Mobility is responsible for more than 80% of this university’s CO2 emissions. This is why Erasmus University Rotterdam works hard to make the mobility of her employees and students more sustainable. EUR encourages employees and students, by means of a sustainable mobility policy, to make conscious, informed and preferably sustainable transportation choices, such as public transport and bicycle.
Sustainable travel policy
Mobility accounts for a large part of the total CO2 footprint. Of all types of transport, business travel by plane, next to commuting, has the largest percentage of CO2 emissions in the EUR's footprint. The university takes a critical look at its own activities, behavior and applies CO2 compensation where possible.
To contribute to sustainable mobility and to prevent and reduce CO2 emissions, the Executive Board has adopted an adjusted travel policy for business trips as of 1 January 2022. In addition, EUR has signed the Rotterdam Climate Accord. This makes the university a partner of the Climate Alliance for Sustainable Mobility, with a target of 50% less CO2 emissions from passenger transport in 2030 compared to 2016.
Travel policy for business trips
The basic principle of EUR travel policy is that travel is done in a sustainable and responsible way. That doesn't always mean the cheapest way. The sustainable travel policy concerns travel within Europe and long-distance business trips outside Europe and involves:
- One travel by train instead of the plane for business trips less than 700 kilometers and with a travel time up to 8 hours from Rotterdam Central.
- If the destination is further than 700 km or the journey takes longer than 8 hours, you have the ability to choose whereby travelling by train is preferred.
- If one opts for travelling by plane, then direct flights where possible, unless the price difference is too large (1.5 x ticket price) and where compensation of CO2 emissions is always chosen.
How to encourage sustainable commuting
The following measures and opportunities are currently in place to make sustainable commuting attractive.
- Free personal travel advice: employees can get customised advice on various transport modes and the corresponding costs (car, public transportation, bicycle or combination).
- Electric vehicle charging points in the bicycle shed for e-bike or e-scooter.
- Bicycle repair shop: there is a bicycle repair shop on campus where students and employees can go for repairs and maintenance or purchase an (e-)bike.
- Bicycle allowance: employees can receive an allowance for the purchase of a bicycle, e-bike or e-scooter once every five years.
- There are three stands on campus for electric shared scooters of Felyx. Through the Felyx app, you can reserve and activate an e-scooter.
- An attractive public transport scheme: employees get up to € 3.000 (based on full-time employment) reimbursed.
- A public transport charging point on campus.
- ‘Experience the public transport’: employees can try public transport for a one month period for free.
- 22 electric charging points for electric cars (Burg. Oudlaan: 6, Kralingse Zoom: 6, and in the middle of the EUR car park: 10).
- Paid parking, current rates can be found here.
