A travel plan is a general term for a package of measures
tailored to the needs of individual sites and aimed at promoting
greener, cleaner travel choices and reducing reliance on the car.
It involves the development of a set of mechanisms, initiatives and
targets that together can enable your organisation to reduce the
impact of travel and transport on the environment, whilst also
bringing a number of other benefits to your organisation as an
employer and to staff.
(back to top)
It is now generally accepted that the number of journeys and the
distance regularly travelled in cars should be reduced.
- The impact of chemical and noise pollution not only effects the
environment but also the health of everyone in general.
- Individuals are increasingly aware that they can not choose to
use public transport because:
- the services do not exist, or they do not know if, when or
where services run, and they do not want to walk or cycle because
of the amount of traffic on the roads
- or because there is nowhere for them to park securely or change
out of wet clothes when they get there.
Travel plans are one way that government, local authorities,
hospital, businesses and schools are working to try to address
these concerns.
(back to top)
A travel plan is not a one-off event to be undertaken and
completed, nor is it a document to be produced and put on a shelf.
It is the start of a new and better way of living and working, a
process of evolution, not revolution.
Development of a travel plan for your organisation will help to
encourage staff, and others visiting your site(s), to use more
environmentally-friendly alternatives than driving alone, at least
for some of their journeys. It should contain a mix of incentives
and disincentives to be successful e.g. car-sharing, promoting more
use of public transport, encouraging walking and cycling,
restricting on-site car parking spaces and supporting alternative
work practices which reduce the need to travel.
A travel plan resource pack for employers". DfT,
2000. Department for Transport
(back to top)
A travel plan is a dynamic process which will grow and develop
over time, and one which will be adapted to suit the changing
circumstances and needs of the employer. The travel plan should set
out:
- how the design of the site at the time of occupation will
encourage a mix of travel modes;
- how proposed future mode choice measures will be phased-in;
and
- how targets will be set, monitored and reported to the local
authority.
A travel plan should include measures, which address the travel
of commuters, business travel, deliveries, visitors and
customers.
(back to top)
Bath and North East Somerset Council will always encourage any
new development to include a Travel Plan, appropriate to the size
of the development, as part of the planning permission.
(back to top)
For more advice and information on this topic please contact
our transportation@bathnes.gov.uk
