Results of the 2023 Biennial Transportation Survey are now available on the Transportation Services website.
Transportation Services has conducted the biennial transportation survey since 1979. It studies how UW employees and students get to and from campus.
Snapshot of Results
The 2023 survey shows that on good weather days:
- 41% of students walk to campus.
- 29% of students ride the bus (including campus routes 80, 81, 82, and 84).
- 17% of faculty and staff ride a bicycle.
- 57% of faculty and staff drive alone.
- 6% of UW Hospital and Clinics employees ride a bicycle.
- 79% of UW Hospital and Clinics employees drive alone.
On bad weather days:
- 20% of students walk.
- 60% of students ride the bus (including campus routes 80, 81, 82, and 84).
- 18% of faculty and staff ride the bus.
- 56% of faculty and staff drive alone.
- 5% of UW Hospital and Clinics employees ride the bus.
- 80% of UW Hospital and Clinics employees drive alone.
According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a program of the UW Population Health Institute, the national drive alone rate is 73%. In the state of Wisconsin, the drive alone rate is 78%. This is based on data from 2017-2021.
Accessibility Improvements
The 2023 survey incorporated several important changes to ensure its accessibility.
- Translated surveys were offered in the non-English languages recognized by UW (Spanish, Hmong, Tibetan, Chinese, and Nepali).
- Paper surveys were offered to employees who do not have regular access to computers at work.
- The survey was reviewed for plain language, accessibility, and mobile friendliness.
Past Surveys
Biennial modes survey results from 2013 to 2023 are available on the Transportation Services website.
For more information, contact the Commuter Solutions team at tdm@fpm.wisc.edu.