoke at 0840, 1130, 1330, 1500, 1630

The current full timetable (valid from 12 September 2011) is available for download at the following link:  The X1 timetable (PDF, file size: 1.71MB)

Staffordshire University Video Conferencing Facilities

The most sustainable form of travel, is no travel at all.  Do you really need to commute between sites, around the county or even further afield for a 1-2 hour meeting?  Why not consider using video conferencing (VC) to conduct your business. The benefits of VC include:

• More engagement than phone or email as it provides visual information as well as being a truly two-way interactive process

• Helps to avoid time and stress associated with travel

• Potential cost savings in terms of travel and time

The University has VC suites at the following sites:

• Stoke-on-Trent, Cadman Building
• Stoke-on-Trent, Law Building
• Stafford, Octagon Building
• Stafford, Blackheath Lane
• Shrewsbury, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
• Lichfield, SULC Building    

For further details, please visit: Video Conferencing Facilities

Travel to University – Discounted First Bus season ticket (with staff interest free loan scheme)

Staff and students can take advantage of significant discounts with the First Year bus pass.  Normally £640 (as of 3 January 2012), the University is able to offer a year’s unlimited anytime/any route travel on the North Staffordshire Network for only £315! That’s only £6 per week or less than £1 per day.  Furthermore, staff can purchase the First Year ticket via an interest free loan scheme.

Further details of the scheme including application forms are available below:

University Travel to Work Loan – First Bus Season Ticket Application form (DOC, file size: 339.5KB) (staff only) or Students Application Form (DOC, file size: 240KB)  (students only)

First Staffordshire & South Cheshire Season Ticket Loan Terms & Conditions (PDF, file size: 368.39KB)

First North Staffordshire Network map (PDF, file size: 188.98KB)

Please note, this scheme is limited to the regional First network only. Multi-operator journeys are not valid.

Timetable Services / Operators

Both the College and Leek Road sites are situated on frequent bus route corridors (at least 6 buses per hour, Monday – Friday daytime) serving principle areas of Stoke-on-Trent and its conurbations. Stafford campus is served by both the Arriva 74/75 and Bakerbus X1 service via Stafford rail station and town centre.

For more details of services, routes and operators in Stoke-on-Trent, please click the following links:

• Stoke Bus information

• Travel Line Journey Planner

Are you an electric car user?

Without doubt, the car is the most convenient means of transport for most of us and its use has become so central to our way of life that many of us rarely consider any other travel alternatives.  This dependence on the car has resulted in over a third of all journeys made by the residents of Stoke-on-Trent being less than 2 miles in distance, a distance that could be easily walked or cycled.

The University’s electric vehicles are routinely charged every night for the following day’s duties.  There are 2 charging points at the Stoke Leek Road Campus:

• Leek Road – Rear of House 80

• Leek Road – rear side of the Lodge

Staff and students that drive or own electric vehicles are now able to recharge their cars at these charge points, free of charge during the day.

The charge point operates off a normal 240v domestic supply plug and will be available between the hours of 0900 - 1500 only for recharging.

Users are advised to check with the University campus lodge (stoke-lodge@staffs.ac.uk or 294837) before using the charge points.  Charge points will be available on a first come first served basis, although, if necessary, campus vehicles will need to take preference.  The University cannot accept any damage caused to vehicles that use these charge points.

This service is provided as part of the University’s Travel Plan to sustain staffs for a better environment.

Furthermore, with a University community in excess of 16,000, there just isn’t physically enough space for everyone to drive.  This can lead to congestion, stress and inconvenience and wasted time when trying to find a parking space.

Staffordshire University Car Share Club

If you really need to drive on a regular basis to work, have you considered car sharing?

The University are members of the County-wide Staffordshire Share-A-Lift scheme. The scheme, developed by Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council in partnership with Jambusters Ltd, provides an advanced internet based lift share matching system for both staff and students.

