Employers Get Travelwise At Sustainable Transport Seminar

21 November 2006
EMPLOYERS GET TRAVELWISE AT SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SEMINAR
Northern Ireland employers are being urged to consider the potential benefits of implementing sustainable transport strategies for their businesses.
Over 100 employers from across Northern Ireland attended a seminar 'Sustainable Transport Makes Business Sense' today at the Holiday Inn, Belfast. The seminar was hosted by Travelwise NI and brought together decision makers in industry, commerce, Government and other public sector organisations.
With more organisations seeking to save on car parking costs and corporate travel expenses, as well as looking at better time management and environmental policies, the event will highlight the benefits of implementing Travel Plans and explain how they can contribute to overall business objectives.
Brian Moreland, Head of Travelwise NI, believes that there is great demand for such advice from Northern Ireland's leading public and private sector organisations.
He said: "Employers and employees are getting increasingly frustrated with traffic congestion and its effects on business efficiency. Travelwise NI recently conducted a survey of 500 commuters who travel into Belfast by car and found that on average drivers spend the equivalent of an extra working day (7.5 hours) per week stuck behind the wheel trying to get to and from work. With growing levels of traffic congestion, rising fuel costs and increasing emphasis being placed on corporate responsibility for environmental protection, now is the time for employers to take action and that is the message we are sending to employers today.
"This comes on the back of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy which has set a very challenging target for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland - tackling transport emissions will be vital in achieving this."
Peter Wignall of the Workplace Travel Plan Company, believes that employers have a responsibility to help tackle the issue of traffic congestion.
He said: "Essentially a Travel Plan is a package of initiatives designed to reduce the number of car journeys made by an organisation. It looks at current travel patterns and suggests realistic alternatives to employers encouraging the increased use of sustainable transport such as car-sharing, cycling, walking and the use of public transport.
"For example, many of us drive to meetings that if truth be told we could walk to or even cycle to if our employers provided pool-bikes. This would save on fuel and parking costs as well as benefiting the environment and ultimately our health. Alternatively we should give more consideration to using public transport or car-sharing which are both viable alternatives that are sometimes completely overlooked."
Other speakers at the seminar include representatives from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Roads Service's Transportation and Engineering Unit, Translink, WS Atkins Highways & Transportation, and the Royal Victoria Hospital who will inform delegates on how they introduced sustainable transport schemes to deal with the M1/ Westlink situation.
Delegates ranging from Bombardier Aerospace and PriceWaterHouseCoopers to the Royal Hospitals and Queens University will be provided with advice from leading experts in the field of sustainable transport, including Ali Clabburn, the creator of the UK's first free car share system 'Liftshare.com' who will illustrate how sustainable transport options such as car-sharing can benefit organisations by saving costs through the reduction of parking and travelling costs. Car-sharing can also improve efficiency by decreasing staff tardiness and help organisations by widening recruitment catchment areas by providing a real transport solution for many of the more rural areas.
Travelwise NI is an initiative of the Department for Regional Development to promote sustainable transport options such as car-sharing, walking, cycling and public transport. For more information about how sustainable transport can benefit employers and commuters please visit www.travelwiseni.com or contact the Travelwise NI team on 0845 378 0908.
For all enquiries please contact Ross Williamson or Ursula Kelleher, Inform Communications Tel: 028 9023 3550 or mob 07734821070 (Ross) / 07739420949 (Ursula).
NOTES TO EDITORS:

The event will be held in the Holiday Inn Hotel, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, on Tuesday 21 November from 9.30am-1pm.

Interview and filming opportunities are available and are to be arranged through Inform Communications.

The Travelwise Survey sampled 500 car commuters and was conducted in the Greater Belfast area in September 2006.

Travelwise Survey statistics also revealed that one third of car commuters (31%) currently car share and 69% of cars commuting in and out of Belfast during rush hour transported only the driver.

Seminar Chairperson is Patricia Gordon, Chief Executive, South & East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust and Keynote Speaker is Gary McFarlane, Director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

This will be a climate neutral seminar - carbon emissions generated at the event will be offset with Climate Care.

Ali Clabburn of Liftshare.com was recently named as winner of the Daily Mail's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2005-06.

The Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy can be found at: http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/sustain-develop.pdf

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