A proven way to reduce car use is through Green Travel Plans, where an employer, with staff and unions, works out how to reduce car use by encouraging more cycling, walking, public transport, car sharing, more flexible hours and home-working. Big differences are now being made, especially at hospitals, schools, business parks and town halls.
CILT's research has included surveys of London Boroughs in 1997 and 1998 as to their progress on implementing plans to encourage their staff to travel in more environmentally friendly ways. All 33 authorities responded both times. The 1997 results are in the CILT publication Green Commuter Plans - London Boroughs' Progress by David Hurdle and Yarlini Rajesparan.
In 1998, we produced The Complete 'Green Transport Plan' for Local Authorities, which contains the results of the 1998 survey but goes beyond conventional Green Transport Plans, not only by covering the 'greening' of local authority vehicle fleets, but also covering travel by suppliers delivering goods to local authorities and the travel of users and visitors as well. It includes survey results, good practice guidelines, a checklist of 76 actions, and useful contact details. It is a valuable 'how to' report, demonstrating how businesses and organisations can contribute towards traffic reduction.
CILT has undertaken a number of consultancy projects on the subject. Clients include the Park Royal Partnership, London's largest business park, Barnet Health Authority, and Central Middlesex Hospital N.H.S. Trust. In the case of Park Royal CILT was asked to evaluate the results of travel surveys of employees at 14 major companies. The way forward was then spelt out in terms of immediate and longer term actions, ways to progress them, and principles to adopt. Finally CILT's report highlighted existing initiatives and strengths to build on and relevant good practice by other businesses elsewhere.
However, getting the right transport measures in place is one thing. Winning employees' 'hearts and minds', and securing senior management commitment and culture change throughout an organisation is quite another! These can be major stumbling blocks. This is where Travel Light’s broad range of skills comes in - offering much more than traditional transport planning ideas and solutions.
In late spring 2000, CILT was involved in the launch of a new Green Travel Plan consultancy. Travel Light comprises CILT plus two independent consultants, Tony Emerson and Romney Tansley. Their expertise covers professional development, organisational change, quality management and 'Investors in People'. Travel Light Ltd is a private company, operating as a co-operative consortium, and was incorporated on 8th February 2000.
Travel Light intends to engage in a wide range of activity. It will shortly be running a workshop at a London Borough Council’s conference on travel plans, and is awaiting the outcome of submitting a proposal in partnership with University College London for a D.E.T.R. research project. This involves measuring the costs and benefits of re-allocating roadspace to cyclists.