Université de Sherbrooke
OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation

The University offers free self-service bikes to the university community. These bikes are available on all three campuses and are provided with a proper helmet and a bike lock. The goal is to meet short-term mobility needs for personal or professional purposes, while allowing the university community to discover cycling as a mode of transport in a free and simple way.

On each campus, the bicycles are located in a designated area so that everyone can easily find them. Upon presentation of a valid card and after filling out the loan form, users can take advantage of a bicycle for a 24-hour period, or for the entire weekend if the reservation is made on Friday.

The bicycle fleet is maintained by the bike cooperative, La Déraille.

A fleet of electric bicycles was also made available to the university community in May 2022 on the occasion of Bike Month. This fleet, loaned in collaboration with the Ville de Sherbrooke, allowed users to have access to an electric bicycle over a period of approximately 10 days. The objective was to allow the experimentation of this mode of travel in both a professional and personal context, and to evaluate whether the electrification of the bicycle would allow greater independence from the car. The experiment ended fantastically with several users opting to buy an electric bike, thus encouraging a modal shift from cars to utility bicycles.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/smsp/mobilite-durable-et-stationnement/centre-de-la-mobilite-durable/velo

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/actif/velos-en-libre-service/

https://www.laderaille.ca/

Since 2021, the Université de Sherbrooke has been offering two self-service cars in partnership with Communauto, the first car-sharing company in North America. These hybrid cars are available exclusively for the use of staff members for their work-related travel on weekdays between 7a.m. and 5p.m. Outside these time slots, the vehicles are always available to staff members under the same conditions, but all Communauto subscribers can also use the vehicles.

The Centre for Sustainable Mobility pays a lump sum to Communauto and covers all associated costs, thus enabling staff members to use the car free of charge for their professional travel.

This program has several objectives:

- Optimizing the life cycle of the cars
- Reducing the use of a single-passenger car by not penalizing employees who come to the campus by sustainable mobility means
- Reducing GHGs by offering hybrid vehicles
- Reducing travel costs
- Avoiding the acquisition of new cars by services and faculties on our campuses
- Demystifying car sharing in a supported and secure environment

The program is working very well, and phase II of the deployment of new vehicles on each of the Université de Sherbrooke campuses is under analysis.

On another note, the creation of the Centre for Sustainable Mobility has also made it possible to centralize the management of the university fleet. This repatriation allows for better contact between the services that have vehicles at their disposal and the units that need cars on an ad hoc basis. This allows for better optimization of the university fleet of cars, which until now has made it possible to avoid buying several vehicles thanks to better sharing and information on the options available.

https://sherbrooke.communauto.com/employes-udes/

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/autopartage

To encourage students and employees to use fuel-efficient vehicles, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the university offers up to 4 hours of free charging time on level 2 and level 3 charging stations.

Several level 2 and level 3 charging stations are available to the university community as well as visitors on all three campuses. The electric circuit charging stations can be used by all motorists. Other charging stations, reserved for staff, were installed as part of the Québec government Branché au travail [EN: Plugging in at work] program. The parking spaces where there are charging stations are identified as "Branché au travail" and can be used for up to four hours. To access the electric charging service, staff members must hold a specific parking permit and must obtain a card from the Centre for Sustainable Mobility.

https://lecircuitelectrique.com/en/

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/bornes

SECURE BICYCLE STORAGE

Students at the Université de Sherbrooke have access to indoor bicycle storage for extended periods of time, a good example being the winter period. This space frees up the limited space in their dorm rooms while encouraging bicycle use.

Secure bike shelters are also available on the three campuses. Cyclists must first register in order to access the shelter with a key or an access card.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/hebergement/campus-principal/services/entreposage

SHORT-TERM BICYCLE PARKING FOR ALL OCCUPIED BUILDINGS

There are more than 50 bike racks deployed on university campuses, totalling approximately 500 bike spaces. This number is constantly increasing to better meet the needs of the growing population of cyclists. Where possible, the racks are positioned to be captured by campus security cameras. All buildings are served by at least one bike rack.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/actif/infrastructures-pour-les-cyclistes

BICYCLE REPAIR STATIONS

Self-service bicycle repair stations are available on the Main Campus. The entire community has access to them 24 hours a day. The stations are stored during the winter, but tools and spare parts are available at the Centre for Sustainable Mobility all year-round.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/actif/infrastructures-pour-les-cyclistes

GEE BEE

Gee Bees, electric vehicles, e-scooters, manufactured in Sherbrooke, are available for security officers to use when travelling on the Main Campus. All officers are trained and encouraged using this mode of transportation instead of patrol cars when appropriate.

https://www.latribune.ca/2020/11/02/geebee-poursuit-sa-course-87ca55dc3eb409be4633decc7c23de2d

https://www.conceptgeebee.com/en/vehicles/geebee/

SHOWERS

Free showers are available on each campus for cyclists and walkers wishing to freshen up before coming into the office.

BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN POLICY

The Université de Sherbrooke collaborates closely with the activities of the Centre de mobilité durable de Sherbrooke (CMDS) [EN: Sustainable Mobility Centre]. This centre allows stakeholders in the field of sustainable mobility and urban planning to meet and discuss the various issues affecting the mobility of the Sherbrooke community.

The University adheres to the CMDS active transportation plan (https://mobilitedurable.qc.ca/le-plan/transport-actif/).

It includes:
- Developing bicycle and pedestrian paths at strategic locations in order to have a structuring network, in particular generating centers through concerted planning
- Making the pedestrian and cycle networks to the main trip generators safe (e.g., sidewalks, compliance with speed limits, pedestrian crossings)
- Making paved paths and on-street bicycle paths accessible

In addition, the Stratégie de mobilité durable of the Université de Sherbrooke [EN: Sustainable Mobility Strategy] 2018-2022 makes it possible to intensify the institution's efforts in terms of active mobility standards and practices. This strategy aims to mobilize the community and to integrate, in the same approach, the different actions put forward in terms of mobility.

FREE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - STUDENTS

In 2004, the Université de Sherbrooke was the first university in Québec to put forward a free access to public transit program for its students. Thus, all Sherbrooke students who present a student card can use the public transportation free of charge anywhere in the Ville de Sherbrooke. Employees can also have access to this program if they request it.

This program was made possible through an agreement between the University and the Société de transport de Sherbrooke (STS) [EN: Sherbrooke Transit Company], and between the University and two student associations (the Fédération étudiante de l'Université de Sherbrooke (FEUS) [EN: Student Federation of the Université de Sherbrooke] and the Regroupement des étudiantes et étudiants de maîtrise, de diplôme et de doctorat (REMDUS) [EN: Master's degree, diploma, and doctoral student group of the Université de Sherbrooke]). Funding for the program is provided jointly by the Université de Sherbrooke and a mandatory student contribution.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/etudiants

SPECIAL RATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT PASS - EMPLOYEES

All employees who do not purchase a parking permit can take advantage of a special rate for their public transit pass. Thanks to an agreement with transit companies allowing for a 15% savings, and a $50/month/employee reimbursement from the Université de Sherbrooke, employees pay a fraction of the price of their public transit pass, with the addition of a range of flexible incentives:

- Access to the guaranteed return program up to three times per year
- The equivalent of one daily parking fee per month for contingencies
- Easy payment via payroll deduction

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/mobilite/personnel

GUARANTEED RETURN PROGRAM

Employees who choose a sustainable mode of transportation (carpooling, walking, biking, public transportation) are entitled to three guaranteed returns of $20 each per year to cover unforeseen events. The guaranteed return program is designed to provide additional security to employees who travel to campus using sustainable mobility by offering them the possibility of using a cab, bus, car sharing, or other paid mobility solutions in the event of an emergency or unforeseen situation. This safety net allows for a quick transportation when needed, without using their personal car.

CONDENSED WEEK WORK OPTIONS

For a few years now, regular employees (i.e., in a 32.5 to 35 hours/week position at the University) can take advantage of a condensed work week. This measure aims to reduce the work week from a health and quality of life perspective. By the same token, it reduces work-related commuting.

TELECOMMUTING PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES

Thanks to the implementation of a pilot project, employees at the Université de Sherbrooke have the opportunity to work from 20% to 60% of their schedule in telecommuting. On a voluntary basis and with the approval of the immediate supervisor, this program is open to all staff members whose tasks can be accomplished remotely.

Interested employees must take part in training sessions before taking advantage of this program. These training covers several issues and ensure a uniform understanding of this work mode.

On the one hand, this program allows for a reduction in commuting to campuses, and therefore a reduction in GHGs related to commuting. On the other hand, it is likely to change the perception of the use of other modes of transportation, which may have seemed time-consuming or restrictive over 5 days, but much more accessible in the context of reduced travel.

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/personnel/teletravail

For information about initiatives to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation at the Université de Sherbrooke, see also:

https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/nouvelles/details/45883