This bi-annual survey, which was completed by more than 450 staff, was designed to gauge ways to reduce car use and introduce more sustainable transport options to our campuses. It polled views on modes of transport (trying to find more sustainable ways to travel), frequency (trying to make travel more efficient), and time (trying to reduce journey times).
Long-term trend of driving to work continues
The survey showed that the majority of staff continue to drive alone to work, a trend which has continued for the past six years. However, there are encouraging signs that this may be beginning to change with staff saying they’re starting to alternate their modes of travel, including public transport on some days; are willing to carpool and rideshare; or are travelling to our campuses less often because of flexible work arrangements.
Awareness of Unitec’s sustainable travel initiatives
There’s a general lack of awareness of Unitec’s sustainable transport options and facilities among staff who joined Unitec after the Covid-19 lockdowns. This is due to considerable disruption to our campus operations over the past two years, with many staff working remotely. More work needs to be done to raise awareness of our Unitec fleets, including electric cars and bicycles, inter-campus shuttle service, and HOP card trials.
Greening our commute
The survey drew strong feedback, with nearly 150 staff offering comments and suggestions. Nearly a quarter of the feedback covered public transport and the lack of suitable routes and schedules. A fifth of respondents recommended maintaining and increasing flexible work schedules as a way of reducing car rides to work, while around the same number recommended trialing new shuttle routes to cut down on car use.
Staff also suggested introducing discount schemes for purchasing electric vehicles, e-scooters and e-bikes, adding EV-charging points on campus, and adding alternative energy vehicles to the Unitec fleet, including solar and hydrogen operated buses and vans.
They also raised the impact of reduced carpark availability at Unitec as a further addition to travel challenges, while some also suggested Unitec management actively lobby government transport agencies to introduce public transport subsidies and support our moves towards more sustainable transport options.
Next steps
Taking on board staff feedback, the Sustainability team will soon be sharing an update on Uniwaka, Unitec’s carpooling app, and the work that they have underway on an e-bike purchasing scheme for staff.
In addition, our Sustainability and Wellbeing manager, Maja Zidov, is partnering with the Infrastructure team and Auckland Transport’s travel demand planners to investigate how we could go about implementing some of the ideas raised in the survey.
The survey results, along with ideas and suggestions shared during the parking consultation, will be used to update the Unitec travel plan.
You can see more detailed results and comments from the survey here.
A selection of staff comments:
“Best economic way to save environment is to have less trip to workplace if it’s possible.”
“Increase work from home capacities. We need to align with the universities to maximize our enrolments and capitalize on those wanting to learn online and do block courses.”
“Can we not persuade AT to drive the bus through the campus? Or to trial one of their hail-able mini bus services in this area to link up with other bus and train services.”
Thank you Maja and team for the great work undertaken not just for this survey but for continuing to push for sustainable travel options to work. Some promising results and news updates especially the staff subsidies for e-bikes. The more options for staff especially end of journey infrastructure, the better. Interesting response and feedback regarding expanding shuttle service and ride sharing (uniwaka). It is inevitable with losing free car parking that staff who do live within walking and biking distance to work consider e-bikes, cycling, walking to work whenever they can. Better for the environment, better for our health, and better for Unitec/Te Pukenga.
Typically, most commutes are less than eight KM. Unitec could provide staff with a free bike (electric or not) to get to work. Companies in the Netherlands have done this, The idea is to use the bike at least three days a week. This improves fitness, fewer sick days, improved productivity and buy-in on any related policy.
Johan
There are now excellent cycle paths radiating out from Unitec to Avondale, New Lynn, New Windsor, Mt Roskill, the central city and north western suburbs. These provide full separation from other traffic and the hills are moderate. A combination of having a bike, hop card and ride share account should cover most commuter situations within the 8km radius without resorting to private car use. I support an employer e-bike or analogue bike purchase support scheme for staff able to bike in.