Purdue continues to provide sustainable alternate transportation options, meets increased bicycle infrastructure goal

Several initiatives on the West Lafayette campus help promote alternative transportation. From bus routes and electric scooters to improved bicycle infrastructure, there are several sustainable options for students, faculty, staff and visitors to utilize while traveling to, from and through campus.

For 10-plus years, the university has partnered with CityBus on an “unlimited access” agreement. The agreement provides free access to all bus routes for anyone with a Purdue ID. Additionally, many of the buses within the CityBus fleet are hybrid diesel-electric buses or compressed natural gas buses, thus providing the campus community with a sustainable option for public transportation.

More recently, Purdue partnered with Veo, a micromobility company, to bring shared electric scooters and bicycles to campus. Since deploying on the West Lafayette campus in March, over 37,300 trips have been taken and over 50,000 miles have been traveled on Veo scooters. Electric or motor-powered vehicles (EMPVs), such as Veo’s scooters, and bikes are considered micromobility options and provide a convenient, more sustainable mode of transportation. Users should wear a helmet and must follow all state, county, city, and Purdue rules and regulations. EMPVs are covered in section 5 of the regulations.

While Purdue has partnerships in place to provide alternate transportation options, the university is also committed to making improvements on campus. As part of the 2020 Physical Facilities Sustainability Master Plan, the university has a goal to double bicycle infrastructure by fiscal year 2025 from a FY14 baseline, adding 6.75 miles of bicycle infrastructure. As of fiscal year 2022, the university surpassed this goal and also improved the quality of nearly 1.5 miles of bicycle infrastructure. Some examples include converting Third Street to a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly corridor and the addition of a multiuse path along Newman Road.

“We are excited to have met our goal to increase bicycle infrastructure across campus,” said Tony Gillund, director of Sustainability. “Through this goal, we hope to increase bicycle use and enhance safety by providing a clear separation of our bicyclists from vehicles.”

The campus community is encouraged to consider alternate transportation while living on or near, working at and visiting Purdue. CityBus maps and schedules are available on the website. Also, real-time GPS tracking is available through the CityBus Where Is the Bus? webpage or MyCityBus mobile app. More information about Veo is available on its website, including instructions for how to download and use the app.

Sustainability is one of the three departments that make up Campus Planning, Architecture and Sustainability, which is a part of the Administrative Operations organization. Administrative Operations supports the university through safe, reliable and transformative services. Promoting alternate transportation with sustainable options and enhancing safety efforts are just a few ways the organization continues to power Purdue.