Green transport plans

A green transport plan, also called a travel plan, is a package of measures for managing travel to and from your workplace and giving staff and visitors better choices. It is 'green' because it aims to reduce solo car use and to promote greener alternatives like walking, cycling, public transport, teleworking and carpooling.

The basic steps we suggest are:

• Establish management support for the initiative.
• Appoint a coordinator and form a working group or use an existing committee to steer the plan.
• Survey staff (and even visitors) to find out how they travel to the workplace.
• Audit transport facilities and services at and near the workplace.
• Use the results to identify barriers and opportunities for change. Staff input on possible actions could be sought through a workshop.
• Draft your plan. It should explain your organisation's transport goals, set out actions to manage work-related travel and outline the process for implementation.
• Secure management approval and launch the plan.
• Implement the plan and review it along the way.

Here are some examples of green transport plans.

Actions that workplaces can take:

• Provide information to staff on travel options, like cycling and public transport.
• Improve bicycle parking, lockers and change facilities for cycle commuters.
• Set up a staff car pool register.
• Encourage public transport or car pooling for business trips.
• Better manage staff car parking and use of fleet vehicles.
• Facilitate tele-commuting by staff.

By putting a green transport plan into practice, organisations can reduce their costs and benefit the community by:

• Reducing fleet expenses and the costs of providing parking
• Improving workforce health as more staff walk and cycle
• Giving staff and visitors better travel choices
• Decreasing traffic and improving accessibility
• Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants

TravelSmart Workplace can help your workplace prepare and implement a green transport plan.