3h Car Sharing To Reduce Car Journeys

Car sharing is when two or more people travel together for their journey to work by car and share the running and car parking costs associated with that journey.

Employees who live near to each other may be able to share cars for some or all of their journeys to work. The benefits are that it:

• reduces the number of vehicles driving to an organisation or area
  
• eases parking problems by reducing the number of vehicles requiring a parking space
  
• demonstrates support for the objectives of a Travel Plan
  
• is attractive to car drivers because it reduces the cost of travel and does not involve giving up the benefits of car use
  
• is one of the easiest and most effective Travel Plan measures to implement
  

How Do I Identify People Who Would Like To Car Share?

Your staff travel survey can explore attitudes to car sharing and will highlight people who live close enough to consider it as an option. Applications to join the car share scheme can be circulated to staff in a number of ways including:

• attached to travel survey
  
• with payslips
  
• staff newsletter
  
• company Intranet or e-mail
  
• details provided in staff induction material
  
• promotional literature left in communal areas, on notice boards and on the windscreens of cars in the staff car park

The car sharing application form should identify:

• location of workplace and usual hours/days worked
• preferences for car sharing such as non-smoker, sharing with male or female, and whether or not the car sharer is willing to be a passenger/driver/both
• the normal route travelled into work

A sample Car Share Registration Form is included in Section 6g.

Matching Potential Car Sharers

Car sharers can be matched using a simple spreadsheet or a database. There are a number of specialist software packages, which can be purchased for this purpose, or you may wish to use in-house facilities to develop your own version.

Data Protection Act

In order to electronically store the information required to operate a car share scheme you will need to ensure that your organisation is covered by the Data Protection Act. The registration will need to be extended under either Personnel Information or PO12 Ancillary and Support Functions.

For information on extending the Data Protection Register contact the Office of the Data Protection Registrar, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF on 01625 545745.

How Can I Encourage Staff To Car Share?

There are a number of ways in which employers can encourage more car sharing including:

• promoting the benefits of cost savings
  
• providing guaranteed parking spaces located in accessible areas, for example close to building entrances, and/ or reduced parking charges for car sharers
  
• introducing a car share club or holding postcode coffee clubs where potential car sharers can meet with others who live in the same area
  
• providing and maintaining a register of those willing to share
  
• offering a guaranteed ride home for staff who are left stranded due to unforeseen circumstances

Guaranteeing a ride home

• This may include a free taxi ride home, company vehicle, matching with another car sharer or refunding the cost of public transport where appropriate
  
• Employers can provide up to 60 journeys per year for emergency transport home for car sharers without being subject to tax
  
• The scheme should be monitored to ensure it is not abused, although indications are that this facility is not used very often. AstraZeneca have 2000 employees and spend less than £100 per year on emergency rides home!

The Keys To Car Share Scheme Success

• Flexibility: It may not be possible for people to share five days a week and so any benefits you provide should apply to those committed to car share at least part of the week
  
• People: The greater the number of people that you have on the car share database the greater the chance that you will be able to match people
  
• Promotion: Publicising the database will encourage more staff to register
  
• Security: Your employees may have reservations about handing out their personal details to strangers – it is important to assure them that you will only give out their name and work contact number to potential sharing partners

In order to increase the number of potential sharers you could consider linking with other employers in your area.

Choosing Measures
Travel Plans and Walking
Travel Plans and Cycling
Travelling by Bus
Travelling by Rail
Powered Two-Wheelers
Using Taxis
Car Sharings
Car Clubs
The Place of Cars
Car Park Management Strategy
Managing Business Travel
Changing the Way We Work
Travel Plans and Cleaner Fuels
Travel Plans and Deliveries