Memorial University (St. John’s campus)
Transportation and Parking Survey 2010
Results at a Glance
General Information
This report summarizes the results of the Memorial University Transportation and Parking Surveys. Two surveys (one
for faculty and staff including employees of separately incorporated entities and one for students) were administered
by the Sustainability Office of Memorial University in April 2010. The purpose of the survey was to gather
information on transportation practices and issues related to the St. John’s campus.
Separate surveys were developed for staff/faculty and students because there are different transportation issues facing
these groups (for example, faculty and staff are guaranteed parking permits if requested and students must enter a
lottery for parking permits). Both surveys were available online through a link to Survey Monkey on the Memorial
University website (www.mun.ca). Invitations to participate were circulated to university employees through the
employee Newsline listserv and to students through the student listserv. Paper copies were distributed to Facilities
Management staff without regular access to computers.
A total of 716 people responded to the faculty and staff survey and 2,452 to the student survey.
This report provides a comparison of the results for several questions that were asked on both surveys. These results
were obtained from Survey Monkey and analysed and presented in consultation with the Centre for Institutional
Analysis and Planning of Memorial University.
Complete results for the two surveys are available from the Sustainability Office.
For more information:
Sustainability Office
[email protected]
864-2637
www.mun.ca/sustain
1
Summary of Results


For both staff/faculty and students, the majority of respondents come to campus by vehicle. In non-winter
months, there is a small decrease in per cent arriving by vehicle, and a slight increase in walking and cycling.
A higher percentage of students use the bus and walk than do staff/faculty.
Staff/Faculty: What method of transportation do you use MOST in...
100
90
89.76
84.22
80
Percent
70
Winter
N = 713
60
50
NonWinter
N = 710
40
30
20
7.01
10
10
2.24 1.55
0
Vehicle
Walk
Bus
0.56
3.94
Bike
Note: Vehicle includes driving, carpooling and drop off
Students: What method of transportation do you use MOST in...
100
90
80
Percent
70
73.75
67.79
Winter
N = 2,289
60
50
40
30
19.43
20
12.41
10
13.15
NonWinter
N = 2,285
9.45
0.22
0
Vehicle
Walk
Bus
3.28
Bike
Note: Vehicle includes driving, carpooling and drop off
2

Over 54 per cent of staff/faculty respondents are serviced by public transportation at their residence; while 67
per cent of students responded that their residence is serviced by public transportation.
Percent
Does public transportation service the residence from which you
normally travel to and from campus?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
66.59
54.39
Yes
37.25
27.19
8.36
Staff/Faculty
N = 706
No
6.22
Student
N = 2,284
3

For respondents who answered that public transportation services their residence:
o Seventy-nine per cent of staff/faculty respondents never take public transportation to get to campus,
and half of the student respondents never do.
o Only four per cent of staff/faculty respondents use public transportation all or most of the time while
over 17 per cent of student respondents do.
Do you ever use public transportation to get to campus?
100
90
79.27
80
Percent
70
60
50.56
50
All or most of the time
40
Some of the Time
32.11
30
10
Never
17.33
16.58
20
4.15
0
Staff/Faculty
Student
N = 386

N = 1,523
For those not serviced by public transportation, more than 22 per cent of staff/faculty respondents and 37
per cent of students said they would use public transportation if it were available.
Would you use public transportation regularly if it were available in your area
(Metrobus or another form)?
50
45
38.13
40
36.91
32.59
35
Percent
40
30.5
30
25
21.88
Yes
20
Maybe
15
No
10
5
0
Staff/Faculty
N = 320
Student
N = 764
4

