Measure your current position with a staff travel survey along with an carrying out an audit of your current onsite facilities. This provides a benchmark and ideally the travel survey should be repeated every year so you can monitor impact of your initiatives. Use the survey to gather information on what would make it easier for more staff to travel in active and sustainable ways, what the barriers are and investigate ideas and solutions to address these. These will help populate an action plan going forward.
Hold a travel information event in a prominent place, e.g., foyer, staff canteen, with information about the range of facilities you already have, e.g., cycle to work scheme, local walking groups, maps of the area, local bus info. Gather ideas and information for those that attend. Sometimes staff prefer chatting than writing their options down in surveys.
The Cycle to Work scheme is a government initiative that allows employees to obtain a new cycle, along with necessary equipment, via their employer. It works as a salary sacrifice benefit which means employees can make tax and National Insurance savings on the cost of a new bike. Find more information here: Cycle to Work Scheme Guide and Green Commute Initiative
Consider supplying some promotional 'incentives' to encourage attendance at an event or encourage staff to complete the survey, e.g., stretchy bike lights, bike seat covers or other branded promotional items. We have lots of options for you in our Products.
Arrange an eBike trial session for staff in your workplace. Consider having eBikes on site for travel between sites or local customers. There are companies and schemes that provide support Making cycling e-asier | Cycling UK. In Scotland the Energy Savings Trust provides and eBike Loan Scheme A guide to electric bikes - Energy Saving Trust.
Could you business benefit from eCargo Bikes in place of vans? Choosing ecargo bikes to make last mile deliveries - Energy Saving Trust. Your business could gain funding to help purchase these.
Ultimately, micro-mobility allows employees to have more comfortable and stress-free commuting or business travel, and lets them ensure that the “last mile” is travelled with peace of mind and efficiency. For example, a company located 15 minutes away from the train station could offer employees a monthly subscription to a micro-mobility service to cover this short journey.The government is running trials of electric scooters (e-scooters). The trials are only for rental e-scooters. The rules for private e-scooters have not changed. Currently it is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter - eScooter Trials Guidance.
Review your website and ensure 'How to Get Here' information offers the active and sustainable modes first with the relevant information to make easy to travel that way.
Hold a Bike to Breakfast event to encourage staff to try cycling to work and reward those who take part with a free breakfast.
Ensure you have good cycle parking facilities installed and in the right place. Are they adequate for the future demand you aspire to have? Consider additional facilities such as a cycle pump and repair station, lockers for cycle equipment and clothing, showers, facilities for charging, etc.
Make sure staff and visitors are aware of local bus services - the routes and timetable - as well as trains if there is a station nearby. Keep information on notice boards and electronically and keep the information up to date.
Before new staff join you, provide them with information about the different travel options to and from the site so they can make informed choices before they commence their employment. 'How to Get Here'.
Use a recognised scheme such as Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accredited and Recognised) to give yourself a robust framework to help measure, record, monitor and improve your position. This will also enable you to create your own, live travel plan with a list of planned actions and achievements.
Become a Cycle Friendly Employer | Cycling UK, Cycling Friendly Employer (Scotland).
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Check out our blogs and articles to get some inspiration from others who have already got started.