The business case for better travel planning

TRAVEL advisers from Oldham Council joined 70 businesses and local authorities across Greater Manchester to share the environmental and economic benefits of travel planning at a Highways Agency seminar.

The event at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, called Making Sustainable Travel Work, was a bid to show bosses that sustainable travel makes business sense.

Graham Riley, the Highways Agency’s regional manager for its Influencing Travel Behaviour initiative, said: “The agency is committed to reducing congestion by promoting all forms of travel including public transport, car sharing and walking and cycling when appropriate.

“Not only is this good for the environment but it is good for businesses and employees alike.

“Businesses can save money on the cost of providing and maintaining car parking spaces, can reduce their fleet size and release land used for parking for more productive use. Employees can benefit by introducing healthy exercise into their daily life.”

Oldham Council has had its own travel plan for a decade and regularly comes up with ideas to help staff leave their cars at home.

The council’s Travel Plan Working Group formed a partnership with Oldham Primary Care Trust, the Royal Oldham Hospital and The Oldham College and negotiated cut-price bus tickets from bus operator, First Manchester.

Among the speakers at the seminar were Simon Warburton of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority, and James Noakes, director of ACT TravelWise, the network for organisations working to promote sustainable travel.

There were also exhibitions by Bike Right, which provides adult cycle training, Car Plus, which promotes responsible car use, Wizzgo, the car club providing short-term car hire, and Bike Shak, which promotes cycle to work schemes.