Comments on: The key problem at the heart of every university

By: Mark Dowling (@mark_dowling)

Mark Dowling (@mark_dowling) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:30:40 +0000

It doesn’t help that Dublin Bus isn’t directly accountable to the local authorities such that more service could be provided rather than simply accepting that cars are the way DCU people get to campus.

By: Ryan Maclean

Ryan Maclean — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:02:16 +0000

RGU used to run a shuttle bus from the city centre to the Garthdee campus, though it was cancelled in 2003. If you look on the Garthdee campus, outside the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, you can still see a shuttle bus stop.

My understanding of the reason for it ceasing to operate is twofold: 1. it was prohibitively expensive to run; and 2. FirstBus were providing a large number of buses to and from the campus.

The problem with the campus is not the distance (it is only 2-3 miles from the city centre), rather it is the fact the Aberdeen City Council refuse to create a suitable corridor down Holburn Street that will facilitate a speedy journey. If a dedicated bus lane stretched the full distance, and inconsiderate residents stopped parking in the bus lane, the journey could be completed very quickly.

Personally, I cycle to the campus whenever I can, I got a bike through the CycleScheme and I can make the journey in less than 15 minutes.

By: fenella

fenella — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:38:28 +0000

Surely better quality public transport must be a priority here. A more affordable and reliable bus service would make a huge difference when travelling to RGU’s Garthdee campus.

By: plashing vole

plashing vole — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:33:33 +0000

I’m the UCU rep on our university’s Staff Morale and Well-Being (I know…) committee. It is essentially the More Car Parks Now Committee. I make myself unpopular with members and colleagues alike by proposing to limit spaces to blue-badge holders only and grass the rest over. We are a cramped, grimy city-centre campus with amazing transport links less than two minutes away. Cycling support is non-existent.

I’m not totally hard-line. Some colleagues and students (nurses, trainee teachers) have to be out and about, but nobody else lives far from a train station. I chose to live 500 yards from my office so I could walk to work (and get up late).

Of course when I’m in charge, private cars won’t exist for people in urban postcodes. Each street will have shared electric golf carts or similar.

By: Music for Deckchairs

Music for Deckchairs — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:09:54 +0000

This is the solution used by many commuter universities: car pooling, with preferential parking as an incentive (either by being cheaper, or more conveniently located, or having a greater chance of actually finding a spot). In some contexts, this can be combined with a park-and-ride depot.

But before penalising single-occupancy car use, do keep in mind students and staff who are parents of younger children, who often really need quick getaway access to their own transport, complete with car seats.

The other approach, that I’m sure would be much less attractive in Scotland than it is in Australia, is support for cyclists–lockers, change rooms, showers.

And then, you know, there’s always elearning.

By: Anna Notaro

Anna Notaro — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:59:13 +0000

the point is not to build an underground car park ex novo, i.e.now, might have been affordable if it part of the original design of the new buildings, in any case too late for that.
As for multi-storey car parks, they are not only expensive, but also extremely ugly constructions. If affordable they represent the easy fix to a problem that requires an integrated approach and strong collaboration with the City Council (which in itself has its challenges). The idea of a university shuttle bus would still be my favorite in the interim option, if feasible.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:49:10 +0000

It would also be worth studying car occupancy data as it is most likely that each car parked on campus has one occupant.
Perhaps zoned car parking where the single occupancy vehicles have the long distance car parks…

By: universitydiary

universitydiary — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:20:02 +0000

The land on the other side of the Dee is already earmarked for a different development. In any case, it is not suitable and we wouldn’t get planning permission there for a car park. Sorry!

By: universitydiary

universitydiary — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:17:34 +0000

Hey folks, I wonder whether you realise how astronomically expensive it is to build an underground or multi-storey car park…?

By: Eric van der Ploeg

Eric van der Ploeg — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:33:04 +0000

From the city centre it takes 25 minutes to travel to the Garthdee campus. That is if you are lucky and a bus is not full.
The cost for a all day return is: £ 4.80 per day which is quite expensive!
RGU owns the fields on the other side of the river. At the moment they are not used, but they could be used for parking spaces?
That would solve the parking problem.