11.4.2 Promote sustainable commuting
Metric: Sustainable practices
Undertake actions to promote more sustainable commuting.
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) promotes sustainable commuting by providing electric shuttle bus services and improving shared transportation accessibility across its campuses. These initiatives encourage students, staff, and visitors to use shared transportation instead of private vehicles, helping reduce traffic congestion, vehicle emissions, and environmental impacts.
1. Electric Shuttle Bus Services – Hat Yai Campus
In 2024, PSU Hat Yai replaced five conventional campus buses with five electric minibuses operating on three internal routes. The services provide convenient transportation between academic buildings, hospitals, student residences, recreational facilities, and other key destinations.
To encourage greater use of shared transportation, PSU provides route maps, bus schedules, and a QR code for accessing bus location information.
Shuttle Bus Services
| Service Information | Details |
|---|
| Electric shuttle buses | 5 buses |
| Operating routes | 3 routes |
| Monday–Friday | First departure: 7:30 AM |
| Saturday–Sunday | First departure: 8:00 AM |
| Last scheduled departure | 8:15 PM |
| Bus location information | Available via QR code |
The three routes connect major campus destinations, including the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Songklanagarind Hospital, student residences, and other academic and recreational facilities.
These services provide an alternative to private vehicle use and support convenient, low-carbon mobility within the campus.
Environmental Benefits
Based on PSU’s published assumptions for vehicle operations and electricity consumption, replacing five conventional buses with electric buses is estimated to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1.56 tonnes of CO₂e annually, assuming 300 operating days.
Electric shuttle buses also eliminate exhaust emissions along their operating routes and contribute to quieter campus transportation.
Supporting Evidence:
2. Electric Shuttle Bus Services – Pattani Campus
PSU Pattani operates four electric shuttle buses, each with a seating capacity of 14 passengers, to provide transportation within the campus.
The service reports approximately 1,800 passenger trips per day, supporting shared transportation for students, staff, and campus users.
The provision of electric shuttle services contributes to sustainable campus mobility by offering an alternative to private vehicle use.
Supporting Evidence:
3. Expanding Sustainable Transportation Options
In addition to existing shuttle services, PSU Hat Yai has developed an electric minibus route expansion initiative aimed at improving connections between the campus and nearby residential areas.
The initiative focuses on improving public transport accessibility, encouraging park-and-ride use, and reducing reliance on private motorcycles.
Under the University’s published planning assumptions, the proposed expansion could reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 56 tonnes of CO₂e annually, based on 300 operating days. This represents a projected environmental benefit rather than a verified operational outcome.
Contribution to Sustainable Mobility
Through electric shuttle bus services, accessible route information, and transport development initiatives, PSU promotes sustainable commuting and provides practical alternatives to private vehicle use.
These efforts contribute to cleaner transportation, improved campus accessibility, and more sustainable university communities.