City of Subiaco – TravelSmart Case Study
Introduction
In 2000 the City of Subiaco committed to part-funding a TravelSmart Officer in partnership with the Department of Transport. Now the City of Subiaco employs two fully-funded TravelSmart Officers. Improvements to infrastructure and the implementation of TravelSmart programs have helped residents significantly reduce the number of car trips they make in favour of walking, cycling and public transport use.
The TravelSmart Officers have developed many innovative projects including:
Bike to Work Breakfast
The City of Subiaco Bike to Work Breakfast has been held for the last two years at a local Cafe. People that ride all or part of the way on the day receive a free breakfast. Cycling information is provided and participating cyclists can also win prizes. The event encourages people to cycle to work instead of drive, and rewards existing cyclists |
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In 2009, 124 people rode to the event, with 23% usually travelling to work by car. According to the participant-survey, most people cycled to work to improve their health. Other popular reasons were enjoyment, to save money, because it was quicker or more convenient, and for environmental benefits. Survey comments included:
- ‘Quicker than the bus’
- ‘To lose weight and get a bit of exercise’
- ‘Fewer parking hassles’
- ‘No better way to start the day’
Sustainable Travel Allowance
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The City of Subiaco provides a sustainable travel allowance (STA) to encourage staff to use a sustainable form of transport to get to work. Eligible staff can claim $9 per day (after tax) for each day that they don’t drive to work. Sustainable travel includes cycling, walking, public transport, motorbike, scooter and being a passenger in a carpool.
Staff choose between a parking permit and the STA. Staff claiming the STA cannot park in the staff car park as they do not have a parking permit. If parking elsewhere in Subiaco they must pay for parking, which currently ranges from $8 to $20 per day. The STA system works because limited parking is provided for staff, and because all long term parking in Subiaco is paid parking.
At the City of Subiaco 68% of eligible staff claim the STA. As a result each year:
- 55,474 litres of petrol are saved;
- 139 tonnes of greenhouse gases do not enter the atmosphere;
- Participating staff gain an average of 40 minutes of exercise per day; and
- They save an average of $853 per year on petrol.
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Active Shopper Challenge
The Active Shopper Challenge encourages people to cycle to the shops instead of driving, by promoting the health benefits of ‘active transport’. Local shoppers are asked to commit to cycling to the shops for one trip per week for three months between October and December 2009. Shoppers receive a Bike Diary to log their trips which provides personalised information about greenhouse gases saved, money saved and kilojoules burned based on their cycle kms. Shoppers that complete the Challenge will go in the draw to win one of three bikes and equipment. All participants receive discount cards for a local bike shop, bike maps and cycling tips. Prior to the Challenge, additional bike parking rails were installed in shopping areas. To date 275 shoppers have entered the Challenge.
Integrated Transport Plan
The City of Subiaco developed an Integrated Transport Strategy in 2007. The purpose of this Strategy is to consider all modes of transport in a coordinated way. The Strategy identifies five key activity areas:
- Managing Travel Demand
- Improving Walking and Cycling
- Improving Public Transport
- Managing Vehicular Traffic
- Managing and Improving Parking
The Strategy was developed in consultation with the community, stakeholders and a reference group. Staff from infrastructure, parking, planning and building, TravelSmart, and community development are involved in the implementation of the Strategy.
