There are currently 2,500 car parking spaces at USC Sippy Downs, but 8,000 students and staff get to campus by single occupancy car. You do the maths.

Considering that:

• the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia with an expected annual population growth rate of 2.39% over the next ten years (Sunshine Coast Council, 2015);
• over 63% of USC’s student population are permanent residents of the Sunshine Coast (University of the Sunshine Coast, 2016); and
• 80% of USC’s students reportedly attended university by motor vehicle in 2016 and 70% of them in single occupancy cars (Hill, 2016)…

…our parking problem is only going to get worse!

Aside from the lack of available car parking spaces during peak semester times, we also face a much bigger issue – 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in South East Queensland come from road transport (Sunshine Coast Council, 2014) and cars are responsible for roughly half of all transport emissions in Australia.

We need a quick and effective solution. While we can patiently wait for a state-of-the-art light rail system on the Sunshine Coast, affordable electric cars and charging stations at every street corner, we think that sharing a ride to USC is the first step we can all take. It’s easy, free of charge, and we get to do our bit for the planet while making new friends.