Mobility is about access, sustainability, and the daily rhythms that shape university life. During Mobility Month, Stellenbosch University (SU) Transport Services reflects on the systems that enable thousands of staff, students, and visitors to move across and beyond its campuses. From shuttle services and vehicle fleets to Matie Bikes and parking management, Transport Services play a central role in ensuring SU remains a connected, accessible, and future-focused institution.
The infrastructure that supports a typical day is not often considered: the student who relies on a shuttle from a general parking area, the lecturer cycling to campus using secure bike sheds, or a Maties Sport team travelling to represent SU off-site. Transport Services supports each journey, whose mandate extends beyond logistics to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable transport in line with SU’s Innovation and Commercialisation Vision Statement.
With branches on both Main and Tygerberg campuses, the division manages the University’s entire vehicle fleet, provides financing options and procurement expertise, and oversees parking and shuttle systems that keep the flow of people and activities at SU running smoothly.
According to public records, SU was the first South African University to formally introduce a university-sponsored bicycle-rental scheme. Since 2012 the Matie Bikes initiative has provided staff and students with affordable, gearless bicycles. These were first imported through a partnership with the Bike Empowerment Network (BEN) and have since been updated to include a fleet of maroon bikes from 2016. Earlier this year, a generous donation of 150 decommissioned bicycles was made by Transport Services to underserved communities, and later this year a new fleet will be added. The University also has multiple safe bicycle sheds located on and around campus for convenience.
With rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and a growing demand on campus infrastructure, mobility planning is central to SU’s sustainability and accessibility goals. By balancing traditional fleet and parking management with Matie Bikes and shuttle initiatives, Transport Services is shaping a mobility model that benefits the entire SU community.
Mobility Month offers a reminder that transport is not just about getting from one place to another but about making informed choices. Whether it’s cycling, taking the shuttle, or exploring shared vehicle options, each decision contributes to a more connected and sustainable campus.
For more information about Stellenbosch University Transport Services, click here.