24 November 2004
ROADS SERVICE JOINS FORCES WITH HOSPITALS TO PROMOTE WORKPLACE TRAVEL PLANS
The benefits of workplace travel plans were highlighted in Belfast today at the first Travelwise sustainable transport seminar for the hospital sector, by Roads Service’s Director of Engineering, Geoff Allister.
At the seminar in the Waterfront Hall, Mr Allister unveiled the work of the Roads Service Travelwise initiative, which encourages businesses, where the car is the primary mode of staff travel, to transfer to more environmentally friendly means, such as walking, cycling and public transport.
A workplace travel plan is a package of measures tailored to the needs of individual sites to promote greener, cleaner travel choices and reduce reliance on the car.
Mr Allister said: "The aim of today’s event is to provide hospital managers with guidance, direction and support in taking forward workplace travel plans, within their organisations.
"The development of travel plans, by hospitals in Northern Ireland, will help encourage staff and others visiting these sites, to use more environmentally friendly alternatives than driving alone, at least for some of their journeys."
A successful travel plan contains a mix of incentives and disincentives, such as car sharing, promoting the use of public transport, encouraging walking and cycling, restricting on site car parking spaces and supporting alternative work practices, which reduce the need to travel.
Mr Allister went on to explain that everyone can do their bit in using sustainable transport. He said: "We all have a part to play in influencing travel behaviour and as a major employer, Roads Service has also embarked on the travel planning process to be part of a solution that creates a more sustainable transport system for the Province.
"This is happening alongside investment of over £146 million for 23 new trains and over 450 new buses, as well as more wide scale infrastructure improvements where nearly £4.5 million is being spent on new, improved footways, new cycle lanes and cycle parking facilities and bus measures."
Mr Allister concluded: "I would like to thank representatives from the Province’s hospitals for attending, including WS Atkins and speakers from Nottingham City Hospital, the Ulster Hospital and Translink for making this hospital event possible.
"Following the seminar, Roads Service’s Travelwise team is looking forward to a close working relationship with the hospitals in the development of workplace travel plans."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The concept of travel plans is not new. They have been running in the USA for over 25 years and in some European countries for over 15 years. In these countries they have stemmed from declining traffic conditions and are widely regarded as an important tool in addressing mobility, congestion and air quality concerns. It is only within the last seven years that interests in travel plans in Great Britain have increased significantly.
- Hospitals attending the Travelwise Travel Plan event include:
Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Londonderry
Lagan Valley Hospital, Lisburn
The Royal Hospitals, Belfast
Mater Hospital Trust, Belfast
Holywell Hospital, Antrim
Homefirst Community H&SS Trust
Ulster Hospital, Dundonald
Ards Hospital, Newtownards
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry
United Hospital Trust
Muckamore Abbey Hospital, Antrim
- Further information is available from the Travelwise information line on 08453 780908.
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