February is Green Travel Month and Islanders are being encouraged to cut carbon and change the way that they travel to work. Island businesses are finding out more about how they can “drive less, see more”, by considering alternative ways of commuting. During Green Travel Month employers and employees are being reminded of the benefits of using public transport or cycling to work. There are new options too, including Red Squirrel Electric Bikes to encourage new cyclists, as well as the new Co-Wheels fleet of hybrid and low-emission vehicles. The campaign is being organised by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council and is part of an ongoing schedule of engagement with the Island’s business community.
“We all have a responsibility,” says the Chamber’s Chief Executive Kevin Smith. “We can all make changes in the way that we travel to work. We aren’t asking people to completely give up using their car but we are asking employees to look again at the way that they commute. We’re also asking employers to consider if they can promote sustainable travel options. Cutting carbon is easier than ever, and if everyone changed their behaviour in a small way then the total savings will add up to a big difference.
“The good thing is that getting to work in a sustainable way has never been easier. As well as public transport, businesses now have exciting new options like the Co-Wheels fleet of cars, which are kinder to the environment and can also help small businesses to save money on company vehicles. Red Squirrel’s Electric Bikes are great for promoting cycling in the workplace, helping staff to get healthier and also save time when travelling to meetings. The key message is that sustainable travel isn’t just good for the environment and our carbon footprint, it’s also good for business too. Using the car less means staff are healthier and less stressed – and that’s good for everyone, meaning your business is more productive and more successful.”
During Green Travel Month Island businesses are being reminded of the benefits of “smart working”, when employees can work more productively from home, without the need to travel and waste time stuck in commuter traffic. Employers are also being urged to try out ideas like “walking meetings”, with the aid of Green Travel pedometers.
“We had all grown accustomed to sitting at our desks for too long,” says Esme Shakeshaft, from Moore Stephens (South) LLP. “We weren’t taking regular breaks from our computer screens and were sometimes sitting with poor posture, which results in lower back and neck pain. An excellent way to revive the energy and concentration levels is a brisk, brief “let’s walk and talk” session to discuss issues arising and get a breath of fresh air which seems to clarify our thinking and improve our decision making – some of our best ideas have formed whilst out walking. This does not suit every meeting, and we have not yet mastered recording notes on our phones as we go, but it does give us a chance to get away from our desks and return to the office fully charged with a clear strategy for the task in hand, and a tick in the box for our core!”
In Green Travel Month lots of Island businesses will be getting on-board with sustainable travel by taking part in the E-Bike Challenge, notching up carbon-free miles over the course of a week by trying out a new Red Squirrel Electric Bike. Isle of Wight College, Stainless Games, GKN, Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council have all signed up for the challenge, designed to promote cycling as a viable alternative to the car.
“For employers a fit workforce is a real benefit,” says CycleWight’s Tim Thorne. “A whole raft of research shows that active commuters have less time off work than colleagues relying on their own or public transport. An added benefit is a cycle commuter can guarantee their journey time to within a few minutes. Supporting a cycle buying scheme would be an incentive to employees to buy a new bike. There are several schemes available nationally. Look after your employees’ bikes by acquiring a sheffield hoop rack which could accommodate 8 bikes and costs a little more that £150. It would take up the same space as one car.”
It’s a staggering fact that 80% of private car journeys entering Newport are single occupancy. Nitrogen dioxide recordings taken in central Newport are well above the average recordings taken at other locations on the Island, so we can all make a difference by driving less and cutting carbon. For more ideas and information about Green Travel you can go to the Green On Wight section of the Chamber’s website, at www.iwchamber.co.uk/greentravel.
