As part of our environmental strategy for providing greener travel, the University offers a cycle to work scheme and a range of discounts on public transport. Those employees who need to drive to work also have access to a journey sharing scheme.
CAMbens Cycle
The Cycle to Work scheme encourages alternative travel and reduces our environmental impact. But also allows you to spread the cost of getting a new bike, save on Income Tax and National Insurance and increase your fitness. The University has a cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme.
Free 1:1 Cycle Training
Training can improve your confidence when cycling on the roads and can help you to position yourself correctly on the road and around other vehicles. Even if you've cycled for a long time, a one off lesson can help you improve your skills. Outspoken Training provide free training for staff who would like to improve their cycling ability. You can book your session online here.
Try before you Buy Scheme
The Try before You Buy scheme allows University staff to test a bike for up to 2 months for the commute to work. The University is working with Outspoken Cycles to deliver this scheme, which allows you to choose from a range of bikes, including city, hybrid, electric, folding and cargo bikes at a subsidised price of £10 per month. Find out more about the scheme here.
Pool Bikes
The University is spread across many sites in Cambridge and staff often need to travel throughout the working day. Pool bike schemes have been provided across the University for staff to enable travel at work.
Our main pool bike scheme is located at Madingley Rise (Greenwich House) these will be available via 'Booker’. The university does have some departments which operate a department only pool bike scheme, please book these with the departments directly via their receptions. Find out more about the scheme here.
Cycle lockers at Park and Rides
A limited number of bike lockers at Park and Ride sites on the fringes of Cambridge have been secured for use by University staff to enable them to be able to park a car and cycle the last few miles to their workplace. Find out more on the Sustainability SharePoint site.
Bike repairs and Dr Bike sessions
There are a number of cycle repair stations across the University, which can be found on the University map. In addition, regular Dr Bike sessions take place across the University offering staff free basic bike checks by a trained mechanic. Find out more, including upcoming dates, on the Sustainability SharePoint site.
Further details about travel options for University staff are available through the Environmental Sustainability SharePoint.
Travel Advisor Service
The University has introduced a new Travel Advisor Service to help staff explore the alternative travel options that might be available to them, perhaps looking for a commute that is healthier, greener, faster or cheaper than previous arrangements. The service may be particularly useful if you are a relatively recent or new starter. You can find out more about this service here, including a link to a booking form to arrange a conversation with a Travel Advisor, on MS Teams.
Travel to Work Loan Scheme
If you are employed by the University for three months or more you can apply for an interest-free travel to work loan up to your monthly net pay (or a maximum of £2,500, whichever is the lower). The loan is for the purchase of an annual bus or rail season ticket at standard class travel, or to assist with the purchase of a bicycle and associated safety equipment.
Discounted rail season tickets with Greater Anglia
University of Cambridge employees have access to a 10% discount on rail season tickets with Greater Anglia, via the Sustainable Travel Scheme Agreement. The discount is available on season tickets of between one and twelve months duration, from any starting point station, to Cambridge/Cambridge North stations.
This offer is available from Greater Anglia Business Travel Services only, and can’t be redeemed from a station ticket office or a ticket machine. In order to get the discount, you will need to register on the Greater Anglia website using your work (@cam.ac.uk) email address, which will be used to confirm your eligibility for the discount.
The documents available below provide more information on the offer, including an overview of the offer, instructions on requesting a quotation for the first time, and on requesting a quotation for a renewal, and the terms of service.
If you have any questions regarding season tickets or the offer, please contact Greater Anglia, either at businesstravel@greateranglia.co.uk or on 0333 332 4000 (lines are open 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays).
Greater Anglia Discounted Season Tickets documents:
Discounted rail season tickets with Great Northern
University of Cambridge employees also have access to discounts of between 3% and 13% on rail season tickets with Great Northern via Great Northern Rail Season Tickets*. The discount is available on season tickets of between one and twelve months' duration, from any starting point station, to Cambridge/Cambridge North stations.
Key Smartcard is required before you purchase your seasonal monthly discounted ticket. Visit The Key Smartcard for more information.
*Please note, the ticket prices shown on the linked website are the discounted prices.
Universal Bus
The Universal Bus service operates between Eddington and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus via West Cambridge, the city centre (Queens College, Silver Street) and Cambridge railway station. Discounts apply for University card holders, just show the driver your card and pay £1 per journey. Non University card holders also get a reduced journey price of £2. Further information is available here.
Other weekly and monthly ticket options are also available for Whippet services. For ticket options click here or visit the My Trip App.
Park & Ride
Parking in Cambridge city centre is very limited, and one of the easiest ways to travel into the centre is to use the Park and Ride service. Further details are available from the Cambridgeshire County Council website:
Further details about travel options for University staff are available through the Environmental Sustainability SharePoint.
Lift Share
There is also the public scheme “Camshare” provided by Lift Share. This county-wide lift-share system is managed and operated by Cambridgeshire County Council. This scheme has over 5,000 potential car-sharing matches to potential savings on your commute. Click here to find out more.
Enterprise Car Club
Employees can access the entire fleet of Enterprise Car Club vehicles across Cambridge & the UK, including vehicles parked in Eddington, at the Judge Business School and the West Cambridge Car Park near the Hauser Forum for work related journeys.
You can create a free corporate membership, and the University will fund the hourly rate charged from the central budget for travel at work journeys, requiring no payment from your department. Visit the Sustainability SharePoint site.
Using Enterprise Car Club for personal journeys
To get personal membership for free, enter promotion code "CORPECC” upon joining. All you need to pay is the hourly rental charge.
For more information, including current rental costs, visit the Enterprise Car Club web page for Cambridge.
Further details about travel options for University staff are available through the Environmental Sustainability SharePoint.