October 27, 2008 - CREDIT CRUNCH TO SPARK COMMUTING REVOLUTION
EMBARGOED: 1.00AM OCTOBER 27, 2008
The credit crunch could lead to a travel revolution, as organisations and staff look to cut costs during the current economic turmoil, an industry body said today.
This prediction marks the start of Commute Smart Week, organised by Work Wise UK, which will focus on travel planning, highlighting the huge benefits of smarter working and commuting to both employers and employees.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said: “Thousands of employers are already helping themselves and their staff through workplace travel plans. Policies such as staggering work journeys, home working, and encouraging cycling and walking, are enabling staff to get to work in a better way and in the process saving time and money whilst improving health and wellbeing.
“Now, being green and commuting smart have never made more commercial sense.”
The CBI estimates that road congestion alone costs the UK economy some £20
billion per year. Even a limited take-up of travel plans could save £1.9 billion per year within five years.
ACT TravelWise, a network of organisations working to promote sustainable transport, are making it easier for people to get about, travel more sustainably and tackle travel issues such as congestion, pollution, carbon emissions and health. ACT promotes many alternatives to the usual one person per car approach such as remote working, public transport, cycling and walking. Not only that, but innovative new techniques such as personalised travel planning, car sharing and car clubs.
James Noakes, ACT TravelWise's Director for Media and Marketing, said: "In these cost conscious times, employees and employers are looking at the cost of travel and realising the absurd waste of time and resources, especially of one person commuting by car.
"Smarter commuting, such as walking, cycling, car sharing and reducing the number or journeys by allowing remote working, leads to better productivity and cuts business costs.
"There are not only direct savings, such as mileage allowances, but also hidden costs such as parking provisions, staff retention and employee health issues that can be addressed through travel planning.”
Rory McMullan, ACT TravelWise’s chief spokesperson, said: “In these cost conscious times, employees and employers are looking at the cost of travel and realising the absurd waste of time and resources, especially of one person commuting by car.
“Smarter commuting, such as walking, cycling, car sharing and reducing the number or journeys by allowing remote working, leads to better productivity and cuts business costs.
“There are not only direct savings, such as mileage allowances, but also hidden costs such as parking provisions, staff retention and employee health issues that can be addressed through travel planning.
Transport for London is one of the leading provider s of travel planning services in the south east capital, and has worked with organisations such as the BBC and international pharmaceutical company, GSK.
David Rowe, T ransport for London’s Smarter Travel Unit said: "In the current challenging economic environment, it makes more sense than ever for employers and their staff to look at how and when people travel to and from their work places .
“ Transport for London's 'A New Way to Work' programme helps the capital’s businesses set up workplace travel plans that encourage alternatives like walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, saving companies and their staff both time and money. ”
Commute Smart Week is organised by Work Wise UK, a not-for-profit body devoted to promoting smarter working, and involves five themed days to encourage employers and commuters to adopt smarter working and commuting practices.
National Commute Smart Week this year will have five themes, one for each weekday:
- Flexible working and travel plans
- Walking (get off a stop or station early and walk)
- Cycling (why spend hours in the gym?)
- Health benefits of smarter working and commuting
- Road congestion and road safety (including car sharing)
A number of spokespersons will be available from Work Wise UK and from organisations which successfully practise smarter working, both national and regional.
Work Wise UK has published, with its supporting partners, a series of tips and guidance on working smarter, which will be circulated to the media and uploaded on the Work Wise website prior to National Commute Smart Week.
Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org). There is also a dedicated pressroom available through the website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.
More information about ACT TravelWise and Transport for London ’s workplace travel planning programme, A New Way to Wor k, can be fund on their respective websites: www.act-uk.com and www.anewwaytowork.co.uk
Transport for London has today (27 October) released a report into the true costs to London businesses of providing staff car parking at work. The report has found that, on average, businesses lose around £6,000 a year for each staff car parking place they provide. For more information, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/annual-costs-car-parking-london-businesses-report.pdf.
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Issued on behalf of Work Wise UK by Chelgate Limited
Notes to editors:
- Work Wise UK is organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
- Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Equal Opportunities Commission, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Technology Means Business, Henley Management College and the Association for Commuter Transport.
- A dedicated electronic media centre has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net
- Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.·
For further information and images, please contact:
Roy Turner,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or
rt@chelgate.com
Katie Daniels,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or
kd@chelgate.com