The most important reason chosen by staff/faculty respondents for not taking public transportation is that they
need their car for transporting other members of their household; for students, the most important reason was
that public transportation takes too much time. The top four responses are shown below.
Staff/Faculty: What is the MOST IMPORTANT reason you do not or would not
use public transportation MORE OFTEN/AT ALL.
I need my car to take other
members of my household
to/from work/school
16.02
Taking public
transportation takes too
much time
12.78
I take my car because I like
to make my own schedule
Staff / Faculty
N = 618
10.84
Public transportation does
not run close enough to my
home
10.19
0
10
20
Percent
30
40
Student: What is the MOST IMPORTANT reason you do not or would not use
public transportation MORE OFTEN/AT ALL.
Taking public
transportation takes too
much time
17.36
I take my car because I like
to make my own schedule
Student
N = 1,849
14.17
I like to walk to campus
10.06
Public transportation
service is not frequent
enough
8.49
0
10
20
Percent
30
40
5


The majority of drivers responded that they are alone when they arrive at the campus (almost 72 per cent for
staff/faculty and 57 per cent for students).
Twenty-eight per cent of staff/faculty respondents who drive to campus said that they are driving at least one
other person to campus; almost 43 per cent of student respondents who drive to campus said that they are
driving at least one other person to campus.
When you are the driver of a vehicle traveling to campus, how many
passengers (including yourself) are in the car also traveling to campus?
100
90
80
71.77
Percent
70
1
57.12
60
2
50
40
30
4
23.41
5
20
10
0
3
33.58
2.87 1.31 0.68
Staff/Faculty
N = 457
7.68
0
1.33 0.3 0.07
More than 5
Student
N = 1,355
6

Nearly 61 per cent of staff/faculty and about 36 per cent of students who responded that they are drivers to
campus are not willing to carpool. Student respondents were more willing to carpool then were staff/faculty.
Although only about 11 per cent of staff/faculty and 12 per cent of students who are drivers to campus
responded that they are already carpooling, a higher percentage (28 per cent and 43 per cent for staff/faculty
and students, respectively) responded that they drive at least one other person to campus (see previous chart).
Drivers: Would you being willing to carpool?
100
90
80
70
Percent

60.78
60
51.27
50
40
30
Yes
36.38
No
28.51
Already carpool
20
12.39
10.78
10
0
Staff/Faculty
N = 456
Student
N = 1,367
7



For staff/faculty drivers who arrive alone on campus, 25 per cent said they arrive alone because they take
family members to school/work.
The most important reason for student respondents to travel alone to campus was because of their schedule not
being the same each day.
Nineteen per cent of student respondents who arrive alone on campus say they don’t know anyone to carpool
with.
Student: Please indicate the Most Important reason why you travel alone
(Top 3)
My schedule does not
allow me to leave at the
same time each day
22.03
Student
N = 767
I don't know anyone to
carpool with
19.3
I need my vehicle to go
to/from work
before/after class
16.56
0
10
20
Percent
30
40
8

Most staff/faculty and student respondents said that they never bike to campus.
Do you bike to campus?
100
87.06
90
85.35
80
Percent
70
60
50
Always (or almost always)
40
Sometimes
30
20
10
Never
13.21
11.67
1.44
1.27
0
Student
Staff/Faculty
N = 711


N = 2,287
Over half of the staff/faculty and the student respondents who never bike to campus said that nothing would
persuade them to bike to campus.
Over 26 per cent of students and about 20 per cent of staff/faculty who responded that they never bike to
campus said that designated bike routes would persuade them to bike to campus.
What would persuade those answering "Never" to "Do you bike to campus?"
50.15
Nothing would persuade
me to bike to campus
66.4
Students
N = 1,952
Staff / Faculty
N = 619
26.54
Designated bicycle routes
off campus
19.87
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
100
9

Almost 72 per cent of staff/faculty and 54 per cent of students said that they never walk to campus.
Do you walk to campus?
100
90
80
71.87
Percent
70
60
53.85
50
Always (or almost always)
40
31.54
30
21.1
20
10
Sometimes
Never
14.61
7.03
0
Staff/Faculty
N = 711
Student
N = 2,286
10

By far the most common reason for not walking to campus is that it is too far.
STUDENT: Those answering "Sometimes" or "Never" to "Do you walk to
campus?", Top 3 reasons for not walking to campus
It is too far
63.47
The sidewalks are covered
with snow and ice in the
winter
6.35
The weather is unpredictable
5.42
0
Student
N = 1,938
20
40
Percent
60
80
100
11

