Transportation

In conjunction with the President's Commission on Sustainability and the Sustainability Action Plan, Clemson University has made efforts to reduce carbon emissions due to transportation. Through new programs for commuters and encouraging bicycle riding, Clemson has worked to decrease this significant source of pollution through new programs for commuters and encouraging bicycle riding.

Approximately 7% of carbon emissions come from students and employees commuting to campus and University-owned vehicles; not included is the indirect pollution from fossil fuel extraction and mining.

Commuter Programs

• Transit

  

  Transit systems can have significant impacts on limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation system. Literature estimates that one bus on the road saves an average of five cars from the road, and a full bus can counteract the effects of 50 or more cars. Clemson University Parking and Transportation Services has made efforts by partnering with local transit agencies in order to minimize these greenhouse gas emissions.

  The Clemson Area Transit (CAT) public bus system is a fare-free service that operates throughout Clemson, Pendleton, Seneca and Central, contributing greatly to the sustainability of Clemson University and its surrounding areas. The CAT Buses transport about one and a half million passengers per year, reducing the overall greenhouse gas emissions due to transportation by approximately seven percent. Additionally, the Green Route is now operated by Tiger Transit, which offers smaller, more fuel-efficient buses than previously used by Clemson Area Transit. The CAT Bus headquarters, located minutes from campus, is a state-of-the-art building that includes photovoltaic cells that save the building from drawing power from the grid. These solar panels limit carbon emissions to the equivalent of 5 cars per year, 89 barrels of oil per year, or 85 acres of pine forest, and generate $8,000 in energy money yearly. The facility also utilizes natural light, sensor-lights and electric vehicle parking.

  Clemson University Parking and Transportation Services has recently partnered with Greenville's public bus system, Greenlink, to offer free rides for students, faculty and staff to Clemson's Greenville locations. Tiger Commute offers transportation from Clemson to Greenville, and Tiger Connect connects the various Clemson Greenville facilities. These buses also have the capability to limit the number of cars on the road and for much farther distances than the CAT Buses. Parking and Transportation also offers shuttles to the Advanced Materials Center in Anderson, as well as holiday shuttles to the Charlotte-Douglas Airport and the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, limiting the use of cars and the cost of parking for students.

  Please visit the Parking and Transportation Services website to learn more about the transit options at Clemson and for CAT Bus Sustainability efforts. Download the my.Clemson app for real-time route updates.

• Carpool Programs

  

  Implementation of various carpool programs has been a major improvement to commuter transportation. To increase carpools, expanded incentives are offered to participants that include preferred parking and reduced parking permit fees. Clemson Carpool was established to help facilitate increased carpool opportunities. The program is available to students, faculty, and staff and provides discounted and more convenient parking locations. Clemson University also provides a free shuttle service to both Greenville-Spartanburg and Charlotte-Douglas International airports for each major break, like Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break. More information can be found at the Airport Shuttle webpage.

• Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)

  Low emission vehicle parking spaces are located all throughout campus for cars considered to have low greenhouse gas emissions. These spaces are used as a reward to faculty and staff members that drive environmentally-friendly vehicles. Currently, there are 13 locations on campus with multiple LEV parking spaces, and this number increases yearly.

Bike-Friendly Campus

Clemson University has received national recognition as a Bicycle Friendly University at the bronze level by the League of American Bicyclists, one of just 58 schools to earn the designation. The Bicycle Friendly University program recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff, and visitors. By taking steps toward a bike-friendly environment, Clemson University has become a healthier and more sustainable community. The University adopted the Bikeways Master Plan in 2012 as a part of the on-going commitment to environmental sustainability. This plan has been approved in order to create a bicycle system that "promotes safety and provides a robust network of commuting and recreational pathways that connect the entire extended campus." The major goal is to continue to integrate bike pathways between on-campus housing, academic and athletic facilities, and extended connections to off-campus facilities. Increasing the amount and the quality of on-campus bicycle racks is another improvement that the University has pledged to enact.

In 2017, Parking and Transportation Services created a Bike-Share program. Students can pick up a bike from any of the five different docking locations and bike around campus.