Annual Travel Survey – Your Feedback and Next Steps
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Annual Travel Survey. This was your opportunity to tell us about your experiences of travelling to and from campus and around the city, including how you prefer to travel, any barriers to active and sustainable travel, and what’s working well – and what isn’t.
We want to share a short update on what you told us and what’s happening next.
Term 1 bus service disruption
A clear theme in this year’s survey was the bus strike action which we know had a real impact on your day-to-day experience. This was exacerbated by service disruptions caused by engineering issues. First Bus management have reassured us that these issues have been resolved, and we can expect smoother and more reliable services in term 2.
What you told us
- Bus reliability, cancellations and travel costs were a major concern.
- Train services and poor connections with buses made some journeys difficult.
- Many of you value the U1 Park & Ride service and would like more frequent services.
- Parking availability still seems to be a challenge for some students, and a number of you asked for a car share / travel buddy scheme.
- Walking and cycling work well for many of you, and some students switched to cycling for the first time during the strike period.
- Many of you appreciated the free bike locks and lights and bike maintenance workshops.
- Some students would like to see improved on-campus facilities to support cycling and active travel, such as lockers.
What we’re doing
- While public transport services are not run by the University, your experience getting to and from campus is really important to us. We continue to advocate on your behalf, and your feedback on bus reliability, frequency, strike action and travel costs has been shared directly with First Bus, Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government.
- Additional coach services are being provided on the 91 and 92 routes throughout the January exam period, connecting both campuses and key accommodation areas such as True and Roost, to help ensure you can get to exams on time.
- During exams, the U1 Park & Ride is running every 15 minutes throughout the day, using a larger bus.
- Although we have no control over pricing, we continue to raise concerns about fares with operators and Welsh Government.
- More cycle maintenance sessions, roadshows and bike marking events are planned for the spring to encourage safe cycling and active and sustainable travel.
- We’ll soon be opening a new Swansea University Cycles hub at the train station to support cycling and active travel.
- Feedback about cycling facilities, such as lockers, has been shared with our Infrastructure Services Team and we will continue to advocate for improved facilities for cyclists on campus. · We’re continuing to develop the Hwb Travel webpages to make it easier to find clear, up-to-date travel information.
- We’ve developed a student travel buddy / lift-share scheme through the SWELL app, where you can also earn points for shared journeys.
Looking ahead
From 2027, bus services across Southwest Wales are expected to move to a non-commercial model operated by the Welsh Government. While this is a longer-term change, we will continue to engage in discussions and represent the student voice as these reforms develop.
Parking on campus
Although we encourage active and sustainable travel, we do understand that some students do need to drive. Unfortunately, parking capacity on campus is extremely limited and there are no immediate plans to expand it.
To make best use of the spaces available, parking is prioritised for those with the greatest need. For many students, options such as the Fabian Way Park & Ride, the Recreation Ground at Singleton, lift-sharing, or active travel may be more suitable.
Full details on parking permits can be found on our website.
Have your say all year round
You don’t have to wait for the next survey to share your views. There are several ways to stay involved:
- Student Bus and Cycle User Groups are open to all students, where you can talk directly with First Bus representatives. The next Bus User Group takes place on Thursday 12 February, 1–2pm, online, where First Bus will respond to Term 1 disruption and listen to your views on current services. Email travel@swansea.ac.uk to attend.
- Travel pop-ups and roadshows on campus.
- Updates and meeting dates published on Hwb.
- Email us anytime at travel@swansea.ac.uk.
- Share your views and ideas via the Your Voice, Your Swansea form.
Prize Draw Winners
Congratulations to our prize draw winners who will be contacted by email shortly. And thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback and help shape improvements to travel at Swansea University.