Monthly Archives: November 2019

Campus Car Parks and Road Updates (26 November – 10 December)

The Transport Team want to make finding a place to park on campus as efficient as possible. To do this, we endeavour to keep staff and students updated on any known car park changes within this newsletter.

At all other times, you can visit our Traffic Management Events Calendar and our Twitter page (@unikent_travel), which are updated regularly.

This section of the newsletter also includes ‘Other Traffic Management News’, to highlight any information that may be of importance to drivers.

Car Parking Changes:

Canterbury Campus

Start Date

 End Date Location Number of Bays Reason Requested By

 Monday 13 May 2019

 Tuesday 31 December 2019 Pavilion Car Park 9 bays reserved To replace the Tennis Courts

Estates on behalf of Hospitality

Monday 18 November 2019

 Sunday 1st December Estates Car Park 12 bays Foul drainage works Estates

Monday 25 November 2019

 Monday 25 November 2019 Pavilion Car Park Whole car park closure To assist with large delivery Estates on behalf of Hospitality

Thursday 28 November 2019

 Thursday 28 November 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 30 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office
Wednesday 4 December 2019 Wednesday 4 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 20 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office

Thursday 5 December 2019

 Thursday 5 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 30 bays reserved Applicant Day Recruitment and Admissions Office
Saturday 7 December 2019 Saturday 7 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park 50 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office
Saturday 7 December 2019 Saturday 7 December 2019 Sibson Car Park 20 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office
Monday 9 December 2019 Monday 9 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 40 bays reserved Topping Out Ceremony

Kent & Medway Medical School

Medway Campus

There are currently no known car park disruptions at the Medway campus.

Other Traffic Management News

The University Landscape & Grounds Management team have already been out gritting the campus roads and car parks during last week’s frost, and will continue to do so throughout the winter months. Despite their best efforts, car parks, paths, and roads may still be slippery around campus, so please take care when commuting.

 

 

The Stagecoach Express M2 service: another way to travel

Stagecoach, in partnership with Megabus, are now providing a new Stagecoach Express service along the M2. Running from Canterbury Bus Station, the service stops at Medway (Chatham and Gillingham) before terminating at North Greenwich Underground Station in London.

Taking just over an hour, the O2 service is the perfect option for commuting between campuses when the Campus Shuttle is not running in the holidays. Or, if you fancy a trip to London, North Greenwich is the home of the O2, and just a short tube ride from central London.

The buses come equipped with free WiFi, contactless payments, power sockets, air conditioning, and disabled access, making for a comfortable and easy commute.

See the table below for a list of the prices, or you can get a weekly commuter ticket for just over £5 a day.

 Single Return

Pre-Booking (Plus a £1 booking fee) Pay on Coach Pay on Coach (Student) Pre-Booking (Plus a £1 booking fee) Pay on Coach

Pay on Coach (Student)

Canterbury to/from London

 £7.50 £10.00 £8.00 £15.00 £17.00

£12.00

Medway to/from London

 £6.00 £8.00 £6.50 £12.00 £13.50

£10.00
Canterbury to/from Medway £5.00 £7.00 £6.00 £10.00 £12.00

£9.00

For more information, and to view the full service timetable, please visit the Stagecoach website.

#GettingHomeForChristmas

There are only three weeks left of term (!) which means that it is time to start thinking about your journey home for the holidays. Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking a sleigh home, we’re here to offer some handy tips.

1. By bus:

Stagecoach express

Stagecoach, in partnership with Megabus, is now providing a new Stagecoach Express service along the M2. Running from Canterbury Bus Station, the service stops at Medway (Chatham and Gillingham) before terminating at North Greenwich Underground Station in London. North Greenwich is just a short tube journey from central London and its many National Rail train stations.

Unirider bus passes cannot be used on this service, however, students are entitled to a discount on walk on tickets, or you can book in advance and receive further discounts.

National Express

The National Express 022 from Canterbury to London Victoria stops at the Keynes bus stop six times a day. From London Victoria, you are able travel to many other UK destinations.

If you need to catch a flight, fear not, National Express provides cheap transfers to many airports, including; Gatwick, Heathrow, Stanstead, and Luton. For more information, check out their dedicated Airport Transfers page.

Students are entitled to the Young Persons Coach card, which offers a third off journeys for just £12.50 a year. This means that a single from Canterbury to London can cost as little as £5!

National Express also offer other discounts to their customers; please see their offers and cheap ticket pages for more details.

2. By train

National Rail

For Canterbury students, the South Eastern rail high speed from Canterbury West takes under an hour to transport you to St Pancras International in central London.

For Medway students, there are two train stations near the campus: Chatham and Gillingham. Both of these run the high speed service, and will get you to St Pancras in around 40 minutes.

From St Pancras, you can catch a train to hundreds of destinations throughout the UK, or catch a tube to one of the other stations serving National Rail across London.

St Pancras has a direct line to Gatwick and Luton airports, via the ThamesLink service. For all other airports, take a look at the TFL guide to London airports.

All full time students, regardless of age, are entitled to a 16-25 railcard from National Rail. The railcard costs just £30 for the year and saves you a third on all journeys.

