Workplace Travel Plans
A workplace travel plan sets out steps to encourage staff to travel to work by public transport, on foot, by bike or by car share.
(Smarter Choices. DfT 2004)
Evidence from the Smarter Choices research suggests that local authorities will stand the best chance of having an impact if they employ a dedicated team of workplace travel officers to promote travel planning to business.
Travel plans will vary according to business circumstances but might include some of the following –
Dedicated work buses
Personal journey plans
Season ticket loans
Special travel deals
Secure cycle parking
Changing facilities
Car sharing schemes
Restricted parking
Parking charges
Variations to work hours
New public services
Travel information centre
Newsletters and publicity
Car free bonuses
Case study:
Birmingham City Council operates an initiative called Company Travelwise which offers a menu of options. One attractive benefit is a 50% discount on public transport season tickets for those who give up driving to work. Some 165 companies are affiliated to Company Travelwise, 20 of which are support companies. About 29% of Birmingham’s workforce are now employed by organisations affiliated to Company Travelwise.
Case Study:
Bristol City Councils workplace travel plan programme involves contact with 85 employers and nearly 30,000 employees. There are some award schemes for car use reduction and grant schemes for employers. Some plans have achieved reductions in car use in excess of 10%. Other linked initiatives include showcase bus routes, car clubs, car share and a dense network of cycle tracks.
Other areas with workplace travel plan initiatives in place are –
- Cambridgeshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Merseyside
- Nottingham
- York
Lancashire County Council only employs one full-time Workplace Travel Plan Officer, supplemented by one other employee working for the EDZ areas of Lancaster & Morecambe District.