Stanford University
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Stanford has 16 different bike locker compounds on campus with capacity for 355 bikes and three bike cage locations with capacity for 109 bikes for a total of 464 secured bike parking spaces. In addition, the campus has over 19,000 free-standing outdoor bike parking spaces. Stanford provides shower facilities and day use clothes lockers for bike commuters at the two sports recreation facilities on the east and west side of campus. Bonair Siding, which houses Stanford’s operations buildings, is one example of an area where bike parking, shower facilities, and clothes lockers are co-located in a single building for commuter convenience. Stanford also has 10 free Bike Safety Repair Stands on campus: https://transportation.stanford.edu/bicycle/gear-and-tune/bike-safety-repair-stands The repair stands enable bicyclists to make minor repairs and pump up their tires for free, making it more convenient for the campus community to maintain safe bicycles. Multiple tools are securely fastened to each bike repair stand, which also serves as a bike stand. Several recent campus infrastructure projects are designed to maximize safety for all modes of transportation. Construction of the Stanford Perimeter Trail, a 3.4 mile multi-use trail, incorporates improvements for bicyclists. These include bike lanes on both sides of the road, a section of green bike lanes to increase safety in conflict areas, and formalized back-in angled parking, which provides improved visibility for both motorists and bicyclists when vehicles enter and exit parking spaces. Stanford also has installed five roundabouts on campus, with a sixth under construction. The roundabouts serve as the most efficient means for vehicle circulation and provide a sensible solution for pedestrians and bicyclists at campus intersections.

Bike rack and bike locker compounds are designed by Campus Planning to provide a convenient and accessible way to park bikes in a safe manner. Bike racks are designed in a state-of-the-art way to keep bikes upright and locked and to deter theft. Bike lockers provide safe storage for commuters through the provision of an individual storage unit rented on an annual basis. Stanford also partners with the Campus Bike Shop to offer long-term bike storage for students in the form of indoor bicycle rooms and other secure bike storage areas based on each student’s specific long-term storage preferences.

Safety is the highest priority for all users on the campus. The circulation plan for bicycles and pedestrians was created by Campus Planning with input from Parking & Transportation Services, Stanford Department of Public Safety, and Diversity and Access to assure safe passage for all users, minimize conflicts and address ongoing changes in the campus environment.

Each department, school, and program at Stanford, no matter how large or how small, can start a bike share program. An online guide walks interested groups through the process: https://transportation.stanford.edu/bicycle/bike-questions-and-answers/start-a-departmental-bikeshare Bike fleets have been established for many groups on campus, including the School of Medicine, the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, and many others. Stanford has 23 Department Bike Share programs that offer 162 bikes for staff use. Although there are many avenues for bike fleet creation, many groups have chosen to work with the Campus Bike Shop to lease a fleet of shared bicycles. Program details are available online: http://campusbikeshop.com/articles/stanford-departments-bikes-lease-program-pg258.htm Stanford’s associate director of active mobility serves as a resource to all those who participate in bike share programs, connecting the groups together and providing advice and guidance.

Stanford's Marguerite Shuttle: http://transportation.stanford.edu/marguerite/ The Marguerite is a free, comprehensive campus shuttle system, also open to the public. It connects with local transit and Caltrain, as well as shopping and dining options. In addition, routes are available during the academic school year to downtown Palo Alto late into the evening, providing students with shuttle service to meet their needs and schedules. The fleet includes 41 100% electric buses, five diesel-electric hybrid buses, and 29 diesel vans, shuttles, and buses. Stanford offers an extensive Automated Transportation Management System, featuring real-time schedules for all routes. A real-time Marguerite app provides riders with visibility into the precise locations of their buses and when their buses will arrive. Smart Pass/Go Pass: https://transportation.stanford.edu/transit/free-transit-and-incentives/ Stanford offers passes for free use of VTA buses and light rail, Dumbarton Express, Highway 17 Express, Monterey-San Jose Express, and Caltrain (commuter train) for eligible Stanford employees. Eligible graduate students and postdoctoral scholars can also receive the free Caltrain pass. In 2017-18, Stanford community members took over 5,600 daily Caltrain trips. Free East Bay Transit Service: https://transportation.stanford.edu/transit/free-transit-incentives/line-u Free use of Line U, Ardenwood Express-Fremont, and East Bay Express buses, which connect Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Amtrak, ACE trains, and select Park & Ride lots in the East Bay to the Stanford campus.

http://transportation.stanford.edu/erh Stanford offers an Emergency Ride Home program to anyone who registers for the program in advance online or who is a member of Stanford’s Commute Club. If they have a qualifying emergency (e.g., personal or family illness or injury) on a day they use alternative transportation for their commute, Stanford will arrange or cover a taxi, rental car or other ride to get them home.

