Walailak University Actions to Promote Sustainable Commuting on Campus
Walailak University recognizes sustainable commuting as an important component of creating a safe, accessible, environmentally responsible, and sustainable campus. Daily travel by students, staff, and visitors can contribute to traffic congestion, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions when it relies heavily on conventional fuel-powered vehicles. Promoting more sustainable modes of transportation can help reduce these impacts while supporting healthier and more convenient mobility across the university.
To encourage a shift toward more sustainable commuting practices, Walailak University has undertaken a range of measures that provide practical alternatives to private and fuel-powered transportation. These efforts are designed to make walking, cycling, shared transportation, and electric mobility more convenient and accessible for the university community. By improving transportation options and supporting lower-carbon forms of mobility, the university aims to reduce its environmental impact while creating a more pedestrian-friendly and sustainable campus for students, staff, and visitors.
Free Electric Buses
Walailak University has established an electric shuttle bus service as one of its key actions to promote more sustainable commuting and reduce reliance on private vehicles among students and staff. The university currently operates nine electric shuttle buses daily from 07:00 to 21:00, providing convenient transportation throughout the university and connecting key destinations both on and beyond the main campus. The service covers major academic and administrative buildings, student and staff dormitories, the sports complex, and the Walailak University Medical Center Hospital, offering an accessible and lower-emission alternative to individual private-vehicle use.
To encourage greater use of sustainable shared transportation, Walailak University has also introduced ViaBus, a real-time public transportation tracking application, for its electric buses, known as “Nong Man Muang.” Through the application, students and staff can view the real-time location of electric buses on a map and check their expected arrival times at selected stops. Users can access the university’s transportation system by selecting “Walailak University” from the transport systems available in the application. Providing real-time transportation information helps users plan their journeys more conveniently and supports the wider adoption of shared and sustainable transportation.
In 2025, approximately 31.5% of the Walailak University community used the electric shuttle bus service, demonstrating substantial participation in the university’s sustainable transportation system. By providing regular campus-wide transportation and accessible real-time service information, the university encourages students and staff to choose shared electric transportation instead of relying on private vehicles for daily travel between university facilities. This approach helps improve transportation efficiency while contributing to reduced fuel consumption, traffic congestion, and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
The electric shuttle bus service and ViaBus system therefore serve as practical measures within Walailak University’s broader efforts to promote sustainable commuting. Under the 2025–2028 Action Plan on Sustainable Commuting Targets, the university plans to develop an expansion strategy for its electric shuttle bus services and introduce one to two additional routes by 2028. These measures aim to expand access to low-emission public transportation, improve convenience for users, and encourage an increasing number of members of the Walailak community to adopt more sustainable transportation options in their daily journeys.
The electric shuttle buses are equipped with features that enhance both functionality and passenger comfort, including:
- Air conditioning
- USB charging ports
- Car safety hammer
- Fire extinguisher
- Full lighting systems to ensure nighttime safety
- Secure seat fastenings
- CCTV cameras to enhance passenger security
- Reserved seats for disabled people
Electric Shuttle Bus Routes and Campus Connectivity
The electric shuttle bus service operates across four routes, connecting key academic, residential, administrative, healthcare, recreational, and student facilities throughout the university. The routes include:
Route 1: WU Resident, Student Activity Building, Anatomy Building, Thai Buri Building, and Chor Pradu Food Center.
Route 2: Laksananives 14, Student Activity Building, Thai Buri Building, Lecture Building 6, Academic Building, Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Anatomy Building, and Architecture and Design Building.
Route 3: Student Activity Building, Thai Buri Building, Lecture Building 6, Walailak Park, Tha Sala Hospital, Police Station, WU Hospital, Administrative Building, Lecture Building 3, and Architecture and Design Building.
Route 4: TWU Resident, Student Activity Building, Architecture and Design Building, Thai Buri Building, Badminton Court, Sports Science Building, and Chor Pradu Food Center.
Real-Time Electric Shuttle Bus Tracking for Sustainable Commuting
Electric Motorcycle
Walailak University promotes the use of electric motorcycles as a sustainable mode of transportation for university staff conducting work-related activities across the campus. Staff from various university organizations are provided with access to electric motorcycles to travel between buildings, work areas, and other campus locations as part of their routine duties.
In 2025, a total of 30 electric motorcycles were operated across the Walailak University campus by university staff. The use of electric motorcycles provides a practical low-emission alternative to conventional fuel-powered motorcycles for short-distance work-related travel. This helps reduce fuel consumption and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining convenient mobility for staff.
