Promoting walking and cycling at work

Rachael Cherry Workplace Project Officer

Sustrans

Active Travel – The stats

With over 80% of Eastbourne’s working population living within 5 kilometres of their workplace, there is great potential to increase cycling trips within the town, whether for work or leisure.

2011 Census of commuter travel habits

Drive Walk Cycle 0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

2011 Census on how people commute

Making the case for active travel

• There are many benefits to promoting walking and cycling for the commute and business travel.

• Have a read of our booklet to help find the hook you will need to get support from management.

• Active travel can help improve staff health and wellbeing, reduce costs incurred from absenteeism and reduced productivity and is also a good way to show commitment to carbon reduction and environmental targets.

• Knowing what matters to management and getting their support will help you to have a good impact on behaviour change.

Getting support from management

Shortly after slipping into the ‘obese’ category, Sustrans’ Challenge helped David switch the car to commute by bike 5 days a week and walk for shorter trips too. Using lots of local Sustrans’ Cycle paths, David has been able to lose more than 3 stones over 9 months, pass his first medical in years, and cycle over 170 miles in 1 day! He’s now signed up to walk the three National Peaks in 24 hours for charity and continues to cycle and walk daily saving himself money in the process.

“I’ll miss using the Big Walk and Cycle Challenge website, it was great to upload comments, photos and post the journeys. For the first time in years I’ve passed a health check, with normal weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.”

David Lane, Principal Lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University

David loses over 3 stone after cycling and walking more

Things to think about before starting

• Review any existing policy's regarding staff health/wellbeing or travel.

• How are people currently commuting?• Are there any existing offers to make walking or cycling

more attractive i.e. cycle to work scheme.• Is there any budget you could use to promote walking and

cycling? • Are there any sources of external funding you could apply

for?• Who else walks and cycles and would they help you? • What national events or promotions can you tie into to

maximise results? i.e. cycle to work day.• Is there anything preventing people from walking or cycling

i.e. no lockers, showers or storage?

Sustainable travel events March Climate Week – spotlights the positive steps being taken already been taken to combat climate change in workplaces and communities across the UK. Find out more at www.climateweek.com

May 2014National Walking Month – Every May, Living Streets encourage people to take to their feet and feel the benefits of walking. Find out more at www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-with-us/national-walking-month-2014 Work Wise Week – raising awareness about smarter working (flexible working, home working, remote working) amongst employees and employers. Find out more at www.workwiseuk.org/workwiseweek/

Green Office Week - a fantastic opportunity to make a positive difference to the environment in practical ways, including transport, energy and waste. Find out more at www.greenofficeweek.eu

Walk to Work Week – encouraging people to walk to work and to monitor the distance they are walking and the calories that they are burning. Find out more at www.walktoworkweek.org.uk/

National Work from Home Day - promoting the benefits of home working to both individuals, businesses and the environment. Find out more at www.workwiseuk.org/workwiseweek/

June 5th - World Environment Day – a global day for positive, environmental action and to encourage support for sustainable development. Find out more at www.unep.org/wed/

Green Transport Week – the aim is to raise awareness of the impact travel has on the environment and to make people think about the way they travel on every journey. Find out more at www.etatrust.org.uk/campaign/green-transport-week

Bike Week – promoting cycling and showing how cycling can easily be part of everyday life. Find out more at www.bikeweek.org.uk

National Ride to Work Day UK – raising awareness about the benefits of using motorcycles and scooters to commute to and from work on a regular basis. Find out more at www.ridetowork.org.uk

September European Mobility Week – this is a European festival promoting environmentally sensitive transport and raising awareness of the nuisances causes by the use of private cars in the city (Air, noise pollution, congestion etc). Good opportunity to promote active travel and public transport usage. Find out more at www.mobilityweek.eu/Car Free Day (In Town Without My Car) – annual event which sees thousands of cities across European take part and highlight the positive effects of car free travel ( health, safety and environmental benefits). Find out more atwww.etatrust.org.uk/campaign/car-free-day/

October 6th – 10th – National Liftshare Week – encouraging people to join the liftshare network in order to save money cut their carbon footprint and meet like-minded people. Find out more at www.liftshare.com/business

National Commute Smart Week – raising awareness of smarter working practices and how they can help to avoid the misery of commuting in the dark winter months. Find out more at www.workwiseuk.org/commutesmartweek/

UK Road Safety Week – an annual community event aimed at inspiring people to promote road safety within their local community. Find out more at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk

Promoting walking and cycling at work