Duke University's Alternative Transportation Future

Abstract

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Duke University’s emissions from commuting were increasing. To address this trend, Sustainable Duke has been looking to increase the use of alternative transportation by expanding usage of existing services that support these modes. This study examines the knowledge and barriers to use of alternative modes among graduate students. A survey was administered to assess these concerns. The study also examines the academic literature on alternative transportation and environmental psychology and compiles interview responses from peer universities. The study found students to be largely unaware of available alternative transportation options and services. Barriers relating to time, safety, and convenience were identified in both the survey and the existing literature. The data also suggest a strong preference for receiving information on transportation services via student-wide emails. These results will be used to develop informational materials designed to address barriers to alternative transportation use at Duke. Future work will be needed to judge the efficacy of and update these materials moving forward.