The applications provide several features that improve the overall commuting experience, including:
- Live vehicle tracking: Users can view the real-time locations of electric shuttle buses on a map, allowing them to determine when and where to board and reduce unnecessary waiting time.
- Passenger load information: The system provides information on the current number of passengers on each vehicle, helping users identify available services and select less crowded buses when possible.
- Estimated arrival times and route information: Users can check expected arrival times and view route details, making it easier to plan journeys between academic buildings, residences, administrative facilities, healthcare facilities, and other key destinations.
- Service notifications and updates: The platforms can provide timely information regarding service changes, delays, or other operational updates, helping users adjust their travel plans when necessary.
- Convenient access to sustainable transportation: By making information about electric shuttle buses readily available, the system reduces uncertainty associated with shared transportation and makes it easier for students and staff to choose electric buses instead of using private vehicles.
- Support for low-carbon mobility: The tracking system complements the university’s electric shuttle bus network by improving its usability and accessibility. Together, these measures encourage a shift toward shared electric transportation, helping reduce dependence on fuel-powered vehicles, traffic congestion, and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Through the integration of digital transportation information with its electric shuttle bus service, Walailak University demonstrates how technology can be used to promote more sustainable commuting practices. Providing real-time and accessible travel information helps make sustainable transportation a practical choice for everyday campus journeys while supporting the university’s broader goals for a safer, more efficient, and lower-carbon campus mobility system.
Bus Stops and Charging Infrastructure for Sustainable Commuting
Walailak University has expanded and improved its campus bus stop infrastructure to support greater use of the electric shuttle bus system and make sustainable commuting more convenient for the university community. The university has established 16 designated bus stops at strategic locations across the campus, providing students, staff, and visitors with convenient access points for boarding and leaving the electric shuttle buses.
The strategically located bus stops help connect key academic, residential, administrative, healthcare, recreational, and student facilities across the campus. By providing clearly designated locations for passengers to wait for and access the electric shuttle service, the university helps create a more organized, safe, and accessible public transportation system. The availability of convenient bus stops also encourages members of the university community to use shared electric transportation rather than relying on individual private vehicles for short and regular journeys across campus.
In addition to the bus stop network, Walailak University has established a dedicated charging station serving as the central station for its electric shuttle bus fleet. Located near the Architecture and Design Building, the facility accommodates the university’s electric shuttle buses and supports their daily operation across the campus. This infrastructure helps ensure that the electric shuttle service can operate reliably throughout the day and maintain connections between different areas of the university.
Together, the expanded bus stop network and supporting charging infrastructure strengthen the physical foundation of Walailak University’s sustainable transportation system. By improving accessibility, convenience, and operational support for electric shuttle buses, these facilities contribute to reducing dependence on fuel-powered private vehicles, easing campus traffic, and supporting lower-carbon and more sustainable commuting practices.
Electric Tram
Walailak University’s Botanic Park provides an electric tram service to support convenient and sustainable transportation for visitors exploring the university campus and its surrounding green spaces. The service allows visitors to travel between key attractions and learning areas without relying on private vehicles, providing an environmentally friendly option for transportation within the campus and park.
The use of electric trams helps reduce reliance on conventional fuel-powered vehicles and contributes to lower fuel consumption and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports the university’s efforts to manage vehicle movement within the campus while providing visitors with a comfortable, convenient, and accessible way to experience WU’s natural, educational, and recreational areas.
As part of Walailak University’s broader efforts to promote sustainable transportation, the electric tram service demonstrates how low-emission mobility can be incorporated into campus operations and visitor services. By providing shared electric transportation, the Botanic Park encourages visitors to adopt more sustainable travel practices while contributing to a greener, more environmentally responsible university campus.
Electric Golf Cart
Walailak University promotes the use of electric golf carts for campus operations and site-based activities as part of its efforts to support sustainable transportation. Staff of the WU Botanic Park and the Division of Landscaping and Building use electric golf carts to inspect work areas, visit construction and development sites, and facilitate communication and coordination across different areas of the campus.
The use of electric golf carts provides an efficient, convenient, and low-emission option for short-distance work-related travel. By replacing some trips that would otherwise require conventional fuel-powered vehicles with electric mobility, the university can reduce fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining efficient day-to-day campus operations.
This practice demonstrates how electric transportation can be incorporated into routine university activities and supports Walailak University’s broader efforts to promote sustainable mobility. By expanding the use of electric vehicles for appropriate campus activities, the university helps reduce the environmental impacts of transportation while contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable campus environment.
