Fill out the Campus Commute Survey between October 20-31, 2025 for a chance to win:

• A $500 grocery store gift certificate, or
• One of ten $50 food vouchers for Degrees, Campo or Starbucks.

Results of the Campus Commute Survey inform strategic planning around transportation related infrastructure, education and peer-based programs in support of climate action, sustainability and wellness goals.

This year’s Campus Commute Survey aims to better capture our fall travel patterns, along with our typical year-round transportation needs.

Take the 2025 Campus Commute Survey now.

You can also complete the Campus Commute Survey in-person at an upcoming survey lounge. Grab a free cookie or muffin, and complete your survey in one of the following locations:

• Drake Centre, Monday, October 20, 11AM – 1PM
• Dafoe Library, Wednesday, October 22, 11AM – 1PM
• Brodie Atrium, Bannatyne campus, Thursday, October 23, 11AM – 1PM
• UMSU University Centre, Thursday, October 30, 11AM – 1PM

This survey is approved by the UM Survey Review Committee and managed by the Green Action Centre, and all responses are completely confidential. Only aggregated results are reported back to the University.

The survey is organized biennially by the Office of Sustainability. Previous surveys took place in 2023, 2020, 2018 and 2016 (inaugural).

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the Office of Sustainability at sustainability[at]umanitoba.ca.

When transit flows, a neighbourhood thrives.

When buses are frequent, arrive on time and run into the night, it means more kids make it to after-school activities, more students can get to class on time, more shift workers can get home safely late at night and more commuters can leave their vehicles at home.

The end result is robust movement throughout a community, according to Orly Linovski, an urban planning professor at the University of Manitoba.

That was the vision Winnipeg Transit promised as it rolled out its all-new Primary Transit Network earlier this summer.

The new routes and redistribution of bus stops implemented as part of the transit-system overhaul were intended to deliver faster and more reliable service to better serve all corners of a growing city.

A Free Press/Narwhal analysis of the city’s transit system before and after the June 29 transition date reveals a different story.

Read the full article here

“These events align with UM’s Climate Action Plan commitments, which focus on cutting our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050,” says Whitney Crooks, Climate Action Plan project manager with the Office of Sustainability. “Commuting is the second largest source of emissions at the university, and one of our goals under the Transportation pillar is to shift commute modes.”  

Register today for the Commuter Challenge!  

Participants are encouraged to register online, track their kilometers of sustainable transportation modes such as carpooling, biking, walking, taking public transit or working from home, and enter to win prizes.  If you already commute using one of these methods, you can still register to participate.  

If you are looking for someone to carpool with, check out the UM-specific carpool matching site at Go Manitoba which can help you find someone else interested in carpooling to UM. 

Bike to Work Day 

Tune up your bike and grab a sturdy U-lock for Bike to Work Day, coordinated by Bike Week Winnipeg. 

• What: UM Bike to Work Day pit stops
• When: Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 – 9 AM  
• Where: Southwest Rapid Transit Path, Markham Rd @ University Cres; and Kings Drive entrance, Freedman Cres @ Kings Dr 

Stop by two UM pit stops, hosted by the Office of Sustainability, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and UMCycle Bike Kiosk, for a chance to win prizes and grab some snacks. The pit stops are a great way to connect with other bike commuters and celebrate active modes of transportation. 

 Secure bike parking 

Whether you are taking part in Bike to Work Day or want to ride your bike during the Commuter Challenge, UM has secure bike parking on both campuses, and is expanding those options to help remove barriers to cycling, says Crooks.   

There is a new bike cage on the Bannatyne campus. Together with the existing Bannatyne bike cage, there is now a capacity for about 120 bikes on that campus.  

The bike cage at the Fort Garry campus parkade can accommodate between 80 to 100 bikes. Plus, a new bike cage is opening soon at the Active Living Centre that will accommodate 30 more bikes.  

If you have questions, please contact the office of sustainability at sustainability@umanitoba.ca. 

According to University of Manitoba agricultural economist Derek Brewin, the 2018 “tweak” to the rate cap on grain has led to good service as well as increased investments by railways and elevator companies.

“The farmer is getting fairly well served,” said Brewin in an interview following his presentation entitled Grain Rail Transportation: Are We On The Right Track?

Read more

“So many times now, there’s no marking of the crossing, no celebration of the crossing, no recognition that there’s something underneath the bridge, especially the rivers.”

That’s an especially important issue in Winnipeg. Our rivers “should be celebrated, not ignored,” Milgrom says.

