August 13, 2008 - 7:48am
With over 19,000 students, staff and faculty, the road to
Vancouver Island University (VIU) gets busy in September: each day about 2,800
cars, mostly single-occupant vehicles, arrive at the Nanaimo campus. With this in mind, the
institution is trying to decrease its footprint and reduce the impact it has on
its neighbours. In fact, VIU’s Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) wants to
reduce the number of cars coming to campus by 25 per cent in the next five
years.
“The vision is to increase alternate modes of
transportation,” said Steven Beasley, CSC Chair and Executive Director of the
Students’ Union. He adds that people don’t have to give up their cars
completely. “If vehicle drivers chose alternate transportation just one day a
week we could reduce traffic by 20 per cent.”
In an effort to support carpooling, VIU hosts a free
rideshare registry online. At www.viu.ca/carpool, staff and students can
register as needing or offering a ride, or just scan the listings to find
fellow carpoolers in their area. The page also offers additional links to other
rideshare sites.
Although a carpool parking pass is the same price as a
regular pass, carpoolers can see significant savings by sharing the cost of the
pass between members. Carpooling gives commuters an additional campus
privilege: reserved parking. Until 11 am, spaces are reserved in Parking lot
“E” for carpool pass holders. In order to qualify for the pass, which is
available through the parking office, there must be a minimum of two people
sharing the vehicle and they must arrive at the parking spot together.
VIU offers funding to carpool members in need of an
emergency ride home (up to 35 kms from the Nanaimo campus) to ensure no riders are
stranded on campus.
VIU also participates in the ProPass program, which allows
staff to purchase a transit pass at a discounted rate through monthly payroll
deductions and the Students’ Union offers semester passes to students at the
reduced rate of $158.50.
“It’s important to provide affordable and sustainable
transportation options,” said Beasley, adding that taking transit allows
commuters to make use of time that would have otherwise been wasted driving.
“You can do readings for class or work on your laptop.”
Commuting by bike or on foot is also encouraged – VIU has
covered bike lockers and shower facilities available to cyclists.
“The goal is to reduce the number of single occupancy
commuters, which reduces emissions, which reduces climate change,” said Beasley,
who has been carpooling and trying to walk to campus. He said that even small efforts
can help and people should recognize that their actions are important.
“Walking, carpooling or taking the bus one, two or three
days a week is a significant change,” said Beasley, “however, if we are serious
about curbing climate change it is a challenge VIU and its community must overcome.”
Tags: In the Community
