Green for go! Hundreds of Island employees embrace sustainable travel
Businesses across the Island are cutting carbon and changing the way that their employees are travelling to work, inspired by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce’s Green Travel Month. In February more than 500 employees who would normally drive to work switched to public transport, taking advantage of Southern Vectis Smartcards which came pre-loaded with five days of unlimited travel.
Island employers who took part include Morrisons, The Shaw Trust, Red Funnel, HMP Isle of Wight, Sainsburys, YMCA, Liz Earle, GKN, Island Roads, the Isle of Wight NHS, Neutrik, Trucast, Isle Of Wight Radio, IW County Press, Crossprint, Southern Housing, Cowes Yacht Haven, Mackenzies Accountants, Kardan Travel, Ryde Academy, West Wight Sports Centre, BamCo, Aspire, Kite Hill, Adventure Activities, Wight Computers and Easyweigh.
Isle of Wight Chamber Chief Executive Kevin Smith commented:
“What a great result! With more than five hundred employees starting to use the bus we’re helping to get cars off the road and lower carbon emissions. We hope that Green Travel Month has helped businesses to look at the way they operate in a different way, and that businesses will continue to encourage staff to become less reliant on their cars. We want businesses to drive less and see more as part of Bicycle Island, as well as considering the positive impact on their employees health and well-being that walking to work can bring.”
Matt Kitchin, Southern Vectis General Manager commented:
“Together with the Chamber we hope to encourage people to be a little less reliant on their car for the journeys where alternatives exist, be it walking, cycling or bus. It’s been great to be able to offer commuters the incentive to try the bus and the response from Island businesses to this initiative has been brilliant.”
Councillor Paul Fuller, Executive Member for Environment, praised the response to Green Travel Month:
“The council is delighted to be able to promote more sustainable and affordable travel to work options for staff. We have had a lot of applications for the ‘taster’ card offered by Southern Vectis, and there is genuine interest in switching from car to bus for the daily commute.”
The Chamber is also working with Visit Isle of Wight’s Travel Ambassadors to introduce businesses to electric bikes. During Green Travel Month employers signed up for Electric Bike taster sessions in partnership with the Island’s newly launched Red Squirrel Electric Bikes.
James Lucas, Care and Support Initiatives Officer for Southern Housing Group welcomed the opportunities on offer.
“As part of our Local Sustainability Strategy we are exploring various ways in which our staff can make use of different means of transport, other than their petrol or diesel powered vehicles. We have trialled electric bikes and staff tried out the bus as an alternative way to get to work. We are keen to find out more about Green Transport and other Green themed initiatives and look forward to working further with the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.”
Charles Joly, Environmental & Sustainability Manager for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust added:
“Sustainable travel is an important element of our award-winning Sustainability Strategy, Greener Care. As a healthcare provider, we are committed to support our staff and the wider community to adopt alternatives to car use, such as walking, cycling, or taking the bus. Indeed, these are not only greener and cheaper, they can also have strong health benefits for individuals, and thus reduce pressure on the health system. With the added support of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, we have been able to actively engage our staff on switching to sustainable travel modes.”
HMP Isle of Wight Governor Andy Lattimore said:
“I am pleased that there has been significant interest and take up of this initiative from staff at HMP Isle of Wight, with almost forty smartcards being requested. I support and encourage use of public transport where possible.”
As part of the LSTF Workplace Engagement programme the Chamber has developed a range of green travel plan templates suitable for small, medium and large businesses to adopt for free. Travel plans can make a real contribution towards encouraging and promoting alternatives to single-occupancy car trips such as encouraging car-share schemes, cycling and public transport. A plan encourages an organisation to look at their impact on the environment and the well-being of their team and look ahead in identifying positive changes.
Tracy Underwood, LSTF Officer at the IW Chamber says:
“It’s fantastic that so many Island employers, large and small, have taken the opportunity to get involved in Green Travel Month. We hope it will encourage people to make more use of the bus in future, as well as looking at other ‘healthy’ options such as walking or cycling. We can offer employers a wide range of advice relating to encouraging active and sustainable travel in their workplace. Email me attracy.underwood@iwchamber.co.uk or call 554545.”
