McMaster University Sustainability Policy

“The University encourages sustainable modes of transportation and recognizes the need to balance the demands of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.To adhere to this goal, the University will pursue the following objectives:

• collaborate and coordinate with other community agencies and groups (e.g., Hamilton Street Railway, City of Hamilton and neighbouring communities) to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transportation;
• provide amenities to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transportation (e.g., bicycle lockers and racks, external emergency telephones and pedestrian-priority campus walkways);
• provide education to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety in and around the campus; and
• identify and implement sustainable alternatives to University-owned vehicles where appropriate.

Promoting sustainable commuting at McMaster

In 2022, McMaster University launched a Sustainability strategy to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability on campus and in the community.

The university also provides information about sustainable commuting on its websites and through its offices, including guides on public transit and resources on how students and staff can take advantage of these resources.

• Public transit: Students attending McMaster receive a free year-round Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus pass as part of their tuition. These passes can be conveniently pre-loaded onto PRESTO transit cards. For those commuting from further afield, McMaster’s GO Bus Terminal, located on the main campus, provides direct services for GO Transit routes connecting to the Greater Toronto Area. Weekday ridership at McMaster is about 3,000 rides in total per Monday to Thursday and 4,500 rides in total on Fridays.
• Shuttle bus to Burlington satellite campus: A shuttle bus service is available for students, staff, and faculty traveling between the main McMaster campus in Hamilton and the Ron Joyce Centre, McMaster’s satellite campus in Burlington. All regular shuttles also make an additional stop at the side of the McMaster Children’s Hospital on the main campus.

• Cycling programs: McMaster University and the City of Hamilton are spectacular cycle locations. There are close to 2,000 bike parking places on campus, and McMaster is home to six bike share stations as part of the SoBi Hamilton Bike Share Students, faculty, and staff can purchase discounted bike share memberships.

Since the launch of the bike share program in 2015, there have been more than 86,000 bicycle trips to and from campus, and total trips to and from SoBi hubs on campus have increased by 150 per cent. McMaster University’s Student Center hub remains the busiest hub in the City of Hamilton.

McMaster maintains 18 CycleSafe bike lockers that can be rented by staff, faculty, and students. A secure bike storage facility can also house 48 bikes.

• Electric vehicles: McMaster University has a fleet of 13 electric vehicles with 23 free charging stations in locations across campus.
• Carpool program: McMaster has a well-established carpool program where two or more individuals can register for a carpool permit from Parking and Transit Services. Carpooling is available at Main Campus, the Downtown Centre, and McMaster’s satellite campus in Burlington. Registered carpools are eligible for a designated parking space.

Bike to Work Day

McMaster University is a proud member of the Smart Commute Hamilton network, which helps people find alternative commuting options to get to and from work, such as using a ride-matching tool.

McMaster hosts a Bike to Work Day each year to coincide with Bike Month events across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, which promote cycling as a sustainable alternative to transportation. Last year we saw more than 200 commuters make a more sustainable choice to get to campus.

We worked with Smart Commute Hamilton to organize a group ride from the kick-off event in downtown Hamilton (and back to campus). A station outside the McMaster University Student Centre provided cold refreshments and healthy snacks to more than 50 cyclists, and raffle prizes included bike locks and bike headlamps. A bike repair station was also provided.

CityLAB Hamilton

CityLAB Hamilton is an innovation hub that brings together student, academic, and civic leaders to co-create a better Hamilton for all. Partners are McMaster University, Mohawk College, Redeemer University, and the City of Hamilton. Collaborations have include research projects that address green spaces, climate change, neighbourhood resilience, and establishing a connected cycling network for Hamilton.

Academic Sustainability Program promotes sustainable commuting

McMaster University strives to provide all our students with the opportunity to take part in interdisciplinary, student-led, community-based, experiential learning focused on sustainability and the SDGs. Although programs are offered in multiple Faculties, the Academic Sustainability Programs Office is the central resource for many of these innovative programs offered at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Student initiatives have centered on fostering community involvement and advocacy for green transportation (pg. 24, 25, 34 of the 2022-2023 Annual Report).