Environment > 'Seven Steps to Sustainable Living' at Sussex - info, advice and guidance > Step 2 - Travelling Green

Environment

The Students' Union is committed to protecting the environment and is involved a variety of projects and activities to raise awareness about environmental issues and support sustainable initiatives.

For the last to years we have been awarded a Gold ‘Green Impact’ NUS award for our efforts to reduce our ecological impact.

We have an elected part-time Environmental & Ethical Officer, supported by the full time Operations Officer. The role of the Ethical & Environmental Officer is to liase between students, societies, the Union and the University on all things ethical and environmental, and to push forward new policies and ideas for sustainability. We also have four Ethical & Environmental Reps

► Step 2 - Travelling Green

Sustainable Living

Changing how you travel is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Getting a bike is a good place to start, but failing that, in Brighton we have our very own bus service run entirely on used cooking oil...

HOW?

Here are a few easy places to start:

Get walking and cycling
Join the Bike Train between Brighton and Falmer
Get free help fixing your bike at Cranks
Ride on the Big Lemon bus
Cut down your flights, especially short haul ones – they're easier to avoid, and most of the damage is done during take-off and landing
If you really need to drive, join a car share scheme and offer others a lift

WHERE?

Cycling shopping and services:

Cranks
A ‘do it yourself’ bike workshop in Brighton, run entirely by volunteers and not-for-profit (free/donations). They also sell second-hand bikes. Open Fridays & Saturdays 11-5pm. 22 Chapel Street, Brighton, www.cranks.org.uk

Grandad's bike shop
A friendly and good-value service - selling, fixing and servicing bikes. The Open Market, Marshalls Row, Brighton

G-Whizz Cycles
Second-hand bikes, repairs, servicing, accessories and parts – all at reasonable rates. Only open Thurs-Sat (10am-6pm) but services available other days if you phone ahead. 6A Brunswick Street East, Hove, www.g-whizzcycles.co.uk

Bike Train
A fun, visible mass ride between the Level and Falmer Campus, with music while you pedal!
Monday to Friday, mornings and afternoons (timetable on-line) - www.biketrain.org

Other Local Transport:

The Big Lemon Bus
A not-for-profit environmentally friendly bus service between Falmer and Old Steine/Churchill Square which runs on used cooking oil. Very affordable, friendly, frequent service.. You can buy weekly saver tickets from the Students’ Union shop, and a yearly membership pass on their website. Timetables are on-line and in Falmer House Reception - www.thebiglemon.com

University car-share scheme
The University has its own car-share scheme – by no means the greenest option, but if you want to drive to University then you can reduce your impact by making sure your cars always full - www.universitycarshare.com

Alternatives to flying:

Did you know..?
Air travel is the world’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases, growing by around 5% per year – these emissions are especially damaging as their impact is much stronger at high altitudes.

Seat61
This website tells you all you need to know about travelling by train or ferry anywhere in the world - www.seat61.com

Eurolines long-distance coach travel
Long-distance coaches are often the cheapest alternative to flying – Eurolines are a good low-budget option, with some cheap advance “funfare” deals. See www.eurolines.co.uk

>> Step 3 - Saving Energy