Workplace Travel Planning
North Shore City is taking the lead in a programme to encourage organisations throughout the city to develop travel plans for their staff. 
What is a travel plan?
A travel plan sets out steps to encourage people to travel to and from an organisation by cycling, carpooling, walking or by public transport.
The focus is on promoting travel choices and reducing single occupancy car trips.
Its a concept that has already enjoyed considerable success in organisations overseas and is gaining significant results for staff in a pilot programme at North Shore City Council.
A travel plan can be straightforward to prepare but may require some creative thinking by employers as well as staff. As an example the simple act of installing a cycle rack may result in an immediate increase in cycling to and from a workplace.
A Few Facts to Consider More details here |
Why Should We Be Interested in Travel Planning?
Travel plans have benefits which include health, environmental and financial rewards
but which can also
• Solve parking and land problems
Reduce pressure for car parking, enabling the space to be used for other purposes. It may be that you are relocating and won’t have as many parks available, or that you’d like to reduce the number of rented car parks, or parking areas which must be maintained.
• Provide real cost savings to your organisation.
Many organisations don’t realise how much money they spend annually on travel-related expenditure such as fleet fuel costs, company cars, other workplace-related travel and car park expenses.
By analysing your travel patterns, it may be possible to identify areas where your workplace can save money.
• Improve your organisation’s image
Being perceived as environmentally friendly makes an organisation more attractive to clients, customers and potential employees.
It will also make it more attractive to present to future employees as a good place to work.
• Increase opportunities for accessing your location
You may be able to draw from a wider pool of clients, customers and employees if your organisation is more easily accessible by all means of transport.
• Promote a healthy and motivated community
Studies show people who commute by walking and cycling are more alert and less stressed when they arrive.
Real Stories
Here are some real actions organisations in New Zealand have taken up as part of their travel plans.
"It’s smart to do a staff travel plan for your organisation. We’ve had a 10 per cent reduction in travel to work by single occupant car. People are ridesharing, on the bus using discounts we’ve arranged and doing healthy things like walking and biking. For a lot of our people it’s cut the stress and the cost of travel to and from work” John Brockies (above), CEO, North Shore City Council.
The following departments are usually involved in developing a workplace travel plan
• Human resources
• Senior management
• Facilities/ Property
• Information Technology
It is also useful to involve North Shore City Council and Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).
What type of organisations are travel plans applicable for?
Workplace travel plan can be applied to a wide range of locations including:
• Offices
• Colleges
• Hospitals
• Business parks
What can we expect to see?
The actions of your travel plan will vary according to your organisation, location, funding available and the measures you see as important. Outcomes might include.
Walking and cycling programmes 
• Quality, covered cycle parking
• Showers, changing and drying facilities
• Fleet bikes
• Improved on-site security
Public transport measures
• Transport information and concessions on notice board/intranet
• Transport welcome pack for new staff
Vehicle management
• Ridesharing notice board or database
• Priority parking spaces near the entrance for rideshare staff.
• Parking management system
Work Practice
•Tele-conferencing
•Teleworking
•Flexitime
Keeping the travel plan alive
Once the initial burst of enthusiasm is over its important to keep the energy of the travel plan alive.
Annual surveys are a useful way of checking if your plan is still working and can be used to revive the plan. The survey doesn’t need to be as long as the original survey, just a few questions asking how staff travel to work and where they live.
Supporting and extending events like Go By Bike day and other public events will keep the enthusiasm alive without having to reinvent the wheel.
What’s it going to cost me?
While a travel plan will involve some initial costs in the long term an organisation can expect to see savings in car park expenses, fleet car operations, staff attitudes, work place efficiencies and the level of fitness in the workplace.
Potential costs may include
• Travel plan co-ordinators time;
• Conducting and analysing travel surveys
• Facilities such as cycle parking.
• Staff time for meetings.
Let us help you
North Shore City has a team who are dedicated to workplace travel plans. They are on hand to answer questions and assist with transport planning and advice.
Call, email or visit our Senior Travel Planner at North Shore City Council 09-486-8600 travelwisetowork@northshorecity.govt.nz
What NSCC has done
North Shore City Council has had a travel plan in place since 2002. Through this travel plan it has achieved.
• Secure bike cages and bike parking
• Subsidised bus tickets
• Free one week trial passes for new bus users
• Purchased five fleet bikes for staff use
• Guaranteed ride home scheme for ridesharers
• Trialled a new rideshare matching system
• Installed lockers for walkers and cyclists
• Established regular staff TravelWise newsletters
• Purchased 15 fleet bus cards for staff use
Q1: How much time will a travel plan take to implement and maintain?The time it takes to arrange and maintain a travel plan will depend on the size and type of your organisation. For example - North Shore City has a staff of 920. They started on their travel plan in 2002, and adopted it in 2003. Their travel plan has been running for four years now, and the benefits and outcomes have grown every year with the programme.
Q2: Once our plan is up and running will we still get regular support?
Yes, our workplace travel plan team will always be available to support you and give advice.
Q3: How long do we sign up for? Is there a minimum time or payment?
There is no minimum time you need to sign up for. We are confident that the programme will work for all organisations, but if you feel it doesn’t meet your needs you are able to opt out at any time.
Q4: Where can we get more information
The following websites are very helpful for more information on public transport and travel plans:
 www.maxx.co.nz |
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| www.arta.co.nz |
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| www.travelwise.org.nz |
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| www.landtransport.govt.nz/sustainable-transport/travel-behaviour-change |
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| www.vtpi.org |
1. Ministry of Transport 'New Zealand Transport Strategy' 2001
2. North Shore City Council 'Sustainable Living - Transport Info'
