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Getting Around

Travelling to the University Of Wolverhampton and between the different sites couldn't be easier. From the university shuttle bus to the region's comprehensive public transport network and road infrastructure, there are a wide variety of choices for your mode of transport.

On these pages you will find guidance on the available travel options as well as links to up to date information from service providers across the West Midlands and Shropshire

Walking is a great way to stay fit, and de-stress. Walk off the cares of the day and avoid the strain of dealing with traffic and parking!

You can plan your route to the university using walkit.com. The site will tell you how long it will take depending on your walking speed, how many calories you will burn as well as how much CO2 would have been produced if you had travelled by car.

Cycling is a healthy, cost effective and, in todays traffic, fast way to travel into and around the university.

The cycling page provides links to local bicycle shops and groups, plus access to free training in cycling and cycle maintenence. Try the university's Cycle To Work Scheme to get bikes and riding kit tax free. https://www.wlv.ac.uk/staff/services/humanresources/hwb/benefits/health--fitness/cycle-to-work/

There are also journey planners to enable you to plan your journey and tailor it to your level of experience and skill.

Also find tips on riding safety and security.

Health

Cycling is better for you than driving or getting public transport. It can help you lose weight, reduce stress and improve fitness. Research has shown that people who cycle to work statistically take fewer days off sick and also those that regularly exercise can reduce their risk of coronary heart disease. Cycling to the university is a great way to introduce exercise into your daily routine.

 Cost

Bikes require no fuel, no MOT and no tax and can be parked for free almost anywhere. Maintenance costs are minimal and a good, well maintained bike can last for years

Environment

Clearly bikes do not generate any pollution in use and are made with a tiny proportion of the materials required for a car. The more people that cycle, the less congestion there will be on our roads and the less land is needed for car parks.

Public Transport, whether it's bus, train or Metro, public transport network provides a reliable, cost effective means of travel around the West Midlands and Shropshire.

You can find out about the best value ticketing options for you and use online journey planners. To do your journey planning on the go you can use the free Netnav App where you can plan your trip and find out real time information about local departures.

Why use public transport

Health

Public Transport can be better for you than driving in a number of ways. Walking to and from your bus stop or train station can provide a significant proportion of your daily exercise and help you lose weight.

Many of us find dealing with city traffic a stressful experience, and that’s before you’ve even got to work! Public transport allows you to relax on your journey, take time for yourself or chat with friends on the phone or social media.

 Cost

Travel costs can be reduced - smart ticketing solutions, term-time tickets and monthly / yearly passes can help you to manage and reduce your outlay travelling to work.

 Environment

CO2 emissions from public transport are drastically lower per capita than single use car journeys. Less traffic means less congestion, easier journeys and less land devoted to car parking.

Car Sharing provides a great way for motorists to tackle the ever increasing costs of driving and the ever more frustrating problem of parking. As well as saving you money, it's a great way to socialise too.

The car share page provides links to schemes in the West Midlands and Telford and Wrekin which allow members of staff access to a flexible and personalised way to share commuter jouneys by car, bicycle, foot or public transport.

Car Share

The university has teamed up with Wolverhampton City Council and Telford and Wrekin Council to offer a car share scheme to all members of staff. The software is simple and free to use and offers you the opportunity to find drivers who live and work near you and enjoy the benefits of sharing your journey.

Why Car Share?

Whether you choose to car share for ecological, financial or social reasons, the decision will benefit not only you, but your colleagues at work and other road users. Some advantages of car sharing are:

  • Reduced costs for fuel.
  • Reduced wear and tear on your vehicle
  • Reduced parking problems
  • Less congestion and random parking improves safety and the image of the university
  • Benefits to the environment and public health through reduced pollution
  • Enjoy a more sociable and less stressful way of travelling

As well as the Councils, a number of other large local employers are signed up to the scheme so there are a wide selection of potential sharers to link up with, or you may choose to only share with other members of university staff.

You will also find options if you wish to share your journey by walking, cycling or by bus, train or taxi.

How it works

The university has been granted administrator status so we are able to provide support to our users and monitor the success of the scheme. As such you are encouraged to log on using your university e-mail address. 

Registration is extremely quick and easy and only your e-mail address will be public on the site. Exchange of any further details and organising travel arrangements is left to individual participants.

When you register, your application will be sent to the university Travel Plan Co-ordinator for approval as a member of staff. As soon as your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You may start using the website and sharing your journeys.

Conditions

Some employers make a provision for a lift or taxi home for car share passengers who have to leave work unexpectedly.

The University of Wolverhampton is able to offer membership of the car share schemes of Wolverhampton and Shropshire and Telford Councils free of charge to all staff. However, university staff may not make use of emergency transport provided by any other employer and no such provision is available from the university at this time.

