A cyclist wearing a helmet passes a couple talking as they walk in front of a stone wall.

As part of our environmental strategy for providing greener travel, the University offers a range of benefits to promote sustainable forms of travel.

Cycling

Cambridge is the cycle capital of the UK, having long been famous for its large number of bicycles. Cycling is still the preferred method of transport for many people and the University offers plenty of provisions to make it easier:

  • Cycle to work scheme: spread the cost of getting a new bike, save on Income Tax and National Insurance and increase your fitness. We also have a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme. 
  • Free 1:1 cycle training 
  • Try before you buy scheme: test a bike (including hybrid, electric, folding and cargo bikes) for up to 2 months for the commute to work.
  • Pool bikes enable staff to get across the University’s many sites spread across the city
  • Bike repair stations and mechanic training sessions ensure repairs are easy and convenient.

Public transport

There are good public transport links within Cambridge, to the neighbouring villages, and even further afield:

  • A park and ride scheme operating from five separate locations
  • The U-bus, part funded by the University, which runs from Eddington to the Biomedical Campus via many University sites
  • Cambridge railway station is a 20 minute walk from the city centre, with trains running to London Kings Cross every 15 minutes at peak times. Regular services also connect to commuter towns and major cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

University staff can also take advantage of travel discounts:

  • Travel to work loan scheme – apply for an interest-free travel to work loan of up to £2,500 or your monthly net pay, whichever is lower, to purchase an annual bus or rail season ticket, or a bicycle
  • Discounted rail season tickets with Greater Anglia and Great Northern trains
  • Discounted travel on the U-bus.

Traveling by car

There is limited car parking in Cambridge and parking charges are comparatively high; at the University, a limited number of free parking spaces are available, but the allocation of these is strictly controlled due to the high demand. However, staff who do need to drive have access to:

  • Cam-share, a county-wide lift-share system managed and operated by the county council, and
  • Enterprise Car Club – a fleet of rental cars for work-related journeys.

The University also offers a travel advisor service to help staff explore alternative travel options that may be healthier, greener, faster, or cheaper.