The benefits of car sharing are:

• Reduce congestion and save valuable time at the beginning and end of the day
• Reduce fuel costs and parking charges by sharing the day-to-day expenses
• Reduce the mileage and everyday wear and tear on your vehicle
• Reduce stress levels
• Reduce traffic pollution and help contain the increasing pressure on the local community and environment
• Enjoy a more sociable and less stressful way of travelling
• And if you leave your own car at home it will be free for use by other members of your family

A document detailing Frequently Asked Questions including the registration process and issues surrounding charging passengers and insurance can be accessed by clicking this link: Car Share FAQ (PDF, file size: 63.11KB)

Car Parking

• Parking spaces located in Stoke-on-Trent

Guaranteed Lift Home Scheme

The Guaranteed Lift Home (GLH) Scheme guarantees University employees, whom formally car share, a return journey home should the car share driver let them down in the event of an unforeseen problem e.g. picking up a sick child from school.

For full scheme details and terms and conditions, click the following link: Guaranteed Lift Home (GLH) Scheme (DOC, file size: 53.5KB)

Cycling benefits your health, the environment and your pocket and forms an important part of the University’s Sustainable Travel Plan.

Did you know that Route 5/55 of the National Cycle Network (NCN) runs past the Stoke campus?  The main open section of NCN route 5 in Staffordshire offers traffic free cycling between Barlaston and Kidsgrove through Stoke-on-Trent. Some small sections of NCN route 5 and NCN route 55 are open around Stafford, although this requires some on-road cycling.

Cycle route maps detailing the Stoke and Stafford campuses and other areas can be downloaded at:

• Stoke / Newcastle - Cycle Map and Guide (North) 2010 / Cycle Map and Guide (South) 2010
• Stafford central - Stafford Urban

It's highly possible that given congestion and parking problems at the University, shorter journeys could be cycled quicker.  So if you live a couple of miles from your workplace and usually drive, why not try cycling?

The table below indicates journey cycling times:

Locking and Parking Facilities

The University has a number of cycling parking facilities including:

• Partially covered Sheffield style stands

• Uncovered Sheffield style stands

• Enclosed/secure cycle lockers

 The best facilities available to secure cycles are summarised below (view cycle parking locations on a map):

Cycle Discount Scheme for Staff and Students

The following local suppliers of cycling equipment have agreed to offer discounts to Staffordshire University Staff and Students; to receive the discount, simply show your University payslip/ID card on the day of purchase.  Please note that this is not a salary sacrifice scheme, although there is one currently available through Cyclescheme for members of staff.

Security Tips

Having invested in a cycle, do not make it easy for thieves to steal by not locking your cycle or investing in a cheaper lock. There are many different locking products on the market and price is not necessarily a reliable indicator of quality. The most important factor is how long the product can resist attack.

• You should look for products that have been tested against attack. Check out Sold Secure for certified locks, or ask your local bike shop for a recommendation. Check the packaging for more information.

• To guard against the opportunist thief you need a product that has resisted attack for one minute.

• To guard against the determined thief you need a product that has resisted attack for three minutes.

• To guard against the dedicated thief you need a product that has resisted attack for five minutes.
  Invest in a quality lock. Hardened steel D-shaped locks are recommended as the minimum standard. It is worth spending proportionately more on a lock for a more expensive bike.

For further information on all aspects of bicycle security including where and how to lock your cycle, download the following advice leaflet - Steer Clear of Cycle Theft (PDF, file size: 1.01MB)

Cycling Permits for the Towpath

If you would like to cycle on any of the towpaths owned by British Waterways, you will need to apply for a permit which can be done online at the Waterscape website.

Staffordshire University has recently introduced a 20p/mile cycle mileage allowance to the Employee Business Expense Claims Policy to increase the viability of cycling as a mode of travel for business journeys.  Further information is contained in the following guidance document:

Business Cycle Mileage Allowance (DOC, file size: 126KB) (available on-campus only)

Interested in switching to cycling but not sure if it will work for you?  In partnership with CycleStoke, the University is offering staff a unique opportunity to try out cycling using a University Pool Bike.  A Bike Buddy commute can also be arranged to give you more confidence for the first journey.  Further details are available at: Try Before You Buy (PDF, file size: 988.87KB) .

Unfortunately at the present time, this offer is only available to staff that have a start/end destination of Stoke on Trent.

The cyclescheme is unfortunately suspended until further notice.

Staff are invited to benefit from a tax free loan of bicycles and related safety and security equipment under a Government initiative (Green Transport Plan) aimed at getting more people to travel to work on their bicycles. As a University Travel Plan initiative, Staffordshire University has linked with a partner called 'Cyclescheme' whereby staff can order a bicycle and safety equipment (to a total value of £1,000 inc.VAT) over a 12 month period.

Physically taking up less road in terms of congestion and space for parking and with priority routes for motorcycles (and bicycles) through bus lanes, travel by motorcycle can help to avoid traffic jams and decreases journey times.

Motorcycles can be parked anywhere at the University where there is space, excluding yellow hatched lines, designated accessible car parking space and access/egress to buildings.

Travel to Work - rail season ticket interest free loan scheme

To get travel back on the tracks, the University is now offering staff the opportunity to purchase a rail season tickets (9 or 12 month tickets) via an interest free loan scheme.  This scheme has the added benefit of spreading the repayments and, in the case of 12 month tickets, qualifies for 12 weeks free travel, when purchasing a season ticket this way.

Further details of the scheme including application forms are available below: 

University Travel to Work Loan - Rail Season Ticket Application Form (DOC, file size: 340KB)

Northern Rail Season Ticket Application Form (PDF, file size: 474.23KB)

To get a quote for your season ticket, please visit the Northern Rail Season Ticket calculator

Please note that both application forms need to be returned to HSEU by the 15th of the month, in order to receive the season ticket for the start of the next calendar month.

Timetables / Live Departures

The Stoke-on-Trent rail station is located in between both the College and Leek Road campuses, approximately 250 and 450 metres respectively.  Stafford rail station is approximately 2 miles south west of the campus. 

Services operate to major inter-city destinations including Birmingham and London in the south, Manchester in the north, Crewe in the west and Derby/Nottingham in the east.

For up to date live departure information to local destinations, please click the following link to the BBC Stoke/Staffordshire travel page: live train information. 

Regional Rail Operators

Northern Rail – telephone: 0845 000 0125, email: customer.relations@northernrail.org
Cross Country Trains – telephone: 0870 010 0084, email: customer.relations@crosscountrytrains.co.uk
London Midland – telephone: 0121 634 2040, email: comments@londonmidland.com
Virgin Trains – telephone: 0845 000 8000
East Midlands Trains – telephone: 0845 712 5678, email: getintouch@eastmidlandstrains.co.uk
Arriva Trains – telephone: 0845 606 1660, email: customer.services@arrivatrainswales.co.uk

Without a doubt, walking is the greenest, not to mention cheapest, method of travel. It also has added benefits including:  

• Reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes

• Lowering blood pressure

• Reducing cholesterol

• Reducing body fat

• Enhancing mental well being

• Help prevent osteoporosis

• Help control body weight

It's highly possible, given congestion and parking problems at the University, that these journeys could be walked quicker. So if you live a couple of miles from your workplace and usually drive, why not try walking?  The table below indicates journey walking times:

 
Lunchtime Walking Group

Take the opportunity to improve your health and fitness.  Join the lunchtime walking group for thirty minutes low impact exercise around the local area.   For further details download the ‘Walk your Way to Fitness’ flyer (below).   Should you wish to join the group, please download and complete the Health Walk Questionnaire (below) and return it to one of the Walk Leaders (contact details below).

Walk your Way to Fitness Flyer (PDF, file size: 16.93KB)
Health Walk Questionnaire (DOC, file size: 221KB)

Walk Leaders:
Lynda Aubrey l.aubrey@staffs.ac.uk
tel: 2727
Jenny Mash j.mash@staffs.ac.uk
tel: 2706