West Midlands TravelWise Travel Planning Seminar How do I start? Producing a plan of action. Richard White Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

How to get started Current travel plans need to be investigated. Other alternative methods of travel need to be investigated & promoted - cycling, walking, public transport, car sharing. Alternative ways of working need to be considered – flexitime, compressed working week, working from home, teleworking/telecommuting teleconferencing, pool cars etc.

Step 2: Consultation Consult widely & publicise results of the survey & site audit to your staff: –Staff meetings (face-to-face contact) –Raising awareness (leaflets, posters) –Individual contacts (phone, fax, , intranet, website) –Publicity (in salary slips, on notice boards) –Identify role models and champions

Quick Win Measures for SMEs It is practical to put travel planning measures into effect straight away These are neither time-consuming, nor costly Here are some examples …

Making Travel Plans Work Public Transport

Making Travel Plans Work Car Sharing

Making Travel Plans Work Cycling

Making Travel Plans Work Agile working

Remember! A small shift in behaviour = big benefits Travel Plans improve access, moral & health Reduce development constraints Plus point for environmental certification

Take note…. Recognise that behaviour change takes a long time Identify and target those who are more likely to change travel behaviour Don’t lecture or nag people Avoid positioning the car as the problem –‘cars won’t work without public transport’ Build on what already works locally –Look for successful initiatives, themes and ideas –Notably Travelwise Avoid fragmentation –Concentrate on a few topics each year

identify the key messages  Staff need to understand why the plan is being developed and that it has senior management support.

identify the markets  Communication must reach every individual in the organisation so they can be properly informed about the Travel Plan and the measures being implemented as part of it.

methods of communication  line management, team meetings  Noticeboards,  newsletters,  pay slips,  intranet/internet, website  user groups or  promotional events

Communication Early as possible – survey etc Strategy- plan it! Be Positive- not anti-car

Maintaining momentum Put together a campaign Hold a launch event – i.e. Travel to Work fair Create a brand image Publicise success Annual survey

Small actions can be implemented quickly and have low or no cost attached. These may be particularly attractive to smaller businesses allowing them to play their part without the resources and commitment that a full travel plan may take. 1. Post up-to-date local bus and train timetables on notice-boards and links on your Intranet. 2. Make use of all your internal communications systems, newsletters, Intranet, s, posters, cascade briefings, monthly reports to raise awareness. 3. Encourage participation in the initiative you are promoting through a leaflet in payslips. 4. Support national initiatives to promote what you are doing, such as Bike to Work Week. 5. Identify staff whose work would be particularly suitable for homeworking and who would be willing to try it. Even one day a fortnight would be 10% less commuting. 6. Promote walking and cycling using information supplied from the internet BHF or NHS. Post it on notice-boards and on the Intranet. 7. If feasible, move cycle racks nearer to the main entrance. Show the cyclists you value them and make a statement to visitors.

8. Offer a cycle allowance for business trips, and even a walking allowance. 9. Encourage meetings that are accessible (both venue and timing) via public transport. 10. Do not have reserved car parking spaces for specific staff - even senior staff, who should lead by example. 11. Review business mileage for the past 6 or 12 months and set targets for reduction, with a prize for the winning individual/ department. 12. Introduce a ticket purchasing scheme which enables staff to order their train ticket through the company. By not having to pay for it out of their own pocket and claim later, it saves the employee time. 13. Monitor the use of tele-conferencing or video-conferencing and calculate the number of miles and time saved by having a log book available. This can also be turned into tyres saved and emission reductions and used for promoting the scheme. 14. Promote the health aspects of not using the car, i.e. benefits of brisk walks or cycling. 15. Raise awareness of car ownership costs to the individual. 16. Promote the travel plan through a roll-over weekly raffle for all those who travelled to work by a sustainable mode.

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