Travel

For guidance on travelling between all of our campuses please dowload the attached document.  All travel options are listed below with relevant and useful external websites attached. 

Visit our Sighthill campus page for travel to and from the campus.  We will update this website by the end of June 2012 to include specific guidance for all campuses using interactive maps where possible.

Overview

To reduce the overall environmental impact of Edinburgh Napier all staff, students and visitors are encouraged to investigate their options, including walking, cycling and public transport use, wherever possible and when travelling to and from the University.

The completion of the Edinburgh Napier Carbon Management Plan, by the Property and Facilities Department, found that the daily and term-time commute by staff and students to the University emits roughly 11,600 tonnes of carbon annually.  This is greater than the 11,166 tonnes of carbon emitted, during the baseline year of 2006/07, through use of energy and water, waste sent to landfill and transport emissions from business travel and all owned and leased vehicles.

During the 2010/11 academic year the Sustainability Office surveyed the travel modes and habits of staff and students at Edinburgh Napier.  From there, full travel plans for all staff, students and visitors will be developed.  Follow each of the links highlighted below for more information on each travel mode.  Currently, the University has a Strategic Transport Policy and a Sighthill Travel Plan.

Walking and Cycling

Edinburgh, with many off-road routes, is a great city to walk and cycle around.  Spokes have produced a fantastic cycling map for the city.  Copies are available through Jamie Pearson.  The Bike Station also produce the Innertube Map showing all fully off-road cycle routes within Edinburgh.

The City of Edinburgh Council have also produced walking and cycling maps splitting the city into seven areas and have a dedicated cycling page on their website.  Given the detail in them, the maps have been split to show different areas of the city.  You may need to look at more than one map for the completion of your entire journey.  The following campuses and accommodation sites fall within the following areas:

• North: Comely Bank and  Marchmont campuses.  Wrights Houses, Morrison Circus, West Tollcross and Fountainbridge, Reigo Street and IQ accommodation.
• North East:  Marchmont campus.
• North West:  Comely Bank campus.  Morrison Circus accommodation.
• South:  Craiglockhart, Craighouse, Merchiston, Canaan Lane, Marchmont and Morningside campuses.  Napier Students' Association.  Wrights Houses and West Bryson accommodation sites.
• South East:  Merchsiton, Canaan Lane, Marchmont and Morningside campuses.  Napier Students' Association.
• South West:  Sighthill campus.

The local cycle charity Spokes also print great cycle maps for the City of Edinburgh and beyond.  Visit the Living Streets website for information on what the charity are doing to make the streets safer, more attractive and enjoyable spaces.  Also visit the Sustrans website to download their cycling app onto your phone.

We also have a Bicycle Users Group at Edinburgh Napier.  Join the Group to help us develop the provision of facilities for cyclists at all of our campuses.

Cycle Storage and Showers

Cycle storage facilities are available at the main entrances of all campuses and most accommodation sites. 

Showering facilities are available at:

• Craighouse:  Showers are available in the staff changing room, at the kitchens, in New Craig.  Keys available from security at Craighouse.  There is also a shower room at Queens Craig (walk towards the main door towards the back of the building, the passage on the right has a toilet with a shower).
• Craiglockhart:  Walking down the corridor towards the Hydra Cafe when you pass the main staircase on the left hand side, go downstairs through the door next to the staircase.  Both male and female showers and lockers available.
• Merchiston:  One unisex shower on H floor.  Male and female showers and lockers at back of main building (entrance up lane at back of refectory).  Sign for keys at reception (reception staff available 08:45 to 17:00, security staff available at all other times, although you may have to wait as they carry out other duties).
• Sighthill:  Male and female showers in the [EN]gage sports centre.

Public Transport

Campuses and accommodation sites are well served by local bus routes.  Bus companies in the city include Lothian Buses, First Bus and E&M Horsburgh.  All sites detail the route of each service.  The excellent website provided by Traveline Scotland will help you to plan any journey using public transport.

A valuable service is My Bus Tracker.  Search by street, postcode, service number or bus stop code to find the time of the next bus to arrive at a specific stop.  If you are unsure of the bus routes and bus stops nearest to you enter your street name or post code into Google Maps.  Bus stops are marked and linked to the real time bus tracker network.

The University has made a significant contribution to the Edinburgh Tram Network.  For more information on the network visit the Edinburgh Trams website.

Public Transport Costs

Lothian Buses offer a direct debit scheme for bus users.  The scheme is the cheapest long-term option for a bus pass with the company.  Visit the Lothian Buses website or read their information leaflet. 

To take advantage of an interest-free loan, made available by the University, for purchasing an annual bus pass through other companies such as First, or for an annual train pass, please click here. The amount of the loan is deducted from your salary, after tax and National Insurance deductions, in equal instalments over a 12 month period.

Car

Visit the Traffic Scotland website, prior to your journey, for information on roadworks and congestion.

Liftshare is a national web-based system that helps registered members search for people who are doing similar car journeys e.g. to/for work, either offering or requesting a lift. Liftshare also has a facility for members to network with other cyclists or walkers. For further information or to join Liftshare, visit the City of Edinburgh Liftshare Scheme.

City Car Club offers a pay as you go way of using a vehicle, providing an alternative to staff using personal cars or taxi’s to travel on University business. For example, you can take a bus to work knowing that there is a car to use at work throughout the day if you need to. Staff and students can also register for a personal membership at a reduced rate.  For a copy of relevant discount codes contact Jamie Pearson.  To search for the vehicle closest to you, visit the City Car Club website.  Car Parking at Edinburgh Napier

The University operates a controlled parking policy on the main campuses with the purchase of car parking permits required to allow access. In addition to the number plate recognition barriers which control access, the University employs dedicated car park attendants to enforce the policy.  To apply for a staff car parking permit, visit the Property & Facilities website.  Reduced rates and dedicated parking spaces are available for staff who car share.

There is limited car parking at our student accommodation sites.  Parking permits will be issues by the Accommodation Officers on the second week of the first term, on a first come first served basis.  Student accommodation permits do not allow students to park on any campus.