The Case for Better Travel Planning Terri Vogt Group Head of CSR FirstGroup
Some Facts 21.8 million hours daily are spent commuting in the UK 24% of all car journeys are less than 2 miles (easily walked) 57% are less than 5 miles (easily cycled) We walk 198 miles per annum We drive 5811 miles per annum Obesity costs businesses 1.45 billion annually in sicknessrelated absence Congestion costs the UK around 11 billion in GDP each year Car traffic is 87% greater than in 1980 and still rising
Some More Facts How we currently commute to work 69% of people drive to work with 84% of those vehicles having only one occupant, the driver 8% go by bus 4% by train 11% walk 3% cycle 4% use other modes (such as motorcycling)
Implications for Organisations Planning restrictions on parking for new developments (Section 106 Agreements) Rising parking costs Rising accommodation costs Business travel costs Implications for health and well-being Implications for employee retention Growing number of organisations developing new approaches to travel and working
Business Drivers Cost Savings Flexible working Reduced car parking Reduced costs of business travel Reduction in office space saves BT nearly $950 million per annum. FirstGroup reduced business travel costs by half through greater use of video and audio conferencing BAA Heathrow avoided 8 million multistory car parking due to Airport Carshare scheme
Business Drivers Staff retention Planning restrictions Well being Carbon savings A way to engage staff in environmental issues Community relations Environment Agency environmental example reduced business miles by 385,000 per year Cobalt Park, North Tyne Side driver to improve staff retention as existing occupiers had cited transport as a key reason for staff leaving Halcrow Active travel strategy contributed significantly to reduction in sick days
How to create a travel plan Identify business drivers Identify your travel related challenges Create a project team Establish a baseline Set objectives Develop an implementation programme Evaluate and improve
Rethinking Commuting Active travel Cycling and Walking Cycle to Work Schemes Walking and cycling buddies National Bike Week Cycling clubs Walking challenges link to well being Fosters increased number of people cycling to work from 15% to 31% Bentley Crewe 11% of employees cycle to work
Rethink Commuting Public Transport Operators can work with you to develop Travel Planning Solutions Competitive pricing for weekly, monthly and annual ticket schemes Development of Travel Plan Toolbox Post code analysis mapping employees/workplace/first routes New starter initiatives Travel diaries/personalised information Staff Open Days/Green Days/ITWMC Day etc. Tools to calculate cost savings commuters can make by taking the bus Bespoke ticketing solutions such as Cashless vouchers Taking the bus is one third less stressful than taking the car Trials conducted by University of Sussexhttp://www.greenerjourneys.com/
First Corporate Travel Club Seeks to offer employees an easy way to buy a ticket Employers like the scheme because it requires nothing more than internal promotion Promotes the FirstYear ticket unlimited travel in the chosen region Tickets sent directly to employees on a monthly basis Care UK first to sign up in August 2010 The largest independent provider of health and social care services in the UK
First Salary Sacrifice Bus to Work Scheme A UK compliant offering which enables employers to offer members of staff savings of up to 50% on the cost of weekly travel The scheme is easy to set up and administer Employees save money appropriate to their income tax rate by having the price of the ticket deducted from salary. First provide support in establishing and promoting the scheme. Employees receive their discounted ticket at home each month. Simon Wilson Simon.wilson@firstgroup.com 07702 775709
Rethinking Commuting Sharing Car sharing Car clubs where available option to promote through company as well as use for business travel
Rethinking Business Travel Consider other modes Establishing low carbon vehicle fleet Use of car clubs Use of Technology video/audio conferencing
Rethinking working patterns Use of technology to encourage flexible and homeworking Cultural challenges A Department for Transport 2008 survey of the extent of working at home in the UK showed that: 3% of workers surveyed always worked from home, A further 7% worked from home at least once a week rather than going to their normal workplace, A further 11% worked from home at least once a month or less often rather than going to their normal workplace. 78% never worked from home
Monitoring and measurement % shift in mode Absence Car parking occupancy Cycle scheme participants Carbon footprint of site Carbon associated with business travel Employee satisfaction surveys Retention/well being measures Published emission factors available to calculate carbon emissions
Behaviour Change Challenge Things that are more likely to encourage behaviour change Introduce change as part of an overall changeinduction Making it easy Personal advice Smarter Choices experience Financial incentives Explanation of benefits to employee rather than environment
Attitudinal Segmentation Die Hard Drivers Complacent Car Addicts Malcontented Motorists Aspiring Environmentalists Car Sceptics Car Aspirers Reluctant Riders See: Anable, J. (2005) Complacent Car Addicts or Aspiring Environmentalists? Identifying Travel Behaviour Segments Using Attitude Theory. Transport Policy. 12 (1), pp.65-78
Employer Benefits encourages employees to reduce their carbon footprint aids employee satisfaction and retention reduces the organisation s contribution to traffic congestion demonstrates it commitment to CSR strategies improves the chance of success in planning applications through its actions to reduce parking requirements and traffic congestion reduces the cost of business travel
Employee Benefits helps reduce the stress and cost of commuting to work reduces the wear and tear on private vehicles reduces the cost of commuting helps employees reduce their carbon footprint Health and well being benefits
Resources http://www.nbtn.org.uk/ways2work/ http://www.nbtn.org.uk/ways2work/whodoesit - good for wide ranging case studies www.chooseanotherway.com www.travelinescotland.com 0871 200 22 33