Contact

Please direct any queries to carshare@wlv.ac.uk 

 

Electric Cars are on the increase in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have reported that sales of hybrid vehicles more than doubled from 2014 to 2015 and that sales of pure electric cars have risen by about 50%. Government grants to help with the purchase price plus on-going investment in infrastructure mean that ownership of an electric car is not a wacky alternative, but a viable means of travelling more sustainably.

Charging Points

The university has taken advantage of government funding to install two electric car charging points at each of the main campus bases so you don't have to fork out for a power top up!

Charging is currently for free and spaces are reserved for electric cars only.

You can find the spaces as follows:

CampusLocation
City At the back of MK, in the inter-site car park
Walsall At the back of WA, access is through the varrier off Gorway Road
Telford At the small car park adjacent to SB (Design and Technology) Building

Fair Use

We respectfully request that all electric vehicle drivers adhere to the following code of conduct:

  • Follow all instructions on the charger and your vehicle
  • Be safe, look after the cable
  • Never use a cable that has been damaged or tampered with. Check condition before plugging in
  • Please leave your contact details and time of return on tag / board
  • Please don’t charge just because it’s free if you don’t need to. Other users may need to use the charger
  • Only occupy a charging bay while your car is being charged
  • Do not unplug or otherwise tamper with another vehicle without the owner’s permission
  • A polite note pointing out errors to other users is acceptable. Abusive comments will not be tolerated

Driving your car is not always avoidable, but there are ways to drive more sustainably and therefore save yourself money, and maybe make the experience a bit more pleasurable too.

Driving

Around 26% of CO2 emissions generated in the UK are caused by personal car travel. It is therefore important to consider the impact of your car journeys.

The University encourages all of it's staff to travel by sustainable means wherever possible, however many people have commitments that mean they cannot always leave the car at home, or need to travel independantly as part of their work. 

For those that have to use the car, planning the time and route of your journeys to avoid congestion and considering the way you drive can pay dividends in terms of time, money and the environment.

Driving sustainably

If you have to make your journey by car, planning ahead and making some simple changes to the way that you drive can not only save you money on fuel, but also make the trip a less stessful experience. Try the following ideas for driving sustainably:

  • Keep tires properly inflated as properly inflated tires are safer, last longer and can improve your petrol mileage by >3%
  • Plan ahead for the shortest, most petrol-saving itinerary
  • Read the road to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking
  • Stay below 70mph as travelling above 70mph can use up 25% more fuel – making driving considerably more expensive
  • Try to avoid road rage! Aggressive driving wastes petrol, lowers petrol mileage and doesn’t help your stress levels
  • Using cruise control while on the motorway can save petrol
  • Get your car serviced regularly to maintain engine efficiency
  • Make sure you’re using the right specification of engine oil
  • Travel light and remove excess weight – do you really need all of that stuff in the boot?
  • Use air conditioning only when it’s really needed
  • Cold starts use more fuel so combine journeys to aid fuel efficiency
  • Drive smoothly, accelerate gently and look ahead to try and prevent unnecessary braking
  • Change up the gears earlier when the engine speed is at ~2000rpm in a diesel car and ~2500rpm in a petrol car
  • Take off roof racks to reduce drag
  • Don’t idle as an idle vehicle gives off 80% more pollution than one that’s moving. Turning the engine off and then back on again uses less fuel than idling longer than 30 seconds!

Safety For Cyclists and Pedestrians

Cyclists

To make roads as safe as they can be, motorists need to be aware of cyclists too:

  • When turning left watch for cyclists coming up on your near side and don’t cut them up;
  • Give cyclists a wide berth when overtaking;
  • At night, dip your headlights when approaching cyclists;
  • In wet weather, allow cyclists extra room as surfaces may be slippery.

Remember, cyclists and motorists are equally entitled to use and share the same road space. Respecting all road users helps everyone to benefit from travelling by road.

Pedestrians

Across the West Midlands, motorists and pedestrians are often using the same space and when one meets the other, the pedestrian is always going to lose.

  • Drive slowly and carefully where there are likely to be pedestrians and parked vehicles
  • Look out for crossings where pedestrians will step out into the road
  • Be aware of pedestrians when parking
  • Unfortunately, many people are so absorbed in their mobile device or music that they will not be paying attention to the traffic, try to be pro-active and drive defensively

Training

Whether it was last week or last decade, you had lessons that taught you to pass a particular test.  Follow on or advanced driving courses can help you to become a better driver and teach you the skills to:

  • Be more aware on the road
  • Avoid accidents
  • Reduce motoring costs

The Institute Of Advanced Motorists is the country's leading road safety charity with a selection of courses for motorists, there are also independant trainers country wide offering advanced courses.