Please note, this survey is open to University of Bristol Staff and Students ONLY
Who is conducting the travel survey?
The survey is being undertaken by Sustainability (Transport), Campus Division.
Why should I complete the travel survey?
Your views are important to us. In 2023, over 3,100 staff and 1,900 students completed the survey.
Results from the survey give us the data we need to improve how we all get to, from, and around
campus.
Is the survey anonymous?
Yes. It is anonymous, and how we handle the data we receive is designed to protect that. The survey
does not automatically collect any names, email addresses, IDs, IP addresses or device information, nor
does the JISC software used to host the survey. If you choose to identify yourself in the free-text boxes,
this will also be treated confidentially. It asked that no responses identify other individuals. There is an
‘About this survey’ and a ‘Privacy notice’ on the introduction to the survey. These explain how we intend
to use the information we receive.
When creating any survey, we work closely with the University’s Data Protection (including Information
Compliance) and Student Surveys Teams. This ensures that our processes and handling of the data are
appropriate and in line with legal guidance.
If you have any questions in relation to this, further information about the University’s use of personal
data see here or please contact the team at data-protection@bristol.ac.uk.
How can I participate?
We’re aiming for everyone to complete the survey, so please help spread the word. There are many
ways to complete the survey:
How often does the survey take place?
The combined University of Bristol Staff and Student travel survey is organised every two years during
the same three weeks in November and December. It’s conducted across the whole university, and staff
and students of all types are welcome and encouraged to take part.
Although we try our very best to ensure and advise that other surveys don’t overlap, it’s not always
possible with such a large University presence. Therefore, there may be other (local) surveys taking place
at the same time.
How long will it take me to complete the survey?
The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Why are there so many questions?
The travel survey is our primary method of obtaining data on travel behaviour. The better we
understand how our staff and students travel to work and study, the greater the potential for new
initiatives to be successful and our resources to be used wisely.
Are any of the questions mandatory?
There are only 9 mandatory questions for staff and postgraduate researchers, and 7 for undergraduates
and postgraduate taught students. However, we hope you will complete all of the questions in as much
detail as possible.
Why do you ask me for my postcode?
Postcodes will not be used for communication in any form. However, they are important in assessing
travel behaviours when we can understand where people are travelling from/to. These questions are not
mandatory.
Why are you asking me to share details about my gender and age group?
We recognise that our individual identities and circumstances can influence how we travel. To better
understand how our differences influence our experience, we are asking a couple of questions relating
to diversity. This will help us to identify areas where we can target action to ensure we can all feel
included and supported. Please be assured that this information is anonymised as mentioned and will
be treated in the strictest confidence, used for monitoring and reporting purposes only in relation to
this survey, and securely stored in line with GDPR.
Can I see the results of previous surveys?
Previous survey key findings are available on the University’s website: Travel Surveys
When will the results of the 2025 staff survey be available?
We hope to have completed the analysis of the 2025 staff survey in February 2026. When complete, the
key findings will be available on the above website.
Who do I contact about the survey?
If your question has not been answered above, please contact the Transport team on transport-plan@bristol.ac.uk.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this year’s survey.
