Travel plans | BETA - South Gloucestershire Council

A travel plan is a package of actions designed by a business, school or other organisation to encourage active and sustainable travel options.

Types of travel plans

There are 3 main types of travel plans.

Residential: new housing developments

Commercial: existing and new businesses

School: children, parents and staff

Benefits

Travel plans are bespoke to who they serve, provide alternatives to using a private car.

They have a range of benefits including:

providing people with a range of travel options
supporting people to try new ways of travel through incentives, offers, events or training
encouraging active travel options to improve health and fitness
helping to reduce air pollution, climate change, reduce noise and improve safety
supporting more connected and liveable communities
reducing traffic, congestion and delays
lowering car dependency and potential car parking provision costs
reducing vehicle trips to and from the site

Our involvement

We are involved in the delivery of travel plans across South Gloucestershire by:

being appointed by developers or planning applicants to deliver a travel plan for a new development
working with existing businesses, communities and schools to provide travel planning advice
supporting Department for Transport funded projects such as the capability fund
monitoring travel plans to make sure they are delivered efficiently

Effective travel plans

An effective travel plan will:

be led by a travel plan coordinator to make sure it is implemented effectively
contain clear aims, objectives and specific targets
be monitored and revised on an annual basis to check progress towards meeting its targets, reflect current best practice and adjust to make sure it is meeting the needs of the users

Large developments will need a travel plan stakeholder group with representatives from the community who will then continue travel plan work in future with the community. This requirement will be confirmed in the planning process.

What makes an effective travel plan

The list below gives measures that we would expect to see in an effective travel plan. Plans should be bespoke, regularly revised and include innovative solutions.

This list is not exhaustive and not all measures listed below are appropriate for every site.

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Walking

You can find more information on walking on our One You website and on Travelwest.

Travel planning to promote walking could include:

promotion of Travelwest’s journey planner to help plan walking, cycling or public transport options
maps of local pedestrian routes
walkers groups or walking buddy schemes
lunchtime and after work walks
staff walking challenges
walk leader training and champions
pedestrian signage to or within the site to show destinations, distances and journey times
regular audits of pedestrians routes to make sure they are safe and accessible
provide pool umbrellas and personal alarms at work
hold annual pedometer challenges
promotion of Walk to Work Week
promotion and participation of Walk to School Week in May and International Walk to School Month in October
promotion and participation of Clean Air Day in June
Smarter Travel Voucher schemes with items available that support walking
taking part in regional commuter challenges
promotion of annual regional Travel to Work Survey
personalised travel planning sessions to help people identify the best route for their journeys
obtaining Modeshift Stars accreditation in schools
road safety training in schools
school street schemes
travel trials and pledge schemes
route maps and journey planners that include active travel maps for the local area

Cycling and scooting

You can find more information on cycling on Travelwest’s joy in active travel, cycling around the West of England and e-scooter trial pages.

Travel planning to promote cycling and scooting could include:

promotion of Travelwest’s journey planner to help plan walking, cycling or public transport options
signage to or within the site to show destinations, distances and journey times
bicycle user group clubs and buddy schemes
bike and scooter security marking sessions
CCTV covering cycle and scooter parking area
company showers with changing and drying facilities and lockers
cycle and scooter training schemes
cycle maintenance sessions
cycle to work scheme (tax free loans for staff)
Dr Bike events and bike mechanic sessions
e-bike charging facilities
information on bicycles and electric bikes
information on cycle charities and bicycle recycle schemes
information on scooter and cycle loan schemes
last mile cycle deliveries
local cycle hubs
lunchtime, after work and weekend cycle rides
micromobility hubs
getting Modeshift Stars accreditation in schools
on-site cycle pumps and repair kits
paying cycle mileage rates for staff work journeys
personalised travel planning sessions to help people to identify the most useful routes for their journeys
pool bikes and e-bike scheme
promotion and participation of Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel
promotion of Cycle to Work Day and Week
promotion of the annual regional Travel to Work Survey
promotion of Travelwest’s journey planner to help plan walking, cycling or public transport options
provision of cycle maps
regular audits of routes to make sure they are safe and accessible
route maps and journey planners including active travel maps for the local area
secure discounts with local cycle shops
secure, well-lit covered cycle and scooter parking
signage to or within the site to show destinations, distances and journey times
Smarter Travel Vouchers with items available that support cycling and scooting

Public transport

You can find more information on public transport on Travelwest’s bus, rail and metrobus pages.

Travel planning to promote public transport could include:

free 1 month bus pass for new staff and residents
join a bus company’s corporate travel scheme
maps and local guides showing local public transport facilities
personalised travel planning sessions to assist people to identify the most useful routes for their journeys
promotion of catch the bus week
promotion of local park and rides
promotion of the annual regional Travel to Work Survey
promotion of the Travelwest bus buddy service and how to catch the bus page
promotion of the Travelwest fares and travelcards page
promotion of the Travelwest journey planner page (this includes bus stops, park and rides and train station information)
real-time public transport information on site
season ticket purchase scheme for bus and rail
Smarter Travel Vouchers with options available that using public transport
working with local public transport providers to improve services, negotiate discounts and trial initiatives
works buses or shuttle buses

Reduction of car use and promotion of car sharing and car clubs

Travel planning to reduce car use and promote car sharing or car clubs could include:

car share parking spaces at work
electric vehicle pool cars for the workplace
enforcement of unauthorised and illegal parking
incentives for car sharers at work
information campaigns to raise awareness around the impact of car use (for example, costs of car ownership, idling vehicles, future vehicle technologies)
installation of electric vehicle charging points
Park and Stride schemes for schools
Park and Stride site or zones near schools
Park Away campaign toolkits for schools
promoting Travelwest’s electric vehicle information
promotion of eco-driving and lessons
promotion of local park and rides
promotion of national Car Free Day
promotion of the annual regional Travel to Work Survey
promotion of the Travelwest journey planner page (this includes car club locations, charge points and taxi rank locations)
promotion or provision of car club scheme
review business mileage policies
set up parking permit system based on staff member’s needs
support and information for motorcycles
support organisations in offering more employees to work from home
taxi-sharing service

Fleet management

Travel planning to support fleet management could include:

providing driver training
reviewing company car policy with a focus on grey fleet use
reviewing mileage rates
reviewing working practices
setting up pool cars and bikes
using electric vehicles or biofuels

Marketing and promotions

Ideas for use of marketing and promotions to promote your travel plan are:

banners, posters, leaflets, A-Boards, feather flags and promotional items
joining North Bristol Suscom if located in the North Bristol Fringe or SevernNet if based in the Severnside
notice boards containing up to date information including co-ordinators contact details, public transport maps, car sharing, car clubs, cycling and walking routes and related information
participation in national promotional events such as National Bike Week, National Car Free Day, Bike2Work Days, Big Commuting Challenge
using personalised travel planning with induction sessions and welcome packs for new residents, occupants and staff
annual regional travel to work survey
commuter challenges or other travel related competitions
using Travelwest and Better by Bike websites
regular events or meetings to promote the options
regular social media, newsletters, emails, flyers and information in payslips
information available in sales suites for prospective buyers of new developments
website or page with regular updates of relevant information
providing travel information packs to all new members of staff and residents (including include travel information, maps and guides with details about the specific measures)
visitor travel information for a site and travel packs for new employees

Contact

For more information about a travel plan relating to a planning application email dctransport@southglos.gov.uk.

For general information about travel plans or to find out more about how we can support your organisation email transport.policy@southglos.gov.uk.