Read more

Here’s how UM’s goals are being accomplished, along with plans for a cleaner and greener transportation future for UM students, faculty and staff.

Climate Action Plan

The UM Climate Action Plan (CAP) has guided UM’s transition towards ZEVs. The CAP aims to achieve a 50 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

To achieve these goals, the following targets have been created, specific to the transition of UM-owned vehicles from internal combustion engines to ZEVs:

• By 2030, 100% of all new, light-duty fleet vehicles and equipment are electric
• By 2035, all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment are electric
• By 2050, 100% of the University fleet and equipment are emissions-free

EV charging

The first steps taken to improve UM’s ZEV infrastructure were achieved thanks to a provincial grant from the Conservation and Climate Fund. UM installed six Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in H-lot, ALC-lot and B-lot for student, faculty, staff and visitor use, along with two fleet chargers near the Physical Plant building and a full row of Level 1 charging plugs in Q-lot.

A federal grant, offered through Eco-West, matched with contributions from the UM climate action fund, supported the installation of four Level 2 chargers in the Bannatyne campus parkade in Fall 2023.

One of six public charging stations at Fort Garry campus

ZEV fleet transition

In 2022-23, the Facilities Department traded in several of their gas-powered fleet vehicles for three new electric Ford Transit cargo vans. In March 2023, the University of Manitoba was successful in earning a Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiatives grant through Natural Resources Canada to support the expansion of ZEV use at UM.

The Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Operations and Maintenance and AVP (Administration), has been working to better understand our fleet needs and build awareness of ZEV options. Telematics equipment has now been installed in 130 UM-owned vehicles to gather accurate vehicle-level data on travel distance, fuel consumption, idle times and vehicle run times, with the goal of developing an EV transition plan as part of the UM’s CAP. By better understanding how the UM fleet is used, a more successful and seamless transition to ZEVs can be achieved.

Campus Commute Survey

For the first time this year, respondents answering the Campus Commute Survey were asked about their interest in and concerns regarding electric vehicles. At the time of the survey in January 2023, 4% of respondents currently owned an electric vehicle, while 19% of individuals planned to buy one in the next 1-5 years.

When asked, “What interests you most about electric vehicles?” 40% of respondents answered with doing their part to take climate action, 30% with the cost savings potential and 8% with reduced maintenance requirements & fees. Respondents showed interest in learning more about the performance of EVs in winter months, charging capacity in winter months, home charging options, driving range, vehicle options available, where to park and charge EVs on campus and how the University is moving towards a zero-emissions fleet.

Results from campus commute survey on likelihood to buy an electric vehicle

Future of ZEVs at UM

Transitioning UM’s fleet vehicles to ZEVs and improving electric vehicle infrastructure on UM campuses takes time and resources. Alongside this physical transformation, UM will be hosting community education sessions through the Office of Sustainability. These educational sessions will focus on addressing questions related to electric vehicles arising in the 2023 campus commute survey.

Special departmental presentations will take place in early 2024 for faculties and units that currently operate fleet vehicles. Social media will continue to be used to generate awareness and knowledge of ZEVs within the UM community.

Stay up to date with all UM ZEV-related information through the Office of Sustainability’s Instagram and monthly newsletter. 

Why Electric?

In 2021, the UM conducted a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment for the forthcoming Climate Action Plan. Of the data that was collected, the findings showed that campus fleet vehicles account for 2% of the total 57,000 tonnes of GHG emissions produced every year. The transition to electric vehicles starting now, will bring the GHGs emitted from university-owned vehicles down to zero.

This transition also aligns with the announcement that the Government of Canada made in June, establishing a mandatory target for all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sales to be zero-emission by 2035. This announcement accelerates Canada’s previous goal of 100 percent sales by 2040.

“This is an important step in the right direction, as we continue to work to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions for our institution” says Steve Cumpsty, director, operations and maintenance.

“We are very pleased to announce this shift to low and zero-emission vehicles as we work together to reach our climate action plan goals,” adds Raman Dhaliwal, Associate Vice-President (Administration).

October is GoTober at GoManitoba, and this year we invite the UM community to try something new and take the pledge to convert Just One Trip each week to a more sustainable mode, like carpooling, transit, biking or walking. Take the Just One Trip pledge, and you will be provided with helpful tips and entered to win prizes throughout October.

GoManitoba’s goal is to bring sustainable, healthy commuting options to all Manitobans. This free app and online tool are designed to facilitate carpools, identify public transit routes, and match bike and walk mentors. It offers a secure way to find your best commuting options. Simply enter your home and work locations (only your general neighbourhood will be shared with other users, not your actual location) and see all of your commuting options in one place.

