Travel Plan Networks

Jakub Bojczuk

Types of networks

• Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)

• Development Zones• Area Based Groups• Transport Management Associations (TMAs)

The right match

• Geographical (ie Area Based)• Industry based (NHS networks)• Existing business parks, estates, etc.

Barriers versus Opportunities

Barrier Opportunity

Small organisations feel left out

Everyone is equal, smaller organisations might benefit from the facilities of bigger organisations, e.g. Holiday Inn Sutton, NPL Sports Ground.

Problem with shared measures

Involvement in joint campaigns, e.g. Bike Week.

Highway problems Engagement with local engineers, engaging with TfL, London Buses, TOCs. Members can work together to maximise influence on these bodies.

Lack of profile in the borough

Carrying out joint consultations, informing councilors and attending various consultations, town management meetings etc.

Legacy Raising the voice of the network, high profile events

Attendance at the meetings

Regular emails/phone calls, newsletters, website.

Difficulties in encouraging more organisations.

Use successes of the network. Existing companies can be used as case studies. Current initiatives can be offered to all.

Teddington Travel to Work Background

• The network was created in November 2007, with the aim of reducing congestion in and around Teddington;

• The area has historically had a particular problem with congestion and parking;

• A number of large employers in the area have been willing to work together to resolve the transport issues;

• The network currently consists of 14 members – including large and small businesses, a charity, a health institution and a university.

Commitments

• SWELTRAC acts as the lead organisation, supported by Richmond Council;

• Each member organisation has staff members on the steering group, these are the travel plan co-ordinators from each site;

• These members are either senior management or acting with senior management approval;

• The group meets quarterly to maintain momentum and communication.

Network vision

“To facilitate smarter choices for travel to work in Teddington, including walking, cycling, public

transport and car sharing, in order to reduce the

negative impacts of single occupancy car travel on

congestion, carbon emissions, the environment

and health.”

Measures• Seven member organisations have their own voluntary travel plan, with associated measures to reduce reliance on single occupancy car use in the town. These include:– Car park management (including priority for car sharers);

– Cycle to work schemes;– Sufficient, covered secure cycle parking.

• Other measures, for the whole network include:– Bike events– Travel information leaflets– Dr Bike sessions– Dedicated website.

Teddington Bike to Work Week

• During June 2009, the network ran a series of very successful events across locations in the town.

• These events intended to raise the profile of cycling in Teddington and bring together staff from different organisations.

• This proved to be popular with keen and non-cyclists, and following the overwhelming success further events are planned for June 2010.

“Travel to Teddington” leaflets

• We have produced 5,000 leaflets showing all bus and cycle routes and train stations within approximately 20 minutes walk of the centre of Teddington.

• The leaflets also outline the bus frequencies and other useful information about travelling to and around the area.

Dr Bike

• Regular on-site Dr Bike and Cycle Maintenance courses are run at most sites in the network.

• ‘Great Service, good advice. Our employer Tearfund is very pro bike use and green transport. What I learnt today will help keep my bike running smoothly and help me to do more maintenance in future’

Website• New, dedicated Teddington website, created as part of wider SWELTRAC rebranding;

• Updated with news and information following feedback from members;

• Interactive version of Teddington map to be added soon.

Communication

• Quarterly themed meetings;• Newsletters following each meeting;

• Travel plan launches (e.g. At NMO, which was covered in the local newspaper);

• Dedicated website;• Teddington Bike to Work Week;• Travel to Teddington leaflets distributed to staff.

Newsletters

• Follows each meeting;

• Contains informal notes on the meeting as well as any further information;

• Latest newsletter to be sent out as email campaign to minimise costs.

Travel plan launches• Individual organisations launch their travel plan to staff with an event possibly including merchandise, prize draw, cycle maintenance;

• The NMO travel plan launch was attended by a Richmond councillor and covered in the local press.

EvaluationIndicator Figure

Network Meeting attendance Consistently over 70%

Individual organisations

Organisations that have surveyed staff in the last 2 years

10 members (over 30% response rates for all)

Organisations with travel plan adopted

7 members

Teddington Bike to Work Week

Interest in cycling eventsAround 400 staff from 9

organisations attended the events in June 2009

Bikes checked by maintenance person

71 bikes checked

Bikes security tagged by police

82 bikes tagged

London Workplace Cycle Challenge

Organisations signed up4 members (out of a total of

280 across London)

Distance registered26,820 km cycled during June

2009

Dr Bike and Cycle Maintenance courses

Organisations buying in21 Dr Bike sessions booked

and 6 cycle maintenance courses organised

Bikes checked at sessions

So far around 150 bikes have been checked at 11 Dr Bike sessions – all sessions over-subscribed

Results• Two organisations have recently undertaken reviews of their travel plans. These surveys have shown a positive modal shift from 2006-07 to 2009-10 at both organisations. The combined results indicate a 3% reduction in single-occupancy vehicle use.

• These results are particularly positive given that the initial surveys were undertaken in spring/summer while the latest surveys ran in the winter months.

• Similar positive results expected when further travel plans are reviewed before September.

Cost saving

• A major benefit of the project is that the management can be kept in-house and the management cost decreases as the network is more established (regular meetings are hosted by individual organisations, SWELTRAC now has electronic newsletters), achievement to date makes it easier to promote the network to other organisations).

Future cost benefits

We estimate that benefits to organisations and individuals in 2010/11 as a result of activities taken in 2009/10 include:

• car parking reduction following car sharing scheme implemented at LGC (30 spaces are car-share dedicated, 30 x £2,000 per annum) – this is to be rolled out across the network;

• 36 people cycling instead of driving alone as a direct result of Bike Week events, each is estimated to save £784 p/a if this switch is permanent;

• Any network budget is focused on initiatives identified following consultation with members.

ConsultationProposed initiative Score

Cycle maintenance courses 4.38

Mapping of Teddington 4.23

On-site Dr Bike sessions 4.00

Bike events 3.92

Promotional material for the workplace 3.62

Travel Plan toolkit 3.62

Individual site maps 3.54

New webpages 3.46

Grants for the installation of small-scale infrastructure 3.23

Smarter driver training 3.15

Roadshows 3.15

Car-sharing 3.08

Workplace Cycle Challenge 3.08

Cycle Trial Scheme 3.00

Car clubs 2.92

Merchandise 2.92

Corporate cycle training 2.77

Teddington Bicycle User Group 2.15

Innovation• The network is entirely voluntary and members have little in common, apart from their locations (within 1km of Teddington Rail Station).

• Members have built up strong working relationships, sharing best practice and benefitting from economies of scale (e.g. shared bike events).

• Regular on-site Dr Bike and Cycle Maintenance courses are run, following direct consultation with members.

• Innovative travel information maps have been produced and provided to all staff.

Other initiativesInitiative Timescales

Smarter Driving Training Available to all - from February

Walk to Work Week (26-30 April 2010)

Promotional materials available to all

Teddington Bike to Work Week 2(19-27 June 2010)

Event or series of events organised for all

Free Cycle Parking Available to workplaces that have recently developed or reviewed their travel plan - ongoing

Match-funding

Grants for on-site cyclist facilities

Available to workplaces that have recently developed or reviewed their travel plan - from March

Cycle 50% Challenge

Travel Plan Toolkit

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Commerce Awards

• Teddington Travel to Work Network was shortlisted for the Pan-European Workplace Mobility Plan Award (PEWTA)

Questions?

Jakub Bojczuk – j.bojczuk@richmond.gov.uk +4420 8891 7665

Nick Bailey – nicholas.bailey@richmond.gov.uk +4420 8487 5364

http://teddington.sweltrac.org.uk/