Green Transportation at Dalhousie’s Studley Campus: Exploring Sustainable Transportation Usage and Access Improvement Opportunities

Abstract

Dalhousie University faces problems with traffic congestion and limited parking, resulting from over 50% of commuters in HRM (Price et al., 2021) and over 33% of Dalhousie students (Walker et al., 2020) using cars or motorcycles as their primary mode of transit. Sustainable transit, such as public transportation, cycling, and walking, can significantly aid HRM, specifically Dalhousie, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, as outlined in Dalhousie's Climate Action Plan (Dalhousie, 2020). This research aims to identify barriers to using sustainable transportation options and potential solutions, explore attitudes and perceptions towards sustainable transportation among the campus community, understand current usage of green transportation options among undergrads at Studley Campus, and develop strategies for improving access to and promoting the use of sustainable transportation at Studley Campus. An online survey was conducted to gather information from full-time Dalhousie undergraduate students at the Studley Campus, which collected opinionated and statistical answers. The survey data was organized in an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the percentage of individuals who agreed with each statement and to provide insights into undergraduate students' attitudes, behaviours, and preferences towards green transport on the Studley campus. While some undergraduate students use sustainable transportation options, barriers prevent more students from utilizing them. The survey results indicate significant improvements to green transportation methods within HRM are needed. Specifically, bike lane infrastructure needs significant improvement regarding safety and effectiveness, and transit service in and around the Dalhousie campuses needs improvement with more frequent, faster, and connected routes. Additionally, the survey results indicate that the majority of participants feel that Dalhousie University should have a more prominent role in promoting greener transportation in HRM. In conclusion, this research emphasizes the need for Dalhousie University to promote green transportation and for the HRM to make significant changes to the current transit infrastructure. Recommendations from this research can help the university improve access to sustainable transit options and aid in reducing carbon emissions while promoting a more sustainable community.