Monday, October 5 2009
Transport planner JMP has assisted the Smarter Travel team at London Borough Richmond upon Thames (STR) to set up two ‘Connecting Businesses’ travel plan networks.
They are designed to engage local businesses in travel planning and to introduce them to the benefits of promoting walking, cycling and public transport to their employees.
STR is funded and delivered in conjunction with Transport for London (TfL) and is the second integrated behavioural change programme introduced in the capital, the first being established in the London Borough of Sutton in which JMP played an integral role.
In Sutton, the consultant developed a strategy to ‘lock in’ the benefits of the programme by implementing infrastructure measures in locations where travel plans were in place, to assist people to walk, cycle and take public transport.
The aim of the two STR Connecting Businesses Networks is to encourage local businesses to become members of STR and develop, implement and promote a travel plan. In return, membership entitles businesses to a range of exclusive benefits including challenge grants, assistance to implement suitable infrastructure and access to subsidised services, such as cyclist training for employees.
JMP has assisted in establishing the two local networks, which consist largely of small to medium size enterprises. Key to this was the development of a communications strategy to raise the profile of Smarter Travel and increase participation in the programme and to better engage businesses in the travel planning process.