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Benefits of travel planning are clear to see!

The IP City Network special interest group The Sustainable Travel Forum has been working together for almost a year and there are clear benefits emerging for the businesses and organisations involved, and for the wider community, as Ben Collins explains.

More and more businesses are waking up to the many advantages that a travel plan can provide and the best news is the main resource you need is enthusiasm!

A travel plan is a package of measures and initiatives that aim to reduce the number of car journeys made by providing people with greater choice. They are tailored to the needs of the individual business and are the most economical, efficient and socially responsible way to solve a business’s transport problems. A travel plan can cover a range of aspects from staff commuting and business travel to visitor access and fleet management.

We can all gain environmentally, economically, socially and improve our health from making even small changes in our daily travel behaviour. By encouraging staff to use sustainable travel methods - including bicycles, buses, trains, car sharing- businesses can help make Suffolk an even more prosperous and healthier place to live.

There’s a sound business case for any business to adopt a travel plan, which includes:
• financial savings through more effective management of  travel
• reduced demand for car parking space
• strengthened environmental performance and enhanced brand
• healthier, more productive staff with less time lost due to sickness
• measurement and reduction of carbon footprint

Suffolk County Council has two Travel Plan Coordinators to advise & support  businesses on:
• all aspects of travel planning
• liaising with transport operators and inform on travel and ticketing schemes
• facilitating exchange of good practice procedures
• promoting activities and provide promotional materials
• publicising and promoting successful initiatives.

The benefits are clear and the support is certainly there. The main commitment for any business is demonstrating the enthusiasm to implement and drive the scheme and as time goes on you will find ‘travel planning’ feels less contrived and the initiatives become a part of how your organisation operates.

If you would like to learn more, the Sustainable Travel Forum celebrates its 1st year on 15th September at BT Adastral Park and businesses are encouraged to attend. The Forum meets quarterly and allows major employers, local authorities and transport providers in and around Suffolk to share and develop best practices about sustainable travel for their staff and customers.  Travel plans are core to this and if you would like to come along to the next event please get in touch on the email or number below.
IP City Network focuses on the ICT needs of industry and is the catalyst for bringing like minded people together, via inspiring and informative innovation events, workshops, enterprise activities and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Come and join us free at www.ip-city.com

Ben Collins is a Travel Plan Coordinator for Suffolk County Council – to contact him 01473 264843 or ben.collins@suffolk.gov.uk