Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Met pedals its way to the top
The challenge ran for a month between March and April and was open to all students and staff at colleges and universities across West Yorkshire. The competition was a collaboration between UTravelActive, Bradford Bike Hub and Huddersfield Active Travel.
Participants clocked their miles across the month, with Leeds Met coming out on top, achieving 967 journeys of the competition's total of 2578.
Rachael Elliott, Transport Co-ordinator at the University, commented: "Leeds Metropolitan has had a transport strategy and travel plans since 2002 through which we offer a range of travel initiatives. We are particularly proud of our UTravelActive partnership project running since 2008 and the support in place for staff and students to make healthier, active travel choices: including our student bike hire, staff cycle to work scheme, on campus bike maintenance workshops, training and fantastic lockable cycle parking, showers and lockers.
"Our latest 'travel to university' survey (Nov 2013) shows that it is making a difference and that cycling to work or study at the university has increased from 7% (2011) to 9% of our staff and from 4 to 5% of our students. That equates to around 194 members of staff and 1198 students whose usual mode of travelling to uni is by bike. Comparing this to the Leeds average of 3.2% of commuters choosing to cycle is even more impressive."
UTravelActive aims to promote healthier, cheaper and cleaner everyday journeys for staff and students at universities, colleges and hospitals in Leeds, in partnership with Sustrans and Leeds City Council. It is partly funded by the Department of Transport's local sustainability fund with contributions from partners. For more information, contact UTravelActive@sustrans.org.uk