Oldham Personalised Journey Planning
Posted on 14 April 2003 at 11:40:00
Oldham MBC was recently successful in a bid to the Department of Transport
for funding to encourage a modal shift to more sustainable forms of travel.
There are several partner organisations; Oldham MBC, Pennine Acute Trust,
Primary Care Trust, SSL International, Oldham College, GMPTE and First.
The aim is to provide individualised information for one specific return
journey for each participant, which involves a more sustainable mode.
Participants electing bus / train will receive free tickets for travel
to encourage new users to give public transport a try. A discount at a
local cycle retailer has been obtained to encourage would be-cyclists.
Information regarding walking (health benefits, walkways) and cycling
routes, paths and forums will also given to participants.
This project will supplement the present travel plans of the partner organisations.
New Travel Plan Resource Pack
Posted on 14 April 2003 at 11:42:00
Travel plan resource pack gets all new look! TransportEnergy’s new
Travel Plan Resource Pack for Employers is now available. The original
green ring binder resource pack, which became affectionately known as
the travel planners' bible amongst co-ordinators, gets an all new look.
The new version will be a blue, perfectly bound book with significant
improvements to several sections, including surveying and monitoring,
cycling and car park management.
The resource pack is a comprehensive reference text, which shows employers
how to improve travel choice to their site through the implementation
of a travel plan. Travel plans are strategies that promote the use of
more sustainable modes of transport such as cycling, walking, public transport
and car sharing. The resource pack guides the reader through every aspect
of planning and implementing a travel plan.
Christof Marx from the TransportEnergy Best Practice programme, said:
"We listened to what travel planners and employers said about the
resource pack and have built on its positive aspects. We have also expanded
several sections where it was felt that more information was needed, including
surveying and monitoring of travel plans. Other sections have been updated.
Although the new resource pack will have more pages than the original,
the new format makes it smaller."
To obtain a copy of the new resource pack, contact the TransportEnergy
Helpline on 0845 602 1425. The pack is also available as a downloadable
PDF from the TransportEnergy website.
April 2003
Budget 2003 - What is Brown doing for Green Travel
Posted on 20 May 2003 at 12:58:00
Aside from the obvious interest that Travel Plan Co-ordinators might have
in booze or cigarettes, the 2003 budget did include some measures to assist
those organisations implementing Travel Plans. These focused on two main
areas:
- Further steps to increase the use and development of cleaner road
fuels;
- A new lower rate of vehicle excise duty for the most environmentally
friendly cars / company cars.
Disappointingly, there was very little new support for alternatives to
the car. The main points are summarised below:
Ultra-Low Sulphur Fuels
The duty rate for ULSFs will rise by 1.28p per litre from 1 October 2003.
Sulphur-Free Fuels
From 1 September 2004, the Government will introduce a duty differential
for SFFs of 0.5p per litre cheaper than the rates of ULSFs.
Biodiesel
A new duty rate for biodiesel, set at 20p per litre below the rate of
ULSFs, was introduced in July 2002. In line with Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel
(ULSD), the duty rate for biodiesel will increase by 1.28p per litre from
1 October 2003.
Bioethanol
A new fuel duty differential of 20p per litre for bioethanol will be introduced
from 1 January 2005.
Road Fuel Gases
The duty on road fuel gases such as liquefied petroleum gas will remain
frozen.
Red Diesel and Fuel Oil
These fuels continue to contribute to local air quality problems. Consequently,
the duty on these fuels will increase by 1p per litre from budget day
2003.
Vehicle Excise Duty (Road Tax)
A new carbon VED band for cars with CO2 emissions of 100g / km or less
will be in place from 1 May 2003. Motorists can save up to £110
per year on VED by choosing the most efficient and least polluting cars.
The Government is also piloting a colour-coded environmental label for
cars.
VED rates on motorcycles are frozen.
Company Car Tax
Since April 2002, company car tax has been based on CO2 emissions. The
2002 budget established the 2002 / 03 level of emissions qualifying for
the minimum charge and announced that this level would be reduced by 10g
/ km each year until 2004 / 05. In 2005 / 06 the level of emissions qualifying
for the minimum charge will drop by 5g / km to 140 g / km.
Cycling
There was some good news for cyclists and walkers, but not much. Chancellor
Gordon Brown is planning to remove tax restrictions on free food and drinks
for employees participating in 'official' cycle to work days.
Current legislation limits the number of occasions on which an employer
can provide meals or refreshments to six a year. Removing the limit, will
leave employers free to arrange 'official cycle to work days' (to quote
the Inland Revenue) as often as they like.
New guides to make travel planning a success
Posted on 20 May 2003 at 12:58:00
Employers can find out how to make their staff Travel Plans a success
thanks to two new guides produced by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Several thousand organisations across the UK have produced Travel Plans.
The DfT research into 20 of these case studies found that on average they
reduced car driver travel to work by 18 per cent.
‘Making Travel Plans Work: lessons from UK case studies' is based
on the experience of 20 UK organisations that have successfully changed
their staff travel patterns. It points to key success factors and features
of good practice for setting up an effective Travel Plan.
'Using the Planning System to Secure Travel Plans' helps local authorities
and developers identify the most efficient and effective ways to meet
planning requirements for Travel Plans.
Both guides are available online at
http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/travelplans/guides/index.htm, or
by calling 0870 1226 236. The guides are available free of charge.
New ‘On Yer Bike’ Published!
Posted on 20 May 2003 at 12:58:00
The second edition of the popular 'On Yer Bike in Greater Manchester'
magazine is now available. There is something in there for everyone from
novices to seasoned campaigners. The articles include information on routes
and facilities that have recently been provided for cyclists, as well
as a wealth of advice on how to use bikes for different sorts of trips
and in a safe manner. There's even an opportunity to win a fabulous mountain
bike and accessories.
Copies are available from numerous public outlets throughout Greater Manchester,
such as council offices, libraries, some supermarkets and health centres.
Alternatively, if you would like some copies to distribute to employees,
please call Julian Ashworth on 0161 242 6084
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