Work travel planning
"More than eight out of ten cars used for commuting or for business have just one person in them" (Department for Transport).
Travelling to work by car is often the favoured mode of transport for employees, but why do so many of us choose to sit in traffic jams, usually at peak traffic times, and arrive stressed and flustered?
It is the kind of scenario that happens on a daily basis for many people. In Oxfordshire, traffic is forecast to rise by 25% by 2026, well above the national average of 18% (Oxfordshire Local Transport Plan). Knowing this we can choose to change the way we travel and reduce this figure.
A workplace travel plan is a package of measures put in place by an employer to encourage and enable their employees to use greener, more sustainable modes of transport both to and during the course of 
work. This benefits not only the environment, through the reduction of congestion and pollution, but also individual employees by encouraging healthier travel choices such as cycling or walking. The employer can benefit too through reduced business mileage costs. There are also recruitment benefits, as new employees will choose to work in a location well served by public transport, and with facilities to encourage cycling and walking.
Different businesses will approach work travel plans in different ways, but from large multi-national companies to small independent retailers, there is something we can all do to contribute.
What can businesses do?
- Appoint a travel co-ordinator
- Endorse travel planning at the highest management level
- Carry out a site audit and staff survey to find out about current facilities, and the travel patterns of employees and visitors
- Provide high quality travel information to help employees and visitors choose non-car travel
- Introduce a car-sharing scheme
- Limit parking rights, one of the most direct and effective ways of reducing staff car use
- Introduce a car free day every week
- Make it easy – and expected – to choose bus or rail rather than the car for longer business trips.
- Improve facilities for cyclists, such as secure storage and shower facilities
- A Government scheme exists that can save employees around 50% off the cost of a new cycle
- www.green-office.org.uk/audit.php?goingto=factsheet7#1
A travel plan will enable a business to:
- Reduce the cost and environmental impact of running a fleet
- Ease congestion on and around the site, improving access for customers and clients
- Improve staff health and potentially decrease staff sick days
- Become more competitive in the local recruitment market
- Reduce mileage claims
- Release land currently used as car parks for more productive use. Reduce security and other running costs.
- Cut down on insurance and business rates
