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LU staff are best at sustainable commuting

Two persons cycling in a park.

The results from the autumn travel habits survey show that a majority of the University’s staff (approx. 80%) get to and from work by walking, cycling or using public transport. This is a higher percentage than for other large organisations in Lund. However, there is potential for even more people to commute sustainably by investments in public transport and measures to promote cycling on campus.

The year’s travel habits survey was carried out in October via the collaboration project CoAction in Lund and the University participated along with other employers in Lund with an aim to help Lund become climate neutral in 2030. The organisations surveyed have a total of nearly 30,000 employees. In total, car journeys accounted for 37 per cent of all commutes. At the University about 22 per cent answered that they travel to work by car, a figure considerably lower than the average and best among the large organisations.

“We see a high level of engagement by our staff in these issues and the travel habits survey is an important basis for our continuing work on sustainability. We think there is potential to be even better, and we are working on an action plan for sustainable mobility. Improved cycle paths to and from campus and better paths for pedestrians and cyclists on campus are also important elements in the new Campus Plan we are in the process of drawing up. To achieve a climate neutral Lund in 2030 requires collaboration and good initiatives,” says Per Mickwitz, pro vice-chancellor for sustainability.

Modal split of transport for the 21 organisation’s commutes 

Modal split of transport for the 21 organisation’s commutes
Diagram key (top down) On foot, Bicycle, Electric bicycle, Electric scooter, Tram, Train, Bus, Moped/Motorbike, Car – at least two in the car, Car – driver only.

The results for all 21 compared organisations within CoAction. The figures are mainly based on the transport mode on the day the questionnaire was answered (the transport mode for the longest distance if several transport modes are used for a commute) in combination with how often the employees are generally at the workplace. Source: CoAction Lund/Trivector.

For the 21 surveyed organisations, the modal split was as follows: 32% of commutes were on foot, by bicycle or by electric scooter, 30% by public transport and 37% by car. The modal split varies considerably between the various organisations. The percentage by car varies between 14 and 77%.

Modal split of transport for Lund University employees’ commutes 

Diagram with modal split of transport for Lund University employees’ commutes.
Diagram key (top down) On foot, Bicycle, Electric bicycle, Electric scooter, Tram, Train, Bus, Moped/Motorbike, Car – at least two in the car, Car – driver only.

Lund University’s modal split according to the main mode of transport on the day the questionnaire was answered, in combination with how often the employees are generally at the workplace. Source: CoAction Lund/Trivector.

Of all the 21 compared organisations, the University’s employees are best at choosing sustainable options. Of the commutes, 43% were on foot, by bicycle or by electric scooter, and 34% by public transport. Car commutes account for 22% (17 driver only and 5 more than one person in the car). The red fields are counted together. 

In total, the University employees’ commutes account for a 0.342 carbon dioxide emission of 2,840 tonnes or 0.342 tonnes/employee and year. This can be compared with all the surveyed CoAction organisations that have a total emission of approx. 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide calculated as approx. 0.55 tonnes per person and year. The figures are based on the travelled distance using different transport modes in the travel survey calculated for a full year, and taking into account the fuel used in the cars for commutes, and emission factors.

Just as in the latest travel habits survey from 2022, there are some differences between our campuses. A more in-depth analysis will be carried out for each campus and faculty early in 2025, as will a review of the submitted comments. Overall, the response rate and number of answers for each faculty provide a sufficiently good basis for the purpose of the survey. 

The travel habits survey also shows that 78 per cent of respondents think that it is very good or good that the University is engaged in the employees’ commuting and travelling on duty and 86 per cent regarding business travel.

Suggestions for improvements that would mean more people opt to commute sustainably 

The most mentioned factors for encouraging commutes by public transport instead of by car were: a better range of public transport, introducing discounted public transport as a payroll benefit and being able to count commuting time as working hours. 

Suggestions from those who currently drive to work about what would make it easier to commute by bicycle included: theft-proof bicycle parking, charging options for electric bicycles and safer cycle routes to work.

Of those who commute by car, 40 per cent answered that there was nothing that would make them commute by bicycle instead. Among those who already cycle to work there were requests for covered parking facilities for bicycles and the option of servicing the bicycle via the employer.

Other suggestions were made that can make commuting by car more sustainable such as the option to work remotely more often, a carpooling app and, when it is time for a new car, switching to a model that runs on fossil-free fuel. 

A new in-depth analysis including details for each campus and faculty will be available in January.