News
Big City Employers Sign Up To Traffic Easing Plan
SOME of the biggest companies in Southampton are putting their weight behind a major new initiative to slash traffic jams on the city’s streets.
Ikea, cruise giant Carnival and Solent University are signing up to the scheme, which aims to transform employees’ commuting habits.
Together the three employ more than 4,000 people in the city, and they are to be the test subjects in a pilot of a free workplace travel planning service to encourage the use of sustainable transport like buses and car sharing.
July 28, 2010
Looking for a Clean Two-Wheeler but Not Finding Electric Bikes Racy Enough?
Although the move to encouraging the use of electric cars is to be welcomed in terms of them being powered by a much cleaner energy than petrol or diesel (as long as the electricity is generated from renewable sources of course ... but this is another story...) electric cars still cause congestion on the roads.
An alternative to electric cars is electric two-wheelers. An article in Green Futures, July 2010, asks "Looking for a clean two-wheeler, but not finding electric bikes racy enough?"
July 24, 2010
DFT Announces £40,000 Funding for Car Clubs
The DFT has announced an extra £40,000 of government funding to support Carplus’ work in car club development in the UK.
The Minister made the announcement beside a car club bay in Richmond Upon Thames on 1st July, stating that: "The figures speak for themselves – each car club vehicle can result in taking 24 private vehicles off the road and the low carbon vehicles used typically emit approx 33 per cent less CO2 than the average car. This is why we are supporting the continued growth of car clubs across the country."
Carplus welcomes the news. Director, Antonia Roberts, commented that: “£40,000 may seem like a relatively small amount of funding but it has a huge significance in this period of reduced spending. The DfT’s announcement signifies valuable support for car clubs, which can save individuals, businesses and local authorities money, reduce emissions and support sustainable transport objectives.”
Source: Carplus Newsletter Summer 2010
Visit: Carplus
July 20, 2010
Work From Home to Keep Cars off the Road: Coalition's Plan to Cut Traffic Congestion
Employers will be encouraged to let staff work from home as part of a Government campaign to cut traffic congestion, it emerged last night.
Employees could be given more flexible hours and work schedules adapted in order to allow at least one day every fortnight to be one spent working remotely.
Train companies might also be encouraged not to penalise those who only spend part of the week at the office by overhauling season tickets.
The proposals outlined by the Coalition are an attempt to create a low-carbon economy, but traditional travel patterns must change to achieve this, according to transport minister Norman Baker.
The Liberal Democrat plans to discuss his initiative with Treasury and other ministers to instruct them as to how his ideas can be put into practice.
He said: 'Part of my brief as transport minister is to sometimes encourage people not to travel. I want to be the first virtual transport minister.'
Mr Baker's initiative could ease the pressure on Britain's transport network.
Source - Daily Mail
July 11, 2010
Peugeot Pilots Car Club in UK
Carmaker Peugeot is looking to break into the growing UK car club market, launching a pilot vehicle rental service in two English cities.
'Mu by Peugeot’ already operates in five dealerships in Paris as well as Brest, Lyon, Nantes and Rennes in France. It is also available in capital cities in Germany, Spain and Italy. The service is now being tested in the UK through two Peugeot dealerships in London and Bristol.
July 8, 2010
Public Transport is Good for your Health and your Wallet, According to Scientists
Switching to public transport could help you lose nearly half a stone a year in weight, new research suggests.
Taking the train, tram or bus instead of your car increases physical activity so much that the average person drops more than six pounds in as little as a year.
The findings suggests that increasing the use of public transport could improve health and lower obesity levels.
July 4, 2010
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The Workplace Travel Plan Company Ltd is a Strategic Partner of Work Wise UK North East.
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Transport Planner, NESTRANS