Travel by car

We are committed to reducing the negative impacts of travel including congestion, carbon emissions, noise, and air pollution. For that reason, driving to the University other than for essential reasons is not encouraged. You can find information on sustainable travel options here. 

We also have a collaborative Sustainable Travel Map which can help you identify campus-based sustainable travel support. 

If you do need to drive, please consider carpooling/sharing, and opting for a zero or lower emission choice such as an electric vehicle if you can. 

Our Annual Travel Survey shows that most cars that travel to campus only have single occupants. 

Carpooling or lift sharing is a good way to reduce both the cost and environmental impact of car travel - you can find more information via this link. 

Enterprise Car Club allow drivers to hire cars by the hour or longer, with the benefit of being able to collect the vehicle from dedicated car parking bays rather than needing to visit a rental office.  They can be used for a quick trips or longer journey, and for personal or business travel. University staff members can get a discount on car hire, and there are Enterprise Car Club vehicles located on or near campus as well as across Leeds. Find out more about Enterprise Car Club discounts. 

Part of our Climate Plan commitments related to sustainable travel include encouraging additional investments in infrastructure, with plans to increase the number of electric car charging points and incentivize the switch to electric vehicles. 

You will find 22 electric vehicle charging points (EVCPs) across campus (made up of 11 dual chargers). 14 of these (made up of 7 dual chargers) are located on the first floor of the University's multistorey car park, with others located across campus. You can find where they are –  as well as other charging points in Leeds and nationally –  on Zap-Map. 

A tariff of 42p per kWh will apply for EV charging sessions across all University sites, including those at the Brownlee Centre, Sports Park Bodington and Devonshire Hall. Charges will be reviewed on an annual basis to reflect changes in electricity costs. 

You will still have to pay the usual parking costs and comply with campus parking regulations. Find out more about parking your car on campus. 

There is also a staff Teams channel for electric vehicle users - contact [email protected] if you would like to be added to the channel. 

Read our Fair Use for the use of EVCPs on campus. 

By choosing Park and Ride, you can help reduce congestion and air pollution in the City Centre. There are three Park and Ride sites around the city where you can leave your car, then catch a bus into the city centre. You can then catch another bus up to campus, or walk, wheel, or cycle the last stretch of your journey. 

West Yorkshire Metro says: 

• Parking is FREE! 
• Buses run every 10-15 minutes from each site during peak times and a journey time of only 10-15 minutes to the city centre 
• A day ticket is just £5. You can save even more if you buy in bulk; five or more tickets for £4.50 each! Or travel after 1pm from the site for just £3   
• Three kids (under 19) travel FREE, with every fare-paying adult   
• Weekend group day ticket - Five people travelling together is just £8   

Park and Ride locations: 

• Elland Road - For trips in from the west and south of Leeds.
• Temple Green - For trips in from the east and north of Leeds. 
• Stourton - For trips in from the south and southwest of Leeds 

More information on bus travel can be found here: Buses | Metro 

The University of Leeds is committed to reducing emissions, pollution, and congestion – and mass private car dominance, and single-occupancy vehicle use is a huge cause of this. Please consider if you really need to drive. 

Car parking on campus is limited. 

Find more information about parking on campus including pricing and options available for staff, the public, and students. 

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our travel by car work is linked to the following SDGs:

• Goal 3: Good health and well-being
• Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
• Goal 13: Climate action
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.