Electric Document Delivery Carts
Walailak University promotes the use of electric document delivery carts for internal transportation and document distribution across the university as part of its efforts to support sustainable mobility. Staff of the Division of Procurement and Supply use these carts to deliver official documents, packages, and other materials to internal organizations and departments throughout the campus, providing an efficient and environmentally friendly option for routine transportation.
The use of electric delivery carts reduces reliance on conventional fuel-powered vehicles for short-distance transportation within the campus. By using electric mobility for regular document and package deliveries, the university can reduce fuel consumption and associated transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining efficient and timely internal services.
This practice demonstrates how electric transportation can be integrated into everyday administrative operations and used as a practical alternative to conventional vehicles. The use of electric document delivery carts contributes to Walailak University’s broader efforts to promote sustainable mobility, reduce the environmental impacts of campus transportation, and encourage more environmentally responsible university operations.
Electric Motorcycles
Electric Cars
Walailak University promotes the use of electric cars as a sustainable transportation option for students and staff travelling for university-related activities both on and off campus. The university currently operates nine fully electric cars, all BYD Dolphin vehicles. These electric cars provide an alternative to conventional fuel-powered vehicles and support the university’s efforts to reduce fuel consumption and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.
The electric cars are used particularly for trips involving small groups of students or staff. When the number of passengers does not exceed five people, the university can use an electric car instead of a larger van, helping to avoid unnecessary use of fuel-powered vehicles. This approach allows the university to select an appropriate vehicle based on the number of passengers while reducing fuel consumption and improving the efficiency of university transportation.
To support the reliable operation of its electric vehicle fleet, Walailak University has established nine dedicated charging stations for the electric cars. The charging infrastructure enables the vehicles to be recharged on campus and kept ready for university-related travel. Providing dedicated charging facilities also supports the continued use and expansion of electric mobility within the university’s daily transportation operations.
The use of electric cars, together with dedicated charging infrastructure, forms part of Walailak University’s broader efforts to promote sustainable transportation. By replacing selected conventional vehicle trips with fully electric vehicles, particularly for small-group travel, the university reduces its dependence on fossil fuels and supports the transition toward lower-emission mobility. This initiative complements the university’s wider use of electric buses, motorcycles, golf carts, and other electric transportation, demonstrating the integration of electric mobility across different aspects of campus operations.
Bicycle Lanes, Route Maintenance, and Cycling Promotion
Walailak University has been developing bicycle lanes and supporting infrastructure to encourage students and staff to choose bicycles for commuting within the campus. In 2025, a total of 163 members of the Walailak University community used bicycles for campus transportation, demonstrating the existing use of cycling as a sustainable mode of mobility.
The university also regularly monitors the condition of bicycle routes and related infrastructure to ensure that they remain safe, accessible, and suitable for daily use. In 2025, WU carried out repairs and improvements to a number of bicycle routes across the campus to address maintenance needs and ensure that the routes remained in good condition. Regular monitoring and maintenance help provide a safer and more reliable cycling environment, supporting continued use of bicycles by students and staff.
To further promote cycling as a sustainable commuting option, Walailak University aims to develop a safe, convenient, and comfortable cycling environment across the campus. WU plans to expand bicycle routes and improve connections between major destinations, including academic buildings, student dormitories, administrative areas, recreational facilities, and other key campus locations. A more continuous and accessible cycling network will enable students and staff to travel between destinations conveniently while reducing the need for motorized transportation.
In addition to infrastructure development, Walailak University aims to introduce incentives and promotional activities to encourage more members of the university community to choose bicycles for their daily journeys. These measures may include bicycle-use campaigns, cycling activities, access to bicycle-related services, and other incentives designed to make cycling more attractive and practical.
Through continuous route monitoring and maintenance, the expansion of cycling infrastructure, and the development of incentives and promotional activities, WU aims to create a more bicycle-friendly campus and encourage greater participation in sustainable commuting. These efforts contribute to the university’s broader sustainable commuting targets by reducing reliance on motorized vehicles, supporting active mobility, and promoting a healthier and more environmentally responsible campus.
Covered Walkways for Safe and Sustainable Mobility
Walailak University has developed covered walkways across the campus to provide protection from direct sunlight and rain, enabling students, staff, and visitors to travel safely and comfortably in different weather conditions. These facilities improve the convenience, accessibility, and attractiveness of walking as a practical and sustainable mode of campus transportation.
By providing continuous and comfortable pedestrian routes between key campus destinations, the university encourages members of the WU community to choose walking instead of motorized transportation for short-distance journeys. Supporting walkable campus mobility promotes healthier daily travel while helping reduce reliance on motorized vehicles and associated transportation-related emissions.