A very high percentage of staff/faculty and students responded that the university should be involved
in encouraging sustainable transportation alternatives for its students, staff and faculty.
Percent
Do you think the university should be involved in encouraging sustainable
transportation alternatives for its students, faculty, and staff?
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
90.22
89.15
Yes
No
9.78
Staff/Faculty
N = 675
10.85
Student
N = 2,341
12

Both staff/faculty and students place “not enough parking” as the top concern with over half of
students stating it is their most important concern.
STAFF/FACULTY: What transportation issue related to travel to campus
concerns you the MOST?
Not enough parking
30.17
There are not enough public
transportation options
available to me
13.84
The public transportation
that is available is not
convenient
13.22
0
20
Staff / Faculty
N = 643
40
Percent
60
80
STUDENT: What transportation issue related to travel to campus concerns you
the MOST?
54
Not enough parking
The public transportation
that is available is not
convenient
Student
N = 2,311
7.88
Public transportation is too
expensive
6.1
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
13

Carpooling was by far the most popular response for staff/faculty and students when respondents
were asked what they would do if they had to reduce car use for travel to campus.
STAFF/FACULTY: If you had to reduce car use for travel to campus, choose the
FIRST solution you would explore. (Top 3 responses)
Carpool (with at least one
other person)
34.45
Walk
Staff / Faculty
N = 447
13.65
Public transportation-direct
routes
13.2
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
STUDENT: If you had to reduce car use for travel to campus, choose the FIRST
solution you would explore. (Top 3 responses)
Carpool (with at least one
other person
42.95
Student
N = 1,327
12.58
Walk
Public transportation-direct
routes
11.38
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
14


Encourage carpooling was the top response for both staff/faculty and students when asked to consider
how to discourage people from travelling to campus by vehicle.
Measures related to increasing cost of parking and decreasing parking spaces were the least popular
responses for both staff/faculty and students.
STAFF/FACULTY: What measures do you think the university should consider
to discourage people from travelling to campus by vehicle? (Top 3, Bottom 3)
Encourage carpooling (eg. those who
carpool may choose from designated…
58.8
Create a shuttle service from outlying areas
so people can park their cars in a lot not…
56
Encourage expansion of the public
transportation direct route system that…
Increase parking permit fees
Staff / Faculty
N = 716
55.31
11.03
Increase parking meter fees
6.15
Decrease parking spaces
4.75
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
15
STUDENT: What measures do you think the university should consider
to discourage people from travelling to campus by vehicle? (Top
3, Bottom 3)
Encourage carpooling (eg. those who
carpool may choose from designated
parking spaces)
51.96
Create a shuttle service from outlying areas
so people can park their cars in a lot…
48.94
Encourage expansion of the public
transportation direct route system that
travels in a straight line…
Student
N = 2,452
45.76
Increase parking permit fees
8.48
Increase parking meter fees
6.4
Decrease parking spaces
5.79
0
20
40
Percent
60
80
16
Respondent Profile
Staff /Faculty Survey Respondents
Gender
Male
Percentage of
Respondents
33.3%
N=660
Female
66.7%
Age Range
20 or under
0.0%
N=660
21-30
9.4%
31-40
22.1%
41-50
36.1%
51-60
25.8%
61 and over
6.7%
Status
Faculty
19.3%
N=714
Staff
77.6%
SIE*
3.1%
Demographics
*SIE stands for separately incorporated entity.
Student Survey Respondents
Demographics
Gender
Male
Percentage of
Respondents
35.2%
N=2,321
Female
64.8%
Age Range
20 or under
29.9%
N=2,323
21-25
48.7%
26-30
12.2%
31-35
4.5%
36-40
2.2%
41 and over
2.5%
Status
PT* undergrad
5.6%
N=2,447
FT* undergrad
76.1%
PT grad
3.4%
FT grad
12.9%
Other
2.0%
* PT is part time and FT is full time
17