Report Shows Stunning Change from SOVs to Alternative Transportation at UC San Diego

More Than Half of Commuters Leave Cars Behind in Major ‘Green’ Move

April 29, 2008

By Pat JaCoby

More than half of regular commuters to the University of California, San Diego campus and the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest are taking alternative forms of transportation – as opposed to single occupant vehicles (SOV) – according to a recent report from the UC San Diego Department of Transportation and Parking Services (TPS).

The report notes that 51% of commuters to the La Jolla campus and 54% of commuters to the Hillcrest location reach their destinations via carpool, vanpool, bus, shuttle, motorcycle, bicycle, or as pedestrians. Overall, the percentage of commuters using single occupant vehicles to reach the La Jolla campus has dropped from 66% in 2001 to 49% in 2008. In the past year alone, it has dropped from 54% to 49%.

“I have never heard of a 5% change in behavior in a year,” says Brian d’Autremont, TPS director. “This is a win-win situation for the region. Chancellor Fox set an ambitious goal for us in 2007, but our progress has been fantastic. The support of the University community has helped UC San Diego set a standard for sustainability. Our programs help people afford to commute, help the environment, and cut down on traffic.”

Since 1990, TPS has conducted an annual survey of campus commuters, counting all transportation – “everything that moves” – entering and exiting the campus.

“We are very happy that an increasing number of UC San Diego commuters are using alternative transportation to get to and from campus,” says Sam Corbett, TPS assistant director. “We have been making a concerted effort as part of our commitment to sustainability to provide the campus with many commute options – including public transportation, campus shuttle routes, carpooling, vanpooling, and bicycling.”

Highlights of the recent survey include:

• SOV commuters dropped from 54% in 2007 to 49% in 2008.
• Carpooling increased from 22% in 2007 to 25% in 2008.
• Transit (bus) use increased from 1,295 riders in 2006 to 3,426 riders in 2008, a 165% increase.
• Campus shuttle riders increased from 4,645 in 2007 to 5,163 in 2008, an 11% increase.
• Bicycling increased from 820 cyclists in 2007 to 1,219 in 2008, a 52% increase.
• Overall, there was a 10% increase in the number of people entering the UC San Diego campus in 2008 (50,908) as compared to 2007 (46,249).

For further information on the UC San Diego TPS report, contact Corbett at (619) 543-7499 or scorbett@ucsd.edu.

Media Contact:
Pat JaCoby 858-534-7404
Sam Corbett 619-543-7499