Effective Workplace Travel Plans
A travel plan sets out to combat over-dependency on cars by boosting all the possible alternatives to single occupancy car use. By reducing car miles it can not only benefit the environment but can produce financial benefits and productivity improvements, saving both the business and its staff money and time. Travel Plans often involve only limited capital expenditure, on items such as new cycle shelters, footpaths, bus stops or car park barriers. Mostly they concentrate on improving existing travel choices whilst giving incentives to use more sustainable travel and disincentives to solo car use. This is backed up by information campaigns to inform staff about travel alternatives that offer them realistic options.
Travel by public transport requires more thought and planning than stepping into the car. People can easily be put off by failing to find up-to-date information about services, or worrying whether the train is not in fact running that day. This is where the employer can help by, for example, preparing travel plans specific to that employee and listing the bus or train routes available along with timetables. If the employee chooses to walk or cycle then suitable routes can be identified and a travel map produced. An employer may choose to sub-contract out this planning work to a local sustainable travel group or consultancy at relatively low cost.
Travel Plans can not only benefit the local community by reducing traffic volumes and, as a result, air pollution and GHG emissions but are also an easy entry to a healthier life style. Health guidelines recommend moderate exercise for at least half an hour five times a week, which can fit perfectly with walking or cycling to work. Staff who are physically active for 20 minutes a day take less than half the annual sick leave of staff who are only active for 10 minutes a day.
Clearly, large organisations such as local authorities can expect major returns from the introduction of Workplace Travel Plans but small to medium sized enterprises can also adopt such practices and achieve significant reductions in car use at a national level from the cumulative effort.