Year: 2010
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The current reliance on private vehicles is a major contributing factor to congestion,\nenvironmental degradation and energy use. A number of measures, most notably fuel taxes,\nparking policy, traffic management schemes and more recently road user charging have\nbeen implemented in a number of cities as a means of addressing the situation. At the same\ntime ‘softer’ options, such as travel plans have been applied in an increasing number of\ncases, in a bid to resolve the issues caused by accessing workplaces, schools and other trip\ngenerators by the private car.\nA travel plan comprises a package of measures tailored to the needs of individual\norganisations and aimed at promoting greener, cleaner travel choices and reducing reliance\non the car. Unlike the traditional approach to counteract transport problems of providing more\ncapacity, travel plans can be relatively quick, inexpensive, effective and a more acceptable\noption.\nThe aim of this paper is to determine the current situation and future direction with respect to\ntravel plans within a European context.\nIn order to assess the situation in-depth face-to-face and telephone interviews were\nundertaken with 20 travel plan experts from Europe and the USA. Interviewees were\nselected based on a careful study of the literature and the authors’ detailed knowledge of\ntransport policy and travel plans.\nInterviewees highlight the need for an action-based approach to ensure that travel plans\nhave an impact, with communication being key to success. They emphasise the need for\nstandardised monitoring and evaluation to assess the cost saving ability of travel plan\nadoption to organisations, and carbon reduction potential. For the future there is agreement\nthat there will be a growing demand for mobility management measures and the\nimplementation of travel plans and travel plan networks are expected to play an increasing\nrole. For this to occur it is argued that there needs to be greater support from Government,\nlocal authorities and within organisations, so as to provide continuity in funding and targeted\nprovision.
Authors: Lisa Davison, Marcus Enoch, Stephen Ison
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W635166637