Eurostar

We are very lucky to have quick links to Europe from our campus. From Ashford International, Ebbsfleet International (both on the high speed line to St Pancras) and St Pancras International, you can take the Eurostar to destinations in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

3. By car 

Car Share

Car share is not just for commuting, but can be used for single journeys, like getting home for Christmas. Why not see if you can find someone travelling the same way as you and share the costs with another student. You not only save money, but also the environment.

The University of Kent has worked alongside the University of Greenwich and Canterbury Christ Church to create a Liftshare page dedicated to university staff and students: Unishare South East. Unishare allows you the peace of mind to travel with other university staff and students. Simply follow the link to create an account.

Taxis

Travelling to a London airport from Canterbury or Medway campuses, costs in the region of £75 – £125. The cost will vary depending on which London airport you need to travel too. Try and find other students going to the airport, by using the car share database, so that you can split the cost.

If you need to get a taxi, remember to book in advance. Speak to a couple of taxi firms for quotes so you can get the best deal.

The University uses the services of the following taxi companies:

Canterbury: Cab Co, Cab Line 6 Ltd, Canterbury Galaxy Taxis, Canterbury Taxis, Croft Cars, Longley’s Private Hire, Longport Taxis, Wilkinson Taxis Ltd

Medway: ABC Taxis, Computer Cabs, Express Travel, HWS Taxis, Vokes Taxis

Keeping your bicycle safe on campus

Campus Security have made us aware that there has been an increase in bicycle thefts on Canterbury campus recently. Most of the bicycles that were taken were left unlocked outside of cycle shelters. We wanted to offer some tips on how to keep your bicycle safe around campus.

1. Always use a lock

Remember to always lock your bicycle up when leaving it, even if only for a few minutes. Use a D or U-lock, rather than a cable lock as these are harder to cut through. Try and choose a lock that Sold Secure (a not-for-profit company administered by the Master Locksmiths Association) has rated gold standard. University of Kent staff and students are offered a 10% discount at The Bike Warehouse in Medway and Cycles UK in Canterbury, so a decent lock just got cheaper!

It is important to lock your bike properly. Lock it through the frame to a bike stand in one of our shelters. When using a U-lock, lock it down around the bottom bracket or seat tube, as it is harder for thieves to get to it. Fill the lock with as much of the bicycle as possible. See the below poster for ideas on the best way to lock your bicycle safely.

2. Use a lockable cycle shelter

When you are leaving your bicycle on campus, we ask that you always secure it in a cycle shelter. There are 66 cycle shelters and racks over both Canterbury and Medway campuses. For extra protection, please use one of our lockable cycle shelter.

See our numbered cycle shelter map to find where your nearest cycle shelter is located.

How to gain access to Canterbury lockable cycle shelters

  • For all the Turing cycle shelters, visit the Turing reception with your Kent Once card to be given access.
  • For all other lockable cycle shelters come to the Security and Transport Centre with your Kent One card to gain access.

How to gain access to Medway lockable cycle shelters

  • For access to the lockable cycle shelters at Medway, email MedwayCardAccess@kent.ac.uk with your name, staff or student number, and number on the back of your Kent One card.

3. Register your bicycle

It is always a good idea to register your bicycle with Immobilise. In the event that your bicycle ever was stolen, having your bicycle registers means that Police are able to identify owners of recovered goods, and it can simplify the process of insurance claims. Immobilise is free to use and takes just minutes to set up, so what are you waiting for- register your bicycle now!

4. Report any thefts

If the worst happens and your bicycle is stolen, it is important to report the theft. You can do this by ringing the Police’s non-emergency number, 101, and making a report. If your bicycle is taken on campus, please also report it to Campus Security on 01227 823300 or come in to the Security and Transport Centre.

 

 

Dr Bike: bicycle servicing for staff and students

As part of the University’s Green Travel Plans and the developing University’s Masterplan Framework, the Transport Team are always trying to find ways to encourage sustainable travel. To encourage cycling we provide many initiatives across our campuses; including cycle hire, free bicycle health checks, and discounted bicycle repair works to staff and students.

Dr Bike health checks:

We work in partnership with Dr Bike, at Bycycle, to provide free bicycle health checks. Dr Bike is a trained bicycle mechanic, who offers free cycle health checks including adjustments and advice on repairs. Major repair work and parts are available and will always be charged at a reduced rate for staff and students

Medway campus:

The service is available to all University of Kent and University of Greenwich students and staff.

When and where is Dr Bike at Medway:

Dr Bike travels to the Medway campus once a month during term time between 12:30 and 15:30. His dates for the 2019/2020 academic year are:

Monday 18th November 2019

Thursday 23rd January 2020

Thursday 20th February 2020

Thursday 19th March 2020

Thursday 21st May 2020

Find Dr Bike outside the Deep End Student Hub on the Pembroke Campus.

Canterbury campus: 

The service is available to all University of Kent students and staff.

When and where is Dr Bike at Canterbury:

Dr Bike is on the Canterbury campus every Wednesday, during term time between 10:00 and 16:00.

