The journey to work has become increasingly frustrating for all commuters irrespective of how you travel.
Increasing congestion results in longer journey times which imposes costs to businesses and individuals, with traffic growth growing at 3% per year, things can only get worse unless we modify our travel behaviour.
Increased road traffic is detrimental to our environment, poor for our health and augments road casualties.
An initiative has been developed termed ‘Travel Plans’ focusing on work related transport issues to contribute towards solving the above problems.
What is a Travel Plan?
A package of measures adopted by an employer to widen travel choice – primarily aimed at commuters but also covering business travel and visitors.
A Travel Plan aims to reduce the impact of work-generated travel on the environment and wider community and at the same time bring benefits to the employer and their staff.
Travel Plans are specific to individual employers according to circumstances, they need to adapt over time according to changes and results of monitoring.
They are not anti-car but aim to promote sensible and appropriate use emphasising alternatives when viable – in effect creating a level playing field for all staff.
What Does a Travel Plan Involve?
Assessment of current transport links and infrastructure
Comprehensive staff travel survey and postcode mapping
Management support and staff time devoted to the plan
Measures to promote walking – making sure the site is pedestrian friendly
Supporting cycling by provision of adequate cycle parking, lockers and showers/changing facilities. Consider loans for cycle purchase and payment of a mileage allowance to cyclists for business.
Encouraging use of Public Transport – ensuring timetable information is widely available, giving loans or discounts for season ticket purchase.
Promoting car sharing through use of a database – with priority parking provided to car sharers.
Introducing a system of pool cars and /or pool cycles.
Effective car parking management policies to ensure any parking is allocated according to need.
Promoting flexible working practices – flexitime, compressed working week, and home-working.
Encouraging business mileage by Public Transport or cycling
Ensuring visitors have directions that include all forms of transport
The above is not an exhaustive list of measures but gives an idea of some policies that are applicable. Many employers may initially be reluctant to adopt a full plan so implementation of any of the above is welcome and can help. Many of the measures can be introduced easily and can still have an impact. Travel Plans require only a relatively minor shift away from singly occupied cars to be effective.
Benefits to Employers by Adopting Travel Plans
Reduced demand for car parking can enable the space to be put to more productive use
Employees who walk or cycle will be healthier and more productive
Reduced congestion equates to time and thus money savings
Savings can be made on business mileage costs and in addition, time spent on public transport can be productive.
Help for employees who commute by means other than in a car on their own ensures all staff are treated equally.
National planning policies now require comprehensive Travel Plans for new developments. – If your company is seeking to expand you will need to implement a Travel Plan to gain planning permission.
Central Government could impose a workplace parking charge tax levy and compel authorities to charge for vehicles to enter town centres. Promoting alternatives now will ease the burden when this happens.
As Travel Plans become more common, perceptive potential employees will expect employers to have measures in place to encourage sustainable transport. Several major employers in Bournemouth already have Travel Plans.
Adopting a travel plan will improve the environmental image of your organisation and create positive relations with the community by reduced adjacent on-street parking.
Reduced congestion, pollution and an improved transport infrastructure benefits the whole community
What you can do as an Employee
Evaluate how you travel to work and if you drive in a car on your own consider changing to another mode even if its only once or twice a week.
Share your journey to work with a colleague or friend.
Ask your employer if they have or are planning to implement a Travel Plan or measures to help employees who do not drive to work alone in cars. Many employers already have such policies but they are poorly promoted.
Think how your health and stress levels could be improved if you are able to cycle or walk to work.
Research alternatives – they may be easier and cheaper than you think!
Some Interesting Facts about Transport
Traffic in the Bournemouth area is currently growing by around 3% a year – if this rate continues congestion can only get worse
Traffic delays cost this country £15 billion a year – according to the CBI
25 % of households in Bournemouth have no access to a car
58% of car trips are under 5 miles and 25% less than 2 miles – giving considerable potential to change mode for some of these journeys.
A season ticket on local buses can cost as little as £1.00 a day
A 10% increase in the number of regular cyclists would save the NHS £200 Million a year – regular cyclists are as fit as non-cyclists 10 years younger.
In a survey of organisations that have Travel Plans the average annual running cost per employee was £47 compared to the estimated annual running cost of a car parking space at £300-500.
Summary
Awareness of the detrimental effect of unrestrained car use on society and the environment is increasing and measures to help make alternatives more viable, such as bus and cycle lanes are becoming more common. Development of Travel Plans by employers can make a major contribution to reducing traffic growth and congestion – particularly at peak times. Travel Plans are not anti–car but aim to promote alternatives that are often more appropriate for the journey to work. This way our transport system can be freed up for all users making car journeys where there is no alternative easier. The council has responsibilities to improve infrastructure to enable better transport but local employers need to evaluate how their employees travel to and at work for results to be achieved. The quality of our natural environment is one of Bournemouth’s prime assets and the negative impact of traffic growth can only reduce the attraction of Bournemouth as a place to live and work.
Contact Us
For more information about Workplace Travel Plans please contact:
Bournemouth Borough Council Planning & Transport Town Hall Annexe St. Stephen’s Road BOURNEMOUTH BH2 6EA
Tel: (01202) 451185 (during normal office hours), Fax (01202) 451008, or Email: Highways
Useful Links
Transport Energy - a Government website detailing help and guidance with Travel Plans and their preparation.