January 15, 2024
Both Penryn and Falmouth campus have achieved Gold Cycle Friendly Employer awards, administered through the national Cycle Friendly Employer program and run by Cycling UK. The gold award is the highest standard available and demonstrates to students and staff the active travel and infrastructure on offer for cyclists.
Based on our climate emergency declarations in 2019 and a focus on supporting student and staff’s physical and mental wellbeing, active travel such as cycling and walking poses a lot of positive opportunities.
Oliver Milliner, Head of Sustainability at FX Plus, said: “the benefits are crystal clear when it comes to taking on active travel measures commuting to and from campuses. Active travel measures such as cycling not only supports personal health, but is a direct emission reduction initiative, reduces traffic congestion in the local community and also helps to save money”.
Oliver also highlights, “this award doesn’t deter from the fact there are still areas in which we can improve upon, in terms of service level, infrastructure and communications to encourage the uptake of active travel. Based on a survey we ran for staff and students in June 2023, 56% of staff and 11% of students are driving alone to and from campuses. This equates to approximately 54% of total commuting emissions each year. Only 4% of staff and 7% of students use cycling as their main mode of transport to and from campus.
“The main pieces of feedback from the survey are that people do not feel safe cycling on the roads and this is deterring them from getting out of vehicles”.
Oliver adds, “based on the survey figures, there needs to be a focus on phasing away from single car occupancy. We’re in the process of finalising our 2030 Sustainable Travel Plan to address key areas for improvement”. The new plan aligns with Cornwall Council’s 2030 Transport Plan which effectively focuses on modal shift as well.
The gold award achievement supports FX Plus and the universities of Falmouth and Exeter, by providing a roadmap to achieve continuous improvement. For any questions or queries on travel, please email sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk.
