Transport isn’t just about getting from A to B; it is an essential part of business. There are some quick and easy ways to save your business money and boost your sustainability credentials by being smarter with travel.
1. Clear travel information
This is the most simple and effective step to encouraging smarter travel to your site. Publishing full travel directions and facility information on your intranet or company website, alongside displaying it in key locations on site, can ensure that visitors and staff are aware of all their travel options. Having clear travel information highlighting alternatives to the car can encourage staff, visitors and customers to make smarter travel choices.
You can download our Staff travel information template and our Travel information template for your public facing website.
2. Display live bus times on screens in shared areas
Live bus arrival information, as well as route planning, is available via the Traveline journey planner.
3. Provide pool umbrellas
Providing branded company umbrellas that can be borrowed from reception can help staff with using public transport if they need to walk to and wait at bus stops without a shelter. It also encourages more walking at lunchtime if umbrellas are available. See our Promoting walking toolkit for resources to advertise stress busting lunchtime walks. Branded umbrellas offer free advertising for the company too!
4. Encouraging cycling
Cycling is a cheap and convenient way to travel for staff and visitors. Additionally, if staff and visitors are cycling to your site, it means fewer cars in the car park.
- Improve your employees’ cycle confidence and skills by encouraging them to take part in free adult cycle confidence sessions.
- Sign your organisation up to the Cycle to Work scheme. This government scheme allows your staff to purchase a tax-free bike and spread the payment over one year. Find out more in our Making your business cycle friendly Toolkit.
- Covered and secure cycle storage will encourage more cycle journeys. Read our Cycle parking guidance to help you work out what you need.
Find out more about encouraging and promoting cycling with our Promoting cycling toolkit.
5. Lockers and changing facilities
Having somewhere safe and secure to store a change of clothes or footwear can mean staff are more willing to walk or cycle.
6. Supporting car sharing
Supporting car sharers in your organisation can reduce the number of vehicles being driven to the site which can lead to significant financial savings for staff in the long term by enabling more efficient land use and reducing maintenance costs.
- Encourage your staff to car share by letting them know about the potential money saving opportunities of car sharing
- Priority car parking spaces for car sharers encourages staff to car share by guaranteeing a parking space and raising the profile of car sharing
- Host promotional events, such as during National Liftshare Week (2nd week of October)
You can read more about car sharing in our Implementing car sharing toolkit and Promoting car sharing toolkit.
7. Guaranteed emergency ride home
A key concern for some employees when choosing how to travel to work is the worry that, if they don’t have their car available at work, they would not be able to get home quickly in the event of an emergency. This is often one of the most common reasons why individuals choose not to travel via alternative modes. Offering a guaranteed free ride home in emergency situations resolves this concern. Organisations who offer emergency rides home find that staff rarely use the service, meaning that it is not a large financial cost to them.
Read more in our Guaranteed ride home toolkit.
8. Eco-driving techniques
Eco driving techniques can reduce fuel consumption by up to 9%. Ensuring business vehicles are driven in this way can reduce the amount spent on fuel costs. Save your staff money by letting them know about the benefits too:
- Remove heavy items from the boot or the roof rack when not needed
- Check your tyre pressure regularly
- Stay at or within speed limits – at 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph
- Anticipate hazards early by keeping an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down by gently lifting off the accelerator – sharp breaking and acceleration wastes fuel
Find out more in our Promoting eco-driving toolkit.
9. Pool bikes and vehicles
Providing pool bicycles and/or cars reduces pressure on staff to drive to work and is usually cheaper than paying statutory mileage expenses for own-vehicle use. Alternatively, making use of a nearby car club vehicle for business travel may be a suitable option.
Read more in our Pool bikes toolkit and Using car clubs toolkit.
10. Flexible and home working policies
Flexible and home working policies enable employees to use public transport or have more options for car share arrangements, as well as enabling them to work around occasional personal commitments.