16 September 2010
Employers in Jersey are being encouraged to put together measures which make it easier for staff to choose healthier and greener ways to travel to work.
Eco-Active is launching a toolkit which helps organisations create a tailor-made Workplace Travel Plan as part of Green Travel Day (22 September). The aim of the plans is to widen travel choices for staff, encouraging walking, cycling, bus use and car-sharing instead of commuting to work in the car alone. The toolkit helps employers think about facilities that may need to be put in place, such as showers and bike racks, and includes a staff travel survey.
Benefits of travel plans
Travel plans offer significant benefits to individuals, through improved health, reduced stress, and potential travel savings. At the same time, reduced congestion is better for the environment and may help reach targets likely to be set in the States of Jersey Sustainable Travel Policy to reduce peak traffic by 15% over the next 5 years.
Travel plans assessment
First government department travel plan
The Public Health Department is the first government department to release a travel plan. They have worked closely with staff to understand their views about travelling to and from work, in order to encourage changes in travel habits.
Head of Health Improvement, Andrew Heaven, says “We found that although about 60% of staff were travelling to work by car, over half our colleagues would consider walking, cycling or coming by bus. We wanted to take action to support more active travel for the benefit of our staff.”
The department has identified other ways to support active travel, including:
- forming a bike user group to trial safer cycle routes
- designing a town map that gives walking / cycling times and routes to popular meeting venues
- encouraging staff and customers invited to the department for meetings or appointments to try alternative travel options
Green Travel Day events, advice and giveaways
As part of Green Travel Day on Wednesday 22 September, Public Health staff will be in the Royal Square encouraging people to get on their bikes by showing them safer cycle routes through town between 12 and 2pm. The Eco-Active team will also be on hand from 7.30am to help organisations develop travel plans and to give away free high visibility vests to keep cyclists and walkers safe during the darker months. They will also be rewarding green commuters with coffee and cookies on their way to work.
Green Travel Day
gov.je