Ready to make your commute more sustainable? We’ve put together some top tips to help you travel smarter and greener, including options for those who drive.
Public Transport
All campuses have great public transport links, and you can download the free Translink Journey Planner App to organise your journeys in advance.
In Belfast, the U2 bus starts on Botanic Avenue and stops at Great Victoria Street, Belfast Campus, and Jordanstown. York Street Train Station is just a short walk from campus, and the new Belfast Grand Central Station has brought increases train and bus services to the city centre!
In Derry~Londonderry, Foyle Street Bus Centre operates local bus services to and from the suburbs. If you’ve travelled into the city by train, take the free bus from the train station to the Bus Centre. From there, you can walk or hop on a bus to campus.
In Coleraine, we have our very own train station, so getting there could not be easier!
Students can get a FREE yLink smartcard which gives you 50% off Translink bus and rail travel and up to 50% off Enterprise for up to 8 years!
Publilc transport
Cycling
Cycling is sustainable, cheap, and good for you. The free cycle hubs on each campus include safe cycle parking, showers, and locker facilities, so it’s never been easier to cycle to Uni. To find out more about the cycle hubs and to get access, check out the university cycling details.
In Belfast, the Belfast Bikes scheme has a docking station at the Belfast Campus which is one of 49 docking stations located across the city centre.
These public hire bikes provide a low cost, convenient way to travel about. Register as a casual user or annual subscriber and the first 30 minutes of each trip is free!
Cycling
Car Sharing
Did you know that you can save over £1,000 a year through car sharing?
Car sharing is when two or more people travel together by car for all or part of a trip. The passengers usually make a contribution towards the driver’s fuel costs.
Car sharing may be formal, using an organised car share scheme, or informal – for example, friends or flatmates travelling to Uni together.
Why car share?
Car sharing has many benefits for your wallet, environment, and even your social life
- Reduced fuel costs and parking fees
- Increased personal safety - company when you walk to and from the car park
- Better air quality and lower carbon emissions from reduced traffic fumes
- Less traffic and shorter journeys due to fewer cars being on the road
- A better chance of finding a parking space, since fewer cars means more spaces.
- Journeys being more enjoyable and fun due to having company!
How to car share
There are a number of easy ways to car share.
- For those with a UU parking permit, you can sign up to the Car Park Sharing Scheme.
- You could set up an informal arrangement with friends or classmates
- Using website such as Liftshare.
Car sharing tips
- Always confirm the time and date of your car share journey before the actual journey takes place, as well the fuel contribution costs.
- Exchange contact details with your car share in case there are any issues.
- Don’t smoke in somebody else’s car without asking their permission first.
- If you're eating in someone else's car, please be mindful and keep it clean.
- Don’t be late.
- Always consider your personal safety when agreeing to a car share arrangement
Car Sharing
Park and Share or Park and Ride
There are dedicated 'Park and Share' and 'Park and Ride' car parks at key road junctions throughout Northern Ireland. These can act as meeting points for car sharers, or for anyone doing part of their journey on public transport.
Choosing to Park and Ride or Park and Share reduces traffic in urban areas, which in turn reduces emissions!
View the full list of Park and Ride or Park Share locations in NI to find the best one for your Uni commute.
Other Parking Spots
Park and Ride spots are usually very popular and sometimes, finding a parking spot might not be possible.
If this is the case, it’s important to park mindfully elsewhere. There are number of affordable options to help you find parking that’s not on a residential street.
- Use Parkopedia to find your nearest parking locations, including opening times and parking costs.
- Use a parking app such as JustPark to reserve parking near your campus.
- Belfast City Council has the full list of car parks in Belfast on their website, while NI Direct has info on on-street parking areas (see Zone C for pricing).
- If you’re in Derry~Londonderry, visit the Derry City & Strabane District Council website for parking spots.
Car parking locations
