A big thank you to everyone who took part in our Travel Survey 2024 – all 6,014 of you! Your responses will help us create a sustainable travel plan for the next two years.
Overall, we’re thrilled that more of you are choosing to travel sustainably, with record numbers of staff and students using public transport. You’re helping to reduce the 11,000 tonnes of carbon emissions produced every year by our community’s commuting habits.
Both rail and bus journeys are at an all-time high for students since 2008, with 19.2% using the train and 18.8% using the bus. In 2018, only 8.7% took the bus; student usage has more than doubled in six years.
Here are some of the other survey headlines:
- Student car driving is at its lowest ever at 4.4%.
- Solo staff car journeys have fallen 4% (36%) from 2022, when journeys were at an all-time high of 40% following the pandemic.
- Over 19,000 people walk to campus.
- 20.2% of the University community travel by train, an increase of 2% from 2022 (18.2%).
- Students are commuting further than in 2022: 8.3km (2024) vs 7km (2022).
- Positive perceptions of the University’s commitment to sustainability have increased by 8% since 2022.
- 40% of female students’ primary concern on their walking commute is personal safety (30% for male students).
Accessible version of the infographic
Does the survey really make a difference?
We can't make travel more sustainable unless we understand our community's commuting patterns.
Following 2022’s survey, we have:
In this year’s Travel Survey, 45% of you said you want to see more exclusive discounts for public transport. Improved cycle facilities and safer roads were also a priority.
These are all things we will continue to look at as part of our 2025-26 sustainable travel planning, helping to empower members of the University community to make the best choices for themselves and the planet. Our revised sustainable travel plan will be released this spring.
Read the full travel survey report