Colorado State University Commuter Survey Results Returned as a Final Step in Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions

More than half of all Colorado State University faculty, staff and students use alternative forms of transportation – carpooling, biking, walking or taking the bus – to get to campus, according to the university’s first commuter survey.

Of the more than 8,500 total survey participants, responses for Fall 2008 indicate 56 percent commute by carpool, bicycle, foot or bus and 42 percent drive single-occupant vehicles. A significant number of the campus population responded – 39 percent of faculty, 32 percent of staff and 26 percent of students. The survey captured commuter information for spring, summer and fall sessions.

The results suggest members of the campus community are working hard at reducing their carbon footprint: Nationally, 76 percent of people commute by single-occupant vehicle compared with 74 percent in the Fort Collins/Loveland area, according to 2007 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

"The survey is one of many efforts to measure the university’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is the first step toward understanding the environmental impact of the university," said Carol Dollard, Colorado State energy engineer who worked with recent CSU graduate Patrice Stafford on the survey. "A greenhouse gas inventory is a key piece of the university’s responsibility to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment."

The commuter survey, conducted by the Department of Facilities Management, measured travel habits of faculty, staff and students who commute to campus. Of those who responded to the survey, a majority of staff and faculty commute by personal vehicle – 63 percent and 57 percent, respectively. Students prefer biking as their first choice with 36 percent pedaling to campus, while 34 percent commute by single-occupancy vehicle.

Colorado State University sets the standard as a sustainable and environmentally responsible institution of higher education. This commitment has taken the form of a three-part strategy: green campus operations, educating tomorrow’s green workforce and deploying research to promote environmental sustainability worldwide.

Survey highlights of Fall 2008 responses:

Students who took the survey reported:

– 36 percent commute by bike

– 34 percent commute by personal vehicle, alone

– 13 percent commute by w2alking

– 11 percent commute by bus

– 4 percent commute by personal vehicle, with others in the vehicle

– 2 percent selected "other" modes of commute

Faculty who took the survey reported:

– 57 percent commute by personal vehicle, alone

– 25 percent commute by bike

– 8 percent commute by personal vehicle, with others in the vehicle

– 6 percent commute by walking

– 2 percent commute by bus

– 2 percent selected "other" modes of commute

Staff who took the survey reported:

– 63 percent commute by personal vehicle, alone

– 15 percent commute by bike

– 10 percent commute by personal vehicle, with others in the vehicle

– 2 percent commute by walking

– 2 percent commute by bus

– 2 percent selected "other" modes of commute

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