Find Dr Bike at the Kent Sport Cycle Hub outside the Pavilion, on Park Wood road.

For any enquiries regarding bike hire or servicing, contact ByCycle on chris@easybycycle.co.uk or telephone 07842 636597. For more information see our cycling webpages.

Booking a Seat on the Campus Shuttle

The Campus Shuttle is an important service which connects the Medway and Canterbury campuses for staff and students, so we want to make it as efficient as possible. Therefore, The King’s Ferry are working with ‘Mobile Onboard’ to improve the booking system.

Due to a technical error with the shuttle booking system, it is currently unable to update the driver in real time with the number of seats booked for each journey. To combat this, we have implemented an interim solution.  We would like to inform those who did not see our tweets earlier this term, that currently it is necessary to book a seat by 4am on the day of travel.  This ensures a list of bookings can be given to the driver at the start of the day. Along with this,  the driver will request to see your ticket and Kent One card to validate your booking.

Booking a ticket is quick and easy. Please see our step by step guide on how to book and cancel tickets below, it only takes a minute!

To book your seat:

  1. Book a seat on My Mobile Tickets from your desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.
  2. Log in using your University of Kent details. The first time you register you will be asked to confirm your email and mobile number.
  3. Choose the direction of travel for your journey and press ‘Book’. Choose the date and time you wish to travel and press ‘Select’. Check your booking details are correct and press ‘Get Ticket Now (Free)’.
  4. On ‘Your Tickets’ page, click ‘Show Ticket’ to access your ticket for boarding.  You can either print your ticket, or show it on your smartphone when you board the shuttle. Please do not take a photo or screenshot of your ticket, as this can cause issues with the scanner and you may not be able to board.

Please remember to cancel your booking if you no longer require it, so we are able to offer the seat to another commuter. To cancel your seat:

  1. Go to ‘My Tickets.’
  2. Find the journey you need to cancel, and click on ‘Cancel Booking’.
  3. Confirm your decision and you will receive an email confirming the cancellation.

Please note that it is only possible to book a seat for journeys between Canterbury and Medway campuses. If there are spaces you are able to board the shuttle using your Kent One card to travel between any stops. You can also catch the 191 Arriva bus to travel between Medway campuses.

We are currently discussing with The Kings Ferry how to enable bookings between Medway stops in an effort to further improve the service for commuters.

Campus car parks and road updates (15-29 November)

The Transport Team want to make finding a place to park on campus as efficient as possible. To do this, we endeavour to keep staff and students updated on any known car park changes within this newsletter.

At all other times, you can visit our Traffic Management Events Calendar and our Twitter page (@unikent_travel), which are updated regularly.

This section of the newsletter also includes ‘Other Traffic Management News’, to highlight any information that may be of importance to drivers.

Car Parking Changes:

Canterbury Campus

Start Date

 End Date Location Number of Bays Reason Requested By

 13 May 2019

 31 December 2019 Pavilion car park 9 To replace the Tennis Courts Estates on behalf of Hospitality
18 November 2019 22 November 2019 Estates car park 12 Foul drainage work

Estates

Medway Campus

There are currently no known car park disruptions at the Medway campus.

Other Traffic Management News

Canterbury Campus

One of the main questions we get asked about the Canterbury campus is ‘where can I park?’ To help answer this, we have our interactive parking map. The map can be used to find out which car parks your permit entitles you to use during permit enforcement hours (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm), how many spaces are available, and where visitors can park.

Medway Campus

Drill Hall Car Park

To make sure that there are enough spaces in the Drill Hall car park for everyone who wishes to use it, we ask that you please park considerately and do not leave large gaps between vehicles. We are unable to paint bay markings or lines within this car park because it is part of a heritage site. The road and parking areas are distinguished by planters and circular discs in the ground. There are also maps and signs within the car park to help identify the correct places to park.

 

Planning your journey for adverse weather

With evenings getting darker, adverse weather on the horizon, and temporary road closures, knowing the best way to travel can be tricky. Whatever the situation, the Transport Team’s Planning your Journey page has been developed to help plan your commute.

Travel Advisors update the page regularly with new apps, webpages, and social media links that give up to date information on road, rail, bus, and bicycle travel.

Now that winter is looming, we are updating the Transport web pages with the latest adverse weather information, and we will also endeavor to update you on our twitter page if there are any travel disruptions on or around our campuses.

Remember that weather can change at any time. Be prepared for this before you start your journey, no matter the mode of transport.

Driving
Ensure that you and your vehicle are prepared for driving in adverse weather conditions. Read some top tips to prepare for driving during the winter and don’t forget to plan your journey before you leave so you are aware of any disruptions.

Public transport, cycling and walking

  • Plan your journey, check if there are problems on public transport or local roads
  • Delay your journey, if possible, to allow temperatures to rise and ice or snow to melt
  • Avoid footways in the shade. It takes longer for ice or snow to melt in the shade
  • Always wear appropriate footwear and reflective/bright clothing
  • Ensure that you have a torch or lights so motorists and others can see you when walking or cycling. Think Be Bright Be Seen.