Transportation
Oklahoma State University's Department of Parking and Transportation Services has made sustainability a top priority. They even published their own Sustainability Plan in November of 2020.
Their mission is to "support the campus community by providing for safe, efficient access, and mobility in an environmentally responsible manner.
Their vision is "to be a premier transportation and parking organization, providing an innovative, sustainable program which supports excellent in education, research, and public service.
OSU's Department of Parking and Transportation Services' Sustainability Plan is working to address the following concerns:
How people travel to, from, and around campus.
- Decrease the carbon footprint resulting from mobile source emissions.
- Achieve a 50% mode split for alternative transportation modes for OSU employees no later than 2026 and maintain that split through 2030.
- Reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions associated with OSU-sponsored travel.
- Minimize vehicle trips to and around campus for quality-of-life purposes.
- Maintain the campus' vehicle trip count.
- Reduce midday vehicle trips below 0.2 trips/person/day.
Direct, internal transportation activities and practices.
- Reduce, right-size, and conserve the resources associated with University business
activity.
- Right-size the fleet and reduce vehicle miles traveled associated with fleet activities.
- Conserve land and financial resources by limiting the construction of new parking structures.
- Deploy alternative mode resources to match commuter needs.
- Provide, promote, and support green options for vehicles.
- Increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
- Provide the necessary infrastructure for the fueling of alternative fuel vehicles, including fleet, permit holder, and visitor vehicles.
- Practice green techniques and implement sustainable policies for all operational activities.
- Green daily departmental operations by conserving resources, implementing environmentally preferable practices, and increasing conservation and recycling efforts.
Moving sustainable transportation from ideas to practice.
- Incorporate sustainable transportation into the fabric of the OSU campus
- Create a culture of sustainable travel on campus and a community of lifelong sustainable commuters and travelers.
- Provide engagement opportunities for students on sustainable transportation projects that both benefit the University and enrich the student's learning experience.
- Ensure that campus land use and design are coordinated with transportation.
- Maintain a leadership role in community and regional transportation issues.
- Leverage the funding opportunities and research capabilities at OSU and elsewhere
to further sustainable transportation initiatives.
- Work with the university administrators and other Oklahoma State University campuses to create a green fund for carbon reduction and mitigation.
- Identify opportunities for partnerships with University departments and external entities.
Interested in reducing your footprint by changing the way you get from A to B? Great! There are a few different ways to do that.
Walk: Walking is not only healthy, but it is the most sustainable way to get around! NOTE: Sidewalks and crosswalks are recommended for walkers.
Bike: You can buy a bike at several different shops in Stillwater or rent one from OSU
through Orange Ride for just $35/semester! Before you start pedaling, make sure to go to the Multi-Modal
Transportation Terminal at Monroe and Hall of Fame to get a free bike parking permit.
Ride: Riding one of OSU's Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses is cheaper than driving
and reduces per-rider footprint! Student fees pay for part of its operation, so students
aren't charged to ride! If you're just going across campus, hop on the orange or black
route and take a seat. Need to go further? Shopping, dining, entertainment, off-campus
housing, and plenty of places where students are employed are all served by the bus.
Use the bus tracker online or download the app to help you find the nearest bus stop, when the next bus will arrive at your stop,
and where each of the buses go.
The Big Orange Bus (BOB) is a shuttle service between the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses. A one-way trip costs $7.50 for students! Like the city bus, it's cheaper than driving yourself, and it decreases the per-rider carbon footprint! Find more information here.
Drive: Take advantage of reserved parking by carpooling.