Sustainable transport and travel
UEL’s Docklands, Stratford, and USS campuses are well connected via the Elizabeth line, DLR, Underground, and Overground networks. We support sustainable travel by providing a complimentary intercampus shuttle for all students, staff, and visitors, while actively encouraging the use of London’s extensive public transport.
For essential personal vehicle journeys, our Docklands campus offers ample parking at the East Building and SportsDock, featuring integrated EV charging stations to support our transition to encourage low-carbon travel to the campus.
With a massive community of staff and students who travel to and from our campuses, we are committed to improving the travel behaviours of the UEL community by:
- reducing the need for travel,
- investing in sustainable means of transport,
- encouraging active travel (walking and cycling); and
- assisting the surrounding local communities by reducing traffic congestion and associated harmful impacts of pollutants
We have a Sustainable Travel and Transport Policy to address the key impacts of travel.
Campus shuttle bus
The free and accessible intercampus UEL shuttle bus service runs Monday to Friday, transporting students, staff and visitors from one campus to another.
Cycling
We support cycling and active travel across our campuses with secure facilities and practical support.
- Bike storage: Secure lockable bike sheds and open bike shelters are available across each campus, making it easier to cycle to UEL.
- Cycle users network: We run a dedicated UEL Cycle Users Network on Microsoft Teams. It helps cyclists stay informed, share advice, and access useful resources.
- Bike maintenance: A free bike maintenance kit is available on campus, with essential tools for basic repairs and adjustments.
- Improved signage: We are updating signage for bike sheds and racks to make them easier to find and use.
Join the UEL Cycle Users Network on Microsoft Teams or speak to campus services to find your nearest bike shed and maintenance kit.
Electric vehicle charging points
As part of our commitment to sustainable travel and our target to achieve net zero by 2030, UEL has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging points, which are now ready to use!
The EV chargers, installed by our partner Siemens, support the shift from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric, helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and lower our environmental impact. This initiative is also part of the Connected Campus programme and its drive towards wellness and sustainability.
- 27 electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed at Docklands campus: RDCS, East Building, Sports Dock and West Building. Please note that the chargers at West Building are not yet operational.
- View our sustainability map to see the locations of the EV chargers.
Commuting
The Sustainability Team runs regular surveys to understand how staff and students travel to and from campus. This helps us identify the types of transport people use (modal split) and calculate Scope 3 carbon emissions from commuting.
We publish the results in our Sustainability Annual Report, where they contribute to our overall carbon footprint analysis.
We are still developing our understanding of student commuting emissions and cannot yet fully quantify their scope.
Active Campus programme
Led by East London Sport, the Active Campus programme encourages walking, cycling and physical activity as part of everyday campus life.
A key feature is the Active Trail, a one-mile marked route around the Docklands campus. The trail supports wellbeing through activities such as guided walks and mindful movement sessions, while encouraging active travel and reducing reliance on short vehicle journeys.
The programme complements UEL's wider active travel infrastructure, including secure cycle storage and bike maintenance facilities.
Find out more about the Active Campus programme.
UEL Moves+
UEL Moves+ rewards students and staff for staying active and choosing sustainable travel options.
Users can earn points for walking and cycling on and off campus, which can be exchanged for rewards including campus food discounts, high street vouchers, varsity clothing and power banks.