University of Sunderland - Travel Plan Final 200510-1

University of Sunderland Travel Plan Update
3. Current Travel Patterns
To better understand how existing facilities and planned improvements cater for the needs of staff
and students at the University University, a travel survey was undertaken in November / December 2009.
The survey gathered data on place of work / study, work / study patterns and type of work, main
mode of transport to work and journey to and from work, parking and potential incentives to
encourage staff to use public transport, car share or cycle. This section analyses the results,
enabling a revision of the Travel Plan’s objectives, targets and measures. Where possible, the
2009 survey results have been compared with results from 2007.
In 2007, the staff and student travel survey was undertaken using tthe
he web based HEEPI model.
For the 2009 surveys, a web based questionnaire was also undertaken, with a link to the survey
page emailed to all staff and students in late November 2009. . The survey could be completed
over a four week period. . TTwo
wo weeks after the survey went live, a reminder was sent to all staff and
students, , encouraging them to complete the survey. A prize draw was organis organised as part of the
survey to encourage a high response rate, where staff and students could win a share of £300 of
Bridges Shopping Centre Vouchers.
In 2009, a total of 709 staff
rate 33 staff returned a valid survey rvey form, which represents a 46.6% response
. This very good response rate is considered to be representative of University staff travel
patterns. In 2007, 605 staff completed the travel survey, a response rate of 37.8%.
In 2009, a total of 1075 students returned a valid s
rate 34 students returned a valid survey urvey form, which represents a 7.8% response
. Although a large number of students completed the survey, the response rate is still below
the desired 10% threshold for a survey of this type and therefore the results do need to be treated
with some caution. . In 2007, 843 students completed the travel survey, a response rate of 5.8%.
33
This response rate is based on the headcount number of staff for which 1523 for the 2009/10 academic year, which enables a di direct
comparison with the response rate for 2007/08.
34
This response rate is based on the headcount number of students which is 13,869 for the 2009/10 academic year, which enables a
direct comparison with the response rate for 2007/08.
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