Challenges of Promoting Sustainable Mobility on University Campuses: The Case of Eastern Mediterranean University

Abstract

Universities have the extraordinary ability to generate awareness regarding all aspects of sustainability in communities. To be successful, they must first adopt and model sustainable concepts within their own campuses. Transportation is one of the most affective sectors on the level of sustainability on university campuses. In recent decades, numerous universities around the world have begun encouraging usage of active modes of transportation through various strategies. This research has a multi-faceted approach to researching proven strategies, sampling local conditions, and making context-driven recommendations. The literature review outlines the most effective strategies related to Transportation Demand Management (TDM) for promoting usage of active modes of transportation inside university campuses. After that, the condition of existing facilities and strategies as well as commuters’ propensities related to active modes of transportation in the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) campus are evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The results include a set of recommendations and a framework for administrating, implementing, and enhancing a sustainable transportation system thereby increasing the commuter’s use of sustainable active modes of transportation to, from, and within the university campus.

Determinative Variables Toward Promoting Use of Active Modes of Transportation: Enhancing Level of Sustainable Mobility in Communities

“…All travel related to walking, cycling, or the use of public transportation (PT) systems-because reaching a transit stop commonly involves walking or cycling-are defined as active transportation (Dehghanmongabadi & Hoşkara, 2018;Genter et al, 2008;James et al, 1999;Murray, 2001). Bassett et al (2008), Genter et al (2008), and Dehghanmongabadi and Hoşkara (2018) highlight that active modes of transportation work best when there are strong synergies and sufficient support between them (Figure 1).…”

“…Of the transportation modes, walking is the best means of enhancing interaction and cognition by providing enjoyable and real experiences. Besides, walking can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to motorized travel inside urban settlements (Dehghanmongabadi & Hoşkara, 2018;Litman, 2003b;Millward et al, 2013).…”

“…The definition of sustainable development is accepted globally as an approach that must pay attention to the environmental, economic, and social needs of present generations while also considering the ability of later generations to meet their own needs (Bayramoğlu, 2012;Dehghanmongabadi & Hoşkara, 2018;Haghshenas & Vaziri, 2012).…”

Parameters analysis for a sustainable management of solid waste in university buildings

“…The importance of educational institutions as deliverers of "green" virtuous behaviours is demonstrated by the recent growing interest in university campuses and in their research for sustainable strategies in terms of energy efficiency [1,2], mobility [3][4][5], waste management [6][7][8][9] and, in general, carbon footprint [10][11]. The recent introduction of green university rankings is expected to stimulate further efforts in this field [12][13][14].…”

Sustainable Development and Higher Education: Acting with a Purpose

“…At the case-specific level, Dehghanmongabadi et al [12] outlines the challenges of transportation demanded management at Eastern Mediterranena University. Their case example is insightful for universities that are seeking to develop comprehensive transportation systems on university campuses in a move away from expanded parking.…”