The development and maintenance of covered walkways therefore form an important part of Walailak University’s efforts to promote sustainable commuting and create a safer, more accessible, pedestrian-friendly, and environmentally responsible campus environment.
Buspool and Vanpool Services for Sustainable Staff Commuting
Walailak University provides buspool and vanpool services to support staff commuting from their hometowns and residential areas to the university campus. The services cover major districts where a significant number of university staff reside, including Tha Sala, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Sichon, and Nopphitam. By providing shared transportation along these major commuting routes, WU offers staff a convenient and practical alternative to travelling individually by private vehicle.
The buspool and vanpool services help reduce the number of private vehicles travelling to and from the campus, thereby supporting reductions in traffic congestion and transportation-related carbon emissions. Shared commuting also enables multiple staff members to travel together, making more efficient use of transportation resources and reducing the need for individual fuel consumption.
To make sustainable commuting more accessible and affordable, Walailak University provides these services at a monthly fee of only 500 baht. The affordable fare encourages staff participation and provides a practical alternative to daily private-vehicle commuting, particularly for staff travelling longer distances from surrounding districts.
Through the continued provision and expansion of buspool and vanpool services, WU aims to encourage greater participation in shared transportation and further reduce dependence on private vehicles. These services form an important component of the university’s sustainable commuting strategy and support its commitment to more efficient, affordable, and environmentally responsible staff transportation.
Walailak University’s actions to promote sustainable commuting create positive impacts across environmental, social, health, and operational dimensions. By providing practical alternatives to conventional private-vehicle travel, the university is making sustainable transportation more accessible to students, staff, and visitors while gradually encouraging a shift toward more efficient and responsible mobility practices. The combination of electric transportation, shared commuting services, cycling infrastructure, pedestrian facilities, and digital transportation information provides a diverse range of options that can respond to different travel needs across the university community.
From an environmental perspective, the increased use of electric and shared transportation helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and can lower fuel consumption and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the number of individual private vehicles travelling to and within the campus can also help ease traffic congestion and reduce unnecessary vehicle movement. The continued development of low-emission transportation contributes to the university’s broader efforts to address climate change and reduce the environmental footprint of its daily operations.
Sustainable commuting also supports healthier and more active mobility. Covered walkways and cycling routes make walking and cycling more practical for short-distance journeys, encouraging members of the university community to incorporate physical activity into their daily travel. At the same time, reducing the volume of motorized traffic can contribute to a more comfortable, pedestrian-friendly campus environment. These improvements can benefit not only regular commuters but also visitors and other users of the university’s public and recreational spaces.
The initiatives also provide practical and economic benefits. Buspool and vanpool services offer staff an affordable alternative to daily private-vehicle commuting, particularly for those travelling from surrounding districts. Electric shuttle buses provide convenient connections between major campus destinations, while real-time tracking through digital applications allows users to plan their journeys more effectively and reduces uncertainty about waiting times. Together, these measures improve the convenience, reliability, and accessibility of sustainable transportation.
For university operations, the integration of electric cars, motorcycles, golf carts, trams, and document delivery carts demonstrates that sustainable mobility can be incorporated into a wide range of routine activities, not only passenger transportation. Matching vehicles to specific operational needs can improve transportation efficiency while reducing unnecessary use of conventional fuel-powered vehicles. Dedicated charging infrastructure further supports the reliable operation and continued expansion of the university’s electric vehicle fleet.
The combined approach also strengthens a culture of sustainability within the Walailak University community. By making sustainable transportation visible and accessible in everyday campus life, WU provides practical opportunities for students, staff, and visitors to participate in environmentally responsible practices. This helps move sustainable commuting beyond a policy objective and into a regular part of campus operations and daily behavior.
Looking toward 2028, the university’s sustainable commuting targets provide a foundation for continued improvement. Planned expansion of electric transportation, shared commuting services, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, transportation information systems, and incentives for sustainable travel will further strengthen the range of available mobility options. Continued monitoring of usage, infrastructure conditions, and community participation will also help the university identify opportunities for improvement and respond to changing transportation needs.
Overall, Walailak University’s sustainable commuting initiatives contribute to a campus transportation system that is cleaner, healthier, more accessible, and more efficient. By combining infrastructure, services, technology, electric mobility, and community participation, WU is reducing the environmental impacts of transportation while improving everyday mobility for its community. These efforts support the development of a greener and more people-centered campus and demonstrate the university’s continued commitment to integrating sustainability into its daily operations and long-term campus development.
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