(cyclist image by amjad ali ali on Pixabay)
UBC & City of Vancouver Goals
- UBC CAP 2030 Targets and Actions: CommutingTarget: By 2030, achieve a 45% reduction in commuting emissions from 2010 levels.
- City of Vancouver: How we MoveHow we move around the city can influence health and well-being of individuals, communities, and our environment. It can point to social inequities and neighbourhoods that need more investment and care.
Taking Action
Here are some actions you can take to commute more sustainably:
Plan your commute
- Find your best commute based on time, cost, and carbon emissions using Commutifi - see if you can improve your commuter score!
Use active transportation
- Cycling. Check out UBC's Cycling Tips and Resources and On-Campus Cycling pages for information on bike routes, the UBC Bike Kitchen, and Bike Share programs. Also take part in Go by Bike Week from October 3-9, 2022!
- Walking. Familiarize yourself with UBC's pedestrian priority zones and Vancouver's many walking paths. If you feel unsafe walking on campus after dark, use AMS Safewalk.
Commute in a group
- Public transit. Activate the U-Pass on your Compass Card to take advantage of Vancouver and UBC's extensive bus and train system. Visit the UBC Transit and Translink websites to learn about your transit options and plan your routes.
- Carpooling. Download the Liftango app to coordinate carpooling with other UBC students, faculty, and staff. Drivers get a $2 HONK parking credit per daily trip!
- Car sharing. Want to carpool but don't own a car? Take advantage of one of the two car sharing programs available on campus, Modo and Evo.
- Campus shuttles. Once you are on campus there are multiple accessible mobility options, including the 68 and 70 buses and the Accessibility Shuttle.
Books: Introduction to Transportation and Sustainability
Moving People by Call Number: MAA Library: HE151 .C878 2010Publication Date: 2010This book provides an introduction to the problems of transport and the development of sustainable alternatives. Re-assessing the value and importance of non-motorized transport the author raises questions about mobility in the face of climate change and energy security while featuring original case studies from across the globe.
Door to Door by Call Number: David Lam Library: HE151 .H876 2016Publication Date: 2016Using interviews, data and deep exploration of the hidden world of ports, traffic control centers, and the research labs defining our transportation future, Humes breaks down the complex movements of humans, goods, and machines as never before. Transportation is one of the few big things we can change - our personal choices do have an impact.
An Introduction to Sustainable Transportation by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2017Cities around the globe struggle to create better and more equitable access to important destinations and services, all the while reducing the energy consumption and environmental impacts of mobility. This book illustrates a new planning paradigm for sustainable transportation through case studies from around the world.
Books: Urban Planning and Sustainable Transit
Transit Oriented Development and Sustainable Cities by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2019This book explores sustainable transport, urban regeneration and development in eight countries at different stages of development. It examines the role of transit oriented development in improving urban sustainability and providing different transport choices, exploring how these can be implemented in modern cities.
Bicycle Urbanism by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2018Illustrated using a range of case studies from the USA, Canada, and Australia, this volume provides a comprehensive overview of key topics of concern around cycling in the city including integrating bicycling into urban planning and design and the effects of bike use on health and environment.
Curbing Traffic by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2021The Bruntlett family packed up and moved from Vancouver, BC to Delft, Netherlands to experience the biking city as residents rather than as visitors. In this book they chronicle their experience, weaving personal stories with research and interviews with experts and Delft locals to help readers share the experience of living in a city designed for people.
Transport Beyond Oil by Call Number: MAA Library: HE206.2 .T6765 2013Publication Date: 2013The national oil addiction and all its consequences can be greatly reduced by changing the way we move. In this book, leading experts in transportation, planning, development, and policy show how to achieve this fundamental shift.
Sustainable Mass Transit by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2017This book looks closely at key functions of mass transit systems, including operations, maintenance, development, design, building and retrofitting. It examines the mitigation measures that reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts, including green infrastructure, materials conservation, ecological conservation and other sustainable initiatives.
Books: Equity and Access
Beyond Mobility by Call Number: MAA Library: HE148 .C47 2017Publication Date: 2017Cities across the globe have been designed with a primary goal of moving people around quickly, and the costs are becoming ever more apparent. This book is about prioritizing the needs and aspirations of people, which is as (if not more) important than expediting movement.
Disruptive Transport by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2018This book explores the impact that emerging transport technology is having on cities and their residents, and how policy is needed to shape the cities that we want to have in the future. It contains articles based on the most advanced empirical research, and case studies for how future transport can be harnessed to improve urban sustainability and justice.
Bike Lanes Are White Lanes by Call Number: MAA Library: HE5737 .H64 2016Publication Date: 2016In contrast to the demographics of bicyclists in the United States, advocacy for bicycling has focused mainly on the interests of white upwardly mobile bicyclists. In this study of three prominent U.S. cities, Hoffmann examines how the burgeoning popularity of urban bicycling is trailed by systemic issues of racism, classism, and displacement.
Advancing Equity Planning Now by Call Number: eBookPublication Date: 2019When planning becomes mere place-making for elites, urban and regional planners need to return to the fundamentals of their profession. Although they have not always done so, planners are well-positioned to advocate for greater equity in public policies that address the multiple objectives of urban planning, including transportation.
