SUSTAINABLE COMMUTING - Analysis of current mobility management actions at Chalmers University of Technology and Stanford University

Abstract

This report is a result from a study regarding sustainable commuting at Chalmers University of Technology. The aim was to find out what improvements are necessary to implement to encourage Chalmers employees to commute in a sustainable way. Chalmers has today 3198 employees but is expecting an expansion with 4000 workplaces at campus Johanneberg within 10 to 15 years. By a restriction set by the City of Gothenburg, Chalmers is not allowed to increase todays amount of parking spots even if the area will have more than twice as many employees commuting to campus in the near future. This restriction is similar to Stanford University’s General Use Permit (GUP) set by Santa Clara County. The GUP refers to a strict amount of cars allowed to pass the Stanford campus border during peak hours. To solve this problem Stanford has developed a large program that supports commuting without single car driving. To learn form Stanford’s experience and knowledge about this issue a study was accomplished with the purpose to find solutions that could be redesigned and suggested as implementations at Chalmers. A stay at Stanford was made to discover their commute program. Observation studies were accomplished as well as insightful interview with related researches and staff members regarding the topic. The information was thereafter analysed together with gathered information concerned Chalmers current situation. The key foundings regarding changes in commute behaviour applied how important it is to provide commute services that are convenient, flexible and have a short commute time. To achieve this, the study showed that accessibility, combination of payment, good bicycle facilities and information are necessary. These insights were combined and presented in eight different concepts, five that are possible to implement in the near future and three that need long-term planning and collaborations.