Stanford provides free ridematching services, a web- and app-based platform that matches Stanford-affiliated commuters with others in a public network or an online listing to share the ride only with Stanford affiliates: https://transportation.stanford.edu/rideshare/find-a-rideshare/sign-ridematching-services Carpool incentives for commuters include free parking and preferential parking before 10 a.m. Vanpool incentives include free premium carpool parking and a 100-percent van lease subsidy for qualified vanpools. We also subsidize riders and drivers who use the ridematching app to carpool.

http://transportation.stanford.edu/zipcar Stanford participates in the Zipcar program. Stanford affiliates are incentivized to join the program through a discounted $15 first-year membership fee. Commute Club members receive additional driving credits. There are currently 83 Zipcars on campus available at 34 different locations. Stanford also offers free annual Zipcar memberships to students who are members of the EVGR Car Free Club—the university’s first residential TDM program.

There are currently 80 Level 2 chargers available to all EV drivers that are located in high-demand parking areas on campus: http://transportation.stanford.edu/parking_info/ev.shtml

Stanford supports a "flexplace" program where employees, with the consent of their supervisor, can work off-site or telecommute. Stanford provides guidelines, sample letters of understanding, and other resources to assist in setting up a telecommute option for interested employees. Stanford is currently piloting three alternative worksites in San Jose, San Francisco, and Newark. These alternative work locations, sponsored by the Provost and Business Affairs, serve as a near-term solution to mitigate critical workforce issues such as affordable housing near campus and increased Bay Area commute times. All three worksites take sign-ups on a first-come, first-served basis and are currently at capacity. More information on the newest San Francisco work site is available here: https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/engage/news/stanford-launches-third-alternative-worksite-san-francisco

Stanford supports “flextime” or compressed/alternative work weeks, in which employees still work 40 hours per week but do not do so within standard 8-hour workdays. Stanford recognizes that such flexible working options can improve cost savings and reduce commuting time. These options can be implemented at the discretion of management.

The Department of Faculty and Staff Housing (FHS) assists faculty and select employees with the search for housing close to campus. Eligible faculty and select staff can purchase or rent on-campus housing. FHS also oversees more than 700 on-campus and off-campus rental units. Eligible persons have priority for these single-family homes, apartments, and condominiums. Other members of the Stanford community are accommodated as space allows. Each location is managed by professional property managers.

COMMUTE CLUB The Commute Club is a free incentive program for commuters who do not purchase a long-term parking permit. Membership rewards include $25 per month in “Clean Air Cash” a free carpool permit,” monthly Zipcar credit, $10 weeknight car rentals at the on-campus Enterprise branch, automatic enrollment in the Emergency Ride Home program, automatic entry into seasonal prize drawings, exclusive membership gifts, and more. Commute Club members can purchase daily parking permits per month for days they need to drive. Membership in the Commute club rose about 12,000 in 2017-18. Visit: https://transportation.stanford.edu/commute-club COMMUTE PLANNING RESOURCES Parking & Transportation Services (P&TS) offers free, customized transit and bicycle planning assistance for trips to and from Stanford to Stanford affiliates. P&TS also offers free transit passes to eligible employees and a commute-options presentation, with question-and-answer and commute planning session, at weekly New Employee Orientations. Visit: https://transportation.stanford.edu/maps-resources-access/request-commute-planning-assistance FOLDING BIKE PROGRAM The Folding Bike program offers a discount to qualified commuters to receive a $100 stipend to offset the purchase of a folding bike to use in conjunction with transit, e.g. bus and train. We partner with the Campus Bike Shop on this promotion to include a free one-week trial folding bike rental. Visit: https://transportation.stanford.edu/bicycle-promotions BIKE TO WORK DAY Stanford also participates heavily in the Bay Area's Bike to Work Day. In 2018, Stanford helped celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Bay Area's Bike to Work Day, with 2,033 cyclists and 292 walkers participating. The 882 riders who reported their mileage logged a total 8,317 miles, with an average ride of 9.6 miles. By biking instead of driving, these commuters eliminated an estimated 6,711* pounds of CO2 emissions on Bike to Work Day. While some bicyclists rode a short distance, many logged distances from as far as San Francisco, Alameda, Fremont, and San Jose. About 21% of university commuters typically bike to work. CAR FREE CLUB In 2017-19, P&TS launched the Escondido Village Graduate Residences (EVGR) Car Free Club. Residents receive one month of bonus "Car Freebie" points when they join the EVGR Car Free Club. After residents complete one month without purchasing a long-term permit, they will be able to redeem their bonus Car Freebie points for prizes, such as credit for online delivery services, ride-hailing reimbursements, and more for each month they remain car free. The initiative is meant to reduce demand for graduate student parking, which will be at a premium during construction of the new EVGR.