October 24, 2025
The 2025 Student & Staff Commuting Travel Survey results are in, with over 750 responses collected from across Falmouth University, the University of Exeter, FX Plus, and the Students’ Union. Thank you to everyone who took part—your feedback is helping shape the future of travel to and from our campuses.
Each year, the survey provides valuable insights into commuting behaviours, preferences, and challenges, supporting our shared commitment to improving the travel experience and advancing sustainable transport initiatives as part of the Universities’ climate emergency response.
Key Findings at a Glance
Campus Attendance:
Students average 4.4 days/week on campus; staff average 3.7 days/week.
Commuting Distance:
Students travel 3.7–4.7 miles; staff travel 7.5–8.7 miles.
Journey Time:
Students average 21–23 minutes; staff average 24–26 minutes.
Most Common Arrival/Departure Time for Students:
9am–10am arrival (both campuses), departing 4pm-5pm from Falmouth campus and 5pm-6pm from Penryn campus.
Most Common Arrival/Departure Time for Staff:
8am-9am arrival and 5pm–6pm across both campuses.
Main Transport Modes:
- Walking, cycling and bus travel remain popular among students, while staff tend to commute by car.
- Students (Penryn campus): Bus (39%), Foot/Bike (23%), Car Share (16%)
- Students (Falmouth campus): Foot/Bike (59%), Car Alone (17%), Bus (15%)
- Staff (Penryn campus): Car Alone (49.2%), Bus (23.2%), Foot/Bike (18.7%)
- Staff (Falmouth Campus): Car Alone (50%), Foot/Bike (22.8%), Train (13.6%),
Top Reasons for Transport Choices:
- Students: Convenience, Cost, Travel Time
- Staff: Convenience, Travel Time, Difficulty Accessing Public Transport
Feedback Highlights
Students raised concerns about rising bus fares, limited rural transport options, and off-campus cycling safety. Many are choosing to walk to campus to reduce costs, especially following the discontinuation of the U3 bus service.
Staff also noted challenges with cycling to work due to road safety, weather, and terrain, and called for better incentives for sustainable travel. Concerns were also raised about declining bus service quality and the impact of car congestion on local communities.
Next Steps
FX Plus and the University partnership is reviewing the findings to inform future improvements in campus travel infrastructure, services, and sustainability initiatives. This includes continuing to improve electric vehicle, e-bike and cycling facilities on campus, raising greater awareness about incentives for low-carbon commuting and our employee cycle scheme, and doing what we can to influence improvements to bus services to campus.
Since we learned about the bus fare increases and the removal of termly and annual bundles a few weeks before the start of term (Aug 2025), FX Plus and the Universities have done everything possible to get this reversed or at least delayed. We have been in discussions with relevant stakeholders, including Cornwall Council, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, and the transport providers.
On 22 September 2025 we attended a Cornwall Bus Services Round table to air concerns about bus services, and to try and find solutions. We want to see lower bus fares and the reintroduction of bundles. However, it has been made clear that the operators are running on thin margins, and fares are currently being supported by government funding.
The meeting saw a proposal for a new stakeholder forum, which will work on the recommended actions from the meeting – including seeking support from MPs in improving the funding model, reinstating lower fares and staff and student bundles, and strengthening the integration between all forms of public transport in Cornwall.
Your continued feedback about this matter is helping to inform our conversations. If you would like to contribute your thoughts, please email the SU on presidents@thesu.org.uk (students) or sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk (staff).
For any questions or further information about the Commuting Travel Survey results, please contact sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk.
