| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.26 |
| Liaison | Stephanie MacPhee |
| Submission Date | Dec. 9, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.60 / 2.00 |
Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
Ryerson offers 98 reserved secure bicycle parking spaces in the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCC) at 288 Church St. available for students, faculty and staff. Permit holders have access to dedicated washroom and shower facilities that can be accessed with their OneCard.
Reserved secure bicycle parking at 288 Church St. requires a permit and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A public bike repair station is also available located outside the Student Campus Centre (SCC) at 55 Gould St. The station allows users to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. Hanging the bike from the hanger arms allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely while making adjustments.
Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings and makes long-term bicycle storage available for students who live on-site (if applicable)?:
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
To promote bicycle ridership on campus, Ryerson offers over 1,100 bicycle parking spots across campus in a variety of styles including ring and post, hanging triangle, staple and cyclepods. The racks are part of a campus-wide bicycle program developed in conjunction with the City of Toronto’s Bicycle Friendly Campuses Project. In addition to this, Ryerson offers 98 reserved secure bicycle parking spaces in the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (DCC) at 288 Church St. available for students, faculty and staff.
Does the institution have a bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy (or adhere to a local community plan/policy) that sets standards and practices for campus streets to enable safe access for all users?:
A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
The University has multiple plans that set the standards and practices for safe campus streets.
Campus Public Realm Plan
Released in 2017 and currently in phase 2 of construction, the Campus Public Realm Plan provides the vision for Ryerson as a leading innovation university and city builder, and serves as a resource of tools to implement that vision. It sets out flexible guidelines for improving our public spaces that prioritize safety, accessibility and quality of place; and supports our Master Plan Principles, including priorities such as pedestrianization, design excellence and taking a People First approach.
The Central design theme is the permanent pedestrianization of Gould Street-raising the roadway to make it level with the walkway, prohibiting vehicular access except for emergency services, and establishing cycling dismount zones. Other improvements include additional outdoor lighting, increasing opportunities for public are installations, adding biodiverse plantings, replacing end-of-life and other site furnishings to improve the safety and accessibility of our shared public spaces
Campus Master Plan 2020
Released in 2020, The Campus Master Plan, sets the direction of Ryerson campus development vision and goals for the next twenty years. The Plan identifies goals to build inclusive, vibrant spaces in a diverse and urban destination. It outlines the need to continue to build high-quality spaces for scholarly, research and creative activities, as well as ensuring our spaces promote health and wellbeing. The Master Plan champions principles like accessibility, a pedestrian-oriented public realm and place making to be embedded in all future projects and initiatives.
Bike Plan
Within The Campus Master Plan 2020 is the Ryerson bike plan. The Bike plan details seven goals and actions to foster a cycling community within the Ryerson population. These goals and actions range from quick actionable goals like “increase the number of short-term bike parking on campus” to longer range goals like, “Leveraging institutional power to champion the expansion of the city-owned infrastructure that prioritizes safety and mobility”.
Public Realm Lighting Strategies
Also included in the Campus Master Plan 2020 is a public realm lighting plan. Ryerson acknowledges in the last 15-years there has been a marked extension of campus hours of operation. Combined with the pedestrianization of the main east-west corridor (Gould St) and a major north-south corridor (Nelson Mandela Way), it was necessary to create a set of design standards through which future lighting in the public realm will be engineered. The plan emphasizes Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (C.P.T.E.D) while ensuring a sense of place and comfort to pedestrians occupying the space. Lastly, Ryerson is keenly aware of the contributions large institutions may have in exacerbating the effects of light pollution. The lighting plan outlines the City of Toronto, and “Dark Sky” approved lamp designs that work to mitigate the effects of light pollution.
Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
With several docks located very near to campus, Bike Share Toronto is a convenient option for community members looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Bike Share Stations on campus:
Gould St. & Yonge St.: 20 bikes available
111 Bond St.: 13 bikes available
Dundas St. E. & Victoria St.: 37 bikes available
Dundas St. E. & Church St.: 14 bikes available
Yonge St. Dundas Square : 26 bikes available
Dundas St. W. & Yonge St.: 9 bikes available
Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
A brief description of the mass transit programs:
Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
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?:
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
Ryerson University opened 5 new electric vehicle rechargers in 2019 at the Daphne Cockwell Building. At Ryerson, all the EV chargers are Level 2 charging stations - they provide up to an 80 percent charge after four hours. All EV charging stations are accessible to student and employee commuters as they are in open parking lot spaces.
Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
Flexible work arrangements are in line with our commitment to a people first workplace that includes equity, diversity and inclusion as part of its DNA. While flexible work arrangements are encouraged, in many cases unit operational requirements may not allow for a manager to approve a flexible work arrangement. Our HR website contains a guide to determining what is best practice when deciding on alternative work arrangements as well as resources to provide outlines and help guide flexible work arrangement requests, review and implementation: https://www.ryerson.ca/hr/work-life/flexible-work-arrangements/
Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
A brief description of the condensed work week option:
Ryerson’s Compressed Work Week Policy
a. Subject to overriding consideration of service requirements it may also be possible to meet the preference of some staff members to work a compressed work week, working full time hours of 36.25 per week in reduced number of (ie. less than 5) days. As an example, a four day work week could involve three days of 9 hours and 50 minutes, and one day of 9 hours and 45 minutes and a 45 minute lunch break (unpaid), working from 8:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., and 8:00 am to 5:45 p.m. on the last of the four days worked in the week. Decisions regarding specific details of such arrangements are within the authority of the department manager.
b. A staff member wishing to adopt a work pattern other than the normal Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. shall make an appropriate written request to the supervisor.
c. The supervisor shall consider all such requests of staff within the unit and submit a recommendation in respect of them together with an overall work plan for the unit, through channels to the senior director/dean.
d. When the latter has made a decision on the recommendation the supervisor shall inform the staff members concerned of the work schedule established for them.
e. On the same authority a change in the work schedule of a staff member may be made when it is considered that the previously established schedule has become incompatible with the changed service requirements either permanently or during a period of particularly intensive activity in the unit.
f. In any week in which the University is closed for a day or more because of a statutory or declared holiday those staff members for whom a compressed work week schedule has been established, will have the arrangements modified, as required, to give the employee concerned the benefit of the reduction of the total weekly working time resulting from the incidence of such closure.
g. In making their overall work pattern determinations for staff under their control those concerned should bear in mind that, except as otherwise determined by a vice president, each organizational unit should be open, even if at times with reduced staff, Monday to Friday at least from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
h. Notwithstanding any of the above provisions, other hours of work, for example night work, staggered or shift work, part time work and other variations of the normal work pattern, as required by the University in its various operations, or by special personal circumstances or as foreseen in any collective agreement may be established for staff members on the authority specified in the preceding paragraphs above and in consultation with Human Resources.
Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
Does the institution employ other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting (e.g. preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, cash-out of parking programs)?:
A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
One of Ryerson University's largest sources of environmental impact is student, faculty and staff commuting. We are committed to encouraging sustainable transportation habits through campus education and engagement, as well as through the development of new infrastructure.
Additionally, launched in 2016, Healthy Commute Week provides students, faculty and staff with information on sustainable commuting options. The campaign includes a wide variety of fun activities, including:
A bike safety workshop for community members
An art installation showcasing the evolution of public transit in Toronto
And a contest giving people the chance to win a $100 preloaded PRESTO card.
Ryerson participates in Smart Commute Carpool week, an annual campaign led by Smart Commute to celebrate carpooling and the benefits associated with it. Each year, we promote smart commuting through a series of twitter cards i.e tips on how to find your perfect carpooling match.
Ryerson participates in Bike Month annually, a campaign that encourages this healthy and environmentally-friendly mode of transport throughout the month of June. In 2018, the Sustainability Office partnered with the Ryerson Cycling Club to raise awareness about cycling etiquette, safety techniques and other tips and tricks. We also invited Charlie’s Freewheels to provide free safety checks to all students, faculty, and staff. Safety checks included chain lubrication, tire pressure checks, and minor brake adjustments.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.