Walking and cycling preferred modes of transport for Waterford students
Students want to see more investment in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in Waterford, was a key message at the South East Technological University’s (SETU) recent Climate and Biodiversity Week.
The programme of events at SETU Cork Road campus aimed to engage students and staff and inspire efforts throughout the University to combat climate change.
Waterford City and County Council’s Active Travel and Climate Action teams met with students throughout the week, and it was clear that many students prefer to walk or cycle to college as part of their daily journeys.
“We spoke to a range of students including those studying public health, engineering, business and exchange students about their preferred ways of getting to college daily. Walking is most convenient for students living in the city, as it’s cost effective and an easy way to increase their activity levels,” said Dylan White, Active Travel Communications and Behavioural Change Officer, Waterford City and County Council.
“Cycling is also popular, and the general feeling is that more students would take up cycling to college if the cycling infrastructure on key routes to the university’s campuses is improved.
“We also met students travelling from Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary who are opting to use a combination of public transport and walking or cycling to get to college,” added Mr White.
The Walking and Cycling Index was published earlier this year and found that every day those who walk and cycle take nearly 16,000 cars off the road in the Waterford Metropolitan Area. Walking and cycling instead of driving in the Waterford Metropolitan Area save on greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 61,300 flights from Dublin Airport to London Heathrow Airport annually.
Active Travel projects are funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Programme and are managed and delivered at a local level by Waterford City and County Council. Recent public consultations have been held in Lismore Park and St John’s Park respectively, to allow the public feed into proposed Active Travel projects in these areas of Waterford City.
Other activities during Climate and Biodiversity Week included local suppliers showcasing energy-efficient devices. These displays showed renewable energy options for the home, including solar PV panels and solar lighting, providing attendees with insights into more sustainable living.
Cian Gill, Climate Action Officer, Waterford City and County Council said, “It was interesting that many students we met expressed an interest in careers within the renewable energy industry, so for them, it was a chance to talk to organisations operating in that industry today and get an idea of what the career is like, and what might be on offer in the near future,”
There was also a focus on fashion and environmental impacts of a throw-away clothing culture. There was a clothes swap event, alongside a sewing workshop that demonstrated how to repair and upcycle garments rather than discarding them. These activities encouraged participants to rethink their approach to clothing consumption and waste.
Mícheál Ó Cadhla, Community Climate Change Officer at Waterford City and County Council added, “At a time when all organisations need to be showing leadership on sustainability and climate action, it was great to see the range of activities across SETU, especially on the Cork Road Campus in Waterford. There is clearly a strong interest from the student body in the practical steps which they can take to tackle climate change.”
