Monthly Archives: September 2020

Campus Shuttle Updates

The Campus Shuttle service will begin operating again on Saturday 19^th September 2020. This is a free service between Medway and Canterbury campus that runs 7 days a week during term time and takes approximately 50 minutes. See timetable online.

During this time, some safety measures have been put in place to ensure you travel in confidence. This includes operating the service at 50% capacity to maintain social distancing. As a result, booking a seat on this service is essential and can be done at https://uok.mymobiletickets.com/webapp/login.aspx up to 30 minutes before you travel. If you are a student who requires a carer to sit next to you whilst travelling the Transport Team are available to assist with your booking.

If you are not travelling before the departure time please ensure you cancel your booking. This enables us to keep track of who has travelled on the service and allows others to book a seat at that time.

Face coverings must be worn at all times. All drivers are temperature checked prior to beginning their shift and all passengers are required to be temperature checked prior to boarding the Campus Shuttle. In the unlikely occurrence of a high temperature, please cancel your booking to travel (if possible) and contact Campus Security on 01227 823333.

Please check the @CampusShuttle twitter feed (which can also be seen on the Campus Shuttle webpage) for regular service updates.

Getting to and from the Campus

With the campus reopening it is time to start thinking about your journey to University. Due to the current COVID situation knowing the best way to travel can be tricky. Whatever the situation, the Transport Team’s Planning your Journey page is here to help you.

Alongside the Government safer travel guidance, we encourage all staff and students to walk and cycle to and from our campuses, where reasonably possible during this time.

Kent recommend before leaving home you plan for all journeys you will need to make before returning home and remember your journey may be disrupted due to COVID. Be prepared by always carrying with you face coverings and hand sanitizer to use in accordance with Government and University of Kent guidance, travel providers restrictions and

to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

To help you plan your journey, here are some useful links:

Kent’s Transport & Travel main page information about travel to Kent for staff and students.
Kent’s planning your journey page guidance to assist with planning your journey including useful web links, mobile apps and tweets to follow.
Kent’s COVID-19 Travel page information relating to University of Kent Coronavirus travel updates.
Government safer travel guidance page guidance from the Government on how to travel safely during COVID-19 restrictions.
How to use Kent’s buildings information relating to University of Kent Coronavirus updates.

Top tips:

Be prepared before leaving home and plan your journey. Including the journeys you need to make in between and the journey home.
Ensure you have everything you need, such as appropriate clothing for weather change.
Be prepared for travel disruptions. For example the bus you were expecting to catch may be full and you will need to wait for longer than anticipated.
Ensure your vehicle/bicycle is serviced regularly.
Ensure you are familiar with what is required to travel with the service provider. For example you are required to wear a face covering (if you can) when travelling on public transport or Campus Shuttle service. Some travel services may request card payment only and/or bookings only. Visit our COVID-19 travel page for more information on what is expected from you when travelling.
Social distance and follow the travel providers rules.
Ensure you know what payment methods travel providers require.
Be familiar with and follow the Government travel guidance.
Avoid travel during busy times, if possible.

Stagecoach Staff Discounted Tickets

The University of Kent works in partnership with stagecoach to bring our staff and students the best value accessible bus travel in Kent.

We are currently the first to be trialing the new Stagecoach mobile corporate app, which enables you to gain exclusive access to the latest discounted bus tickets. As a University of Kent or Kent Union member of staff you receive a 25% discount!

The discounted ticket range includes weekly (7 day) and monthly (28 day) tickets for the Canterbury local travel zone or the whole South East area, for those travelling a bit further to work.

Buying bus tickets on the mobile app means you can pay conveniently on the go using card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and you can use your ticket straight away! What’s even better is there aren’t any restrictions on when you can use your ticket. So whether you’re commuting to work, nipping out for the evening or exploring local hidden gems at the weekend, you can get there for less.

Of course, COVID safety is at the top of the agenda at the moment and Stagecoach has published a guide to travelling safely by bus – https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/covid-19-travelling-safely. With extensive measures to make their services COVID-secure all their local buses are accredited with Visit Britain’s “We’re Good to Go” official mark, recognising the measures they’ve taken to meet government COVID guidelines, keep buses clean and aid social distancing.

Remember – it’s mandatory to use of face coverings on all public transport and social distancing should be maintained at the bus stops and on the buses.

To get discounted bus travel now, download the app or for more information visit our bus travel webpage.

See our COVID-19 travel webpage for regular COVID updates and @UniKent_travel twitter feed (also displayed on our Transport news webpage) for regular service updates.

Dr Bike is back!

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

Dr Bike:

We work in close partnership with Dr Bike, at Bycycle, an experienced bicycle mechanic to provide bicycle maintenance, repairs, adjustments, and safety health checks. Dr Bike carries out checks and minor adjustments free of charge. Additional repair work is also available and will always be charged at a special University of Kent reduced rate.

Bicycle repairs will be conducted on a first-come-first-served basis and we generally aim for same-day service but this is less likely if you arrive late in the day!

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 08:30 and 16:00.

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

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 2020/2021 academic year are:

Thursday 8th October 2020.
Thursday 12th November 2020.
Thursday 10th December 2020.
Thursday 21st January 2021.
Thursday 11th February 2021.
Thursday 11th March 2021.
Thursday 13th May 2021.
Thursday 10th June 2021.

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

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.

COVID Safety:

To ensure this service is COVID-friendly Dr Bike has introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and will be using a track and trace system. It is also essential that you should not enter the workshop or storage areas unless absolutely necessary and when you do you maintain social distancing and wear a face covering. Please also try to avoid busy times, such as during lunch breaks.

For more information visit our travelling during COVID page.

Note: During this time our shower facilities are unavailable.

Transport News

This blog is used for broadcasting information about transport and parking at the University of Kent.

Monthly Archives: September 2020

Campus Shuttle Updates