Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.13
Liaison Bridget Flynn
Submission Date March 9, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Oberlin College
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Bridget Flynn
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Environmental Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:

We have covered outdoor bike shelters in several locations across campus, but no indoor bike storage for commuters. All College employees receive a membership to the College gym where lockers and showers are available.


Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking (e.g. racks) within 50 ft (15 m) of all occupied, non-residential buildings and make long-term bicycle storage available within 330 ft (100 m) of all residence halls (if applicable)?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:

Covered and uncovered bike racks are located near all Oberlin College buildings.


Does the institution have a “complete streets” or bicycle accommodation policy (or adhere to a local community policy) and/or have a continuous network of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths and lanes?:
No

A brief description of the bicycle/pedestrian policy and/or network:

A Complete Streets resolution was adopted by Oberlin City Council in 2015. Oberlin already enjoys multiple "Complete Streets" projects (sections of roads), as well as a series of sidewalks.


Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:

Wilder Student Union offers a bicycle-sharing program with 5 or so bikes. The Bike Co-op rents out 20-30 bikes each year. Furthermore, the co-op allows students to work in exchange for a free bicycle.


Is the institution certified as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists (U.S.) or under a similar third party certification covering non-motorized transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the certification, including date certified and level:

Bronze level Fall 2013


Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit program(s), including availability, participation levels, and specifics about discounts or subsidies offered (including pre-tax options):

Oberlin operates RideLine, which provides stop-to-stop vehicle escort service to members of the college community from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. After the collapse of the local public transit program, Oberlin College joined with the City of Oberlin and other area businesses and organizations to support the two-day a week Oberlin Connector, which provides public transit in and around Oberlin. A local shopping shuttle was initiated in spring 2013 to provide services to the local drug store, Walmart, and IGA grocery store each week. There is also a shuttle each day (except Saturday) to the Cleveland Hopkins airport, which also connects to the RTA which riders can take to get around Cleveland.


Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip (GRT) program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the GRT program:
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Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency offers a free carpool matching service. Students arrange carpooling through a section of the Oberlin Classifieds.


Does the institution participate in a car sharing program, such as a commercial car-sharing program, one administered by the institution, or one administered by a regional organization?:
Yes

A brief description of the car sharing program:

Oberlin partnered with Enterprise CarShare to offer three vehicles on campus for car-sharing. The car-share program is open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members.


Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:

There are EV charging stations at the Adam Joseph Lewis Center. There is also one in downtown Oberlin.


Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
No

A brief description of the telecommuting program:

Telecommuting options are under consideration at this time, but there is no formal program.


Does the institution offer a condensed work week option for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
No

A brief description of the condensed work week program:

Condensed work week programs have been considered (and are currently being researched by the CBSM project), but no formal program is available at this time.


Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:

Rental properties are available for faculty and staff within walking distance of campus. The Oberlin Project is also seeking to develop these incentives.


Does the institution have other incentives or programs to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation and reduce the impact of student and employee commuting?:
Yes

A brief description of other sustainable transportation initiatives and programs:

In Kahn Hall, a newer LEED Silver sustainability-themed first year dorm, students must take a sustainability-pledge including not bringing a car to campus. This is the nicest dorm on campus, which intentivizes students to consider this pledge.

Incentives have been considered, but there is no formal program currently in place for other areas of campus.


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable transportation program(s) is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.