UM is one of GoManitoba’s founding partners. By signing in as a student, staff or faculty, GoManitoba will automatically connect you with the rest of the campus community and provide matches if they are available.

Sign up today and be matched with a carpool partner or discover sustainable modes of transportation mentors to help guide you through this GoTober. If you carpool, be sure to limit each row to one person, always wear a mask and increase ventilation where possible. We look forward to seeing how you will take part; help spread the word by using the hashtag #GoToberPledge on social media.

Please note, as the pandemic continues, the health and safety of our community remains UM’s top priority; we urge you to continue to follow health guidelines. Please check the UM COVID-19 updates often and read the COVID-19 commuting guidance. 

Sustainable transportation systems make a positive contribution to the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the communities they serve. Receiving feedback on and finding out more about the UM community’s transportation patterns provide insight into how we can continue creating safer, more accessible and reliable transportation options.

A total of 3,701 respondents completed the January 2020 survey. Of those, 61 per cent were students (undergraduate and graduate), 30 per cent staff and 10 per cent faculty members.

Sustainable transportation options, such as transit and carpooling, continue to be heavily used by students. Fort Garry student respondents reported a much higher use of transit (39 per cent), compared to Bannatyne campus students at 18 per cent.

When it comes to carbon emissions, the average number of kilograms of CO2 per person has declined, compared to the previous two survey results, from 839 in 2016 to 763 in 2020.

The survey identified commuters’ preferred methods of transportation, which may not reflect their current transportation method. For all Fort Garry respondents, transit is the preferred mode of transportation (49 per cent), with significantly more interest in carpooling (28 per cent) than existing use (11 per cent). Interest in cycling (24 per cent) is almost five times higher than current use, with interest in walking/running close to triple.

Preference for transit (34 per cent) and carpooling (29 per cent) was also high among Bannatyne respondents. Cycling is particularly appealing, at nearly four times its current use. Unlike Fort Garry respondents, there are more campus members driving alone (55 per cent) than would prefer to do so (38 per cent), representing an opportunity to switch to a more sustainable mode of commuting.

Respondents were also asked for feedback on potential improvements to UM’s current transportation systems as well as what influences their commute choices. The top five, ranked, include:

1. increased frequency and space on buses
2. more direct transit routes to and from campus
3. improved walking and cycling infrastructure
4. more flexibility in parking permits
5. additional secure bike parking

Many respondents were familiar with existing resources and programs like the Student Transit U-Pass and secure bike lock-up services; however, many services remain underutilized, like:

• GoManitoba (online carpool matching site)
• staff bike fleet on Fort Garry campus
• moped / motorized scooter parking areas
• flexible scheduling for staff (position-dependent)
• accessible van (Student Accessibility Services)

Data and feedback from the 2020 survey responses continue to inform recommendations to better support UM students, staff and faculty. Feedback from previous years has been able to introduce and catalyze a new flexible parking pass option for students during the 2019-2020 year. Recommendations from this year’s survey include the following:

• a subscription for staff and faculty to Winnipeg Transit’s EcoPass program
• continuation of expanding secure bike parking
• sharing of transit-related survey results with Winnipeg Transit to demonstrate the high levels of interest and increase reliability

Based on survey feedback, the Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Campus Planning Office and Physical Plant, continue to update the action items outlined in our campuses’ Sustainable Transportation Strategy. This could lead to benefits for the entire UM community like fewer greenhouse gas emissions, improved mental and physical health, better air quality, less traffic congestion and cost savings. 

Visit the Office of Sustainability website to learn more about other transportation or sustainability goals and for more details about the Campus Commute Survey.

There will be no access to Alumni Lane via Freedman Cres. from Oct. 28 to Nov. 15. This has changed from the previous timeline. Please note that these are projected timelines that may change; updates will be provided as possible.

The work on the south side of campus near Drake Centre and Alumni Lane is part of Phase 2 of the Outfall No. 2 Reconstruction project. It includes reconstruction of the outfall chamber and pipe, and riverbank stabilization.

Between 7 AM and 7 PM, traffic flow will be impacted with occasional lane closures. Flag people will direct traffic as needed. Please plan accordingly.

Updates to the service disruption can be found here: http://umanitoba.ca/admin/vp_admin/ofp/ohrcm/accessibility/service-disruptions.html.

For additional information on the riverbank stabilization, please click here: news.umanitoba.ca/fort-garry-campus-riverbank-stabilization-and-infrastructure-repair-begins/nggallery/image/failed-section/