University of Victoria
OP-21: Support for Sustainable Transportation

UVic currently has over 130 bike lockers available for rent located in convenient locations across campus. Clothing lockers are also available for rent. Showers are available in 10 office and classroom buildings, as well as in two gyms (one free and one with membership). UVic opened a Campus Bike Centre in November 2013, located in an underground parking lot that has secure parking for over 200 bikes, plus clothing lockers. The space is filmed with security cameras, patroled by Campus Security and well-lit 24/7. A cycling amenities map is available here: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map%202013.pdf.

UVic has approximate 2900 outdoor racks all located close to campus classroom and office buildings, many of which are covered. Student residence has a secure bike rooms and individual bike lockers located in the residence areas, close to housing.

While UVic does not have dedicated cycling-only lanes on campus, our campus is very bike friendly with paths all across campus wide enough to accomodate both cyclists and pedestrians. The campus cycling/pedestrian pathways connect with cycling paths coming into campus from different directions (through the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich). Large sections of the centre of campus are off limits to vehicle traffic making it very safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

The UVic SPOKES bicycle program allows students, staff and faculty to rent a used, refurbished bikes for a day, a month, semester or for a full year. The current cost is a $40 deposit, with half refunded when the bike is returned, and includes a helmet and a lock. The program is run by volunteers who refurbish used bikes donated by the community. Hundreds of bikes are loaned through this program each year. The UVic School of Environmental Studies also runs it's own on-campus bike share for students in that program who have offices at opposite ends of campus. Free bikes and communal locks are provided.

Not applicable in Canada.

All UVic undergraduate and graduate students taking at least one unit course on campus are given a universal bus pass (U-Pass) that gives them unlimited access to the regional transit system. This program covers close to 20,000 students. Since the U-Pass was introduced 12 years ago, transit ridership has increased over 55%. UVic also offers full time campus staff and faculty who do not have a parking permit, an E-Pass discount of 55% off the price of a regular monthly transit pass. On average over 650-700 employees take advantage of this program each month.

UVic is a partner in the Jack Bell Rideshare program, an online system that matches campus commuters with other students and employees traveling at similar times along similar routes. The program is free for anyone with a UVic email address. Preferencial parking is designated for vehicles registered in the car pool or ride share program. See: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/operations/transportation/driving/index.php.

UVic has purchased a block of shares in our local Victoria Car Share Co-op. Full time staff and faculty, as well as students living in the Family Student Housing Complex who do not have a parking permit, may apply to receive a free membership (value of $400) in the Car Share Co-op. Graduate students may also receive a membership for only $25. Members are then responsible for personal usage fees. Three of the co-op vehicles are located on campus, with many others in the surrounding region. See: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/operations/transportation/driving/index.php.

UVic has three Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations accessible to the campus community and visitors 24/7. See: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/operations/transportation/driving/index.php.

While there is no formal Human Resources policy regarding telecommuting, individual departments at UVic can offer employees this option at the department head's descretion based on individual circumstances.

While there is no formal Human Resources policy regarding condenced work weeks, individual departments at UVic can offer employees this option at the department head's descretion based on individual circumstances.

UVic offers free video-conferencing services for staff, faculty and students on campus to encourage the use of virtual meetings and interviews.

UVic offers many incentives to encourage students, staff, faculty and visitors to travel to campus via modes other than the single occupancy vehicle that together have successfully increased the sustainable transportation modal split from 42.5% to 60%, an increase of 42%. These incentives include: • An automatic U-Pass transit pass system for all undergraduate and graduate students taking at least one class that provides unlimited access to regional bus transit system. • An optional E-Pass transit pass system for staff and faculty who do not have a parking permit to purchase a monthly bus pass for 55% off the regular price. • Support for cycling including a new Campus Bike Centre providing covered, secure parking for over 230 bikes, plus close to 2,900 racks located across campus near campus buildings, 130 individual bike lockers available for rent, equipment lockers available for rent, an outdoor self-service bike repair station open 24/7, showers in 10 campus buildings, and participation in the regional Bike To Work Week (with over UVic 40 teams). A map of all cycling amenities available on campus can be found here: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map%202013.pdf. • Support for the SPOKES bicycle program – a volunteer-led initiative that refurbishes used bikes donated by the community and rents them out on a short or long-term basis to students, faculty and staff at nominal rates. The program also provides bicycle repair services and sales of used bikes. • A partnership with the Victoria Car Share Co-operative that allows UVic staff, faculty and residents of the Family Student Housing complex to receive a free membership in the co-op, with two fleet vehicles conveniently located on campus. • Registered with the Jack Bell online Rideshare program with free access to anyone with a UVic email address, and provides parking incentives for vehicles registered in the rideshare program. • Have three Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations on campus available to the campus community and visitors for a nominal parking rate ($1.50 per hour). See here for more info: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/operations/transportation/index.php. In addition to these campus programs, UVic continues to work with the regional transit authority to improve transit service to campus and surrounding neighbourhoods with an expanded bus exchange planned to open in September 2014. UVic also works with the surrounding municipalities to improve cycling access to campus including dedicated bike lanes on routes serving the campus.