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Measures and Progress
In recent years, a number of schemes have been implemented to reduce the demand on car parks. These include: * Charges for staff parking permits and restricting permits according to working hours and area of residence.
* Dedicated hospital park & ride service for staff, patients and visitors.
* Subsidised bus travel, at any time. The Trust purchases annual bus passes and recovers the costs from staff via payroll, passing on the agent’s discount.
* Discount scheme with local bus provider which allows staff who do not purchase an annual pass to obtain 33.33% discount on all travel, on production of staff identity badge.
* Charges for patient and visitor car parking.
* Secure cycle parking and clothing lockers (up to 300); showers are already available.
* Signing up to Devon County Council’s car share software site.
* Collaborating with the Health Promotion Dept to promote walking by issuing staff with free pedometers and self recording sheets for them to measure the health related benefits.
* Formation of a hospital Bicycle Users Group (BUG).
Cycle promotion during Bike Week
Within OPTIMUM², the hospital is looking to develop a travel bureau to provide a central point of contact for hospital travel information. The bureau will provide information face to face, by telephone and through the internet, and explore the potential for individual travel plans. It also acts as a focus for marketing, surveys and monitoring work.
Publicity for the 'alternative' travel schemes - particularly the park & ride service - will be continually developed through websites, leaflets, booklets and posters.
Planned measures:
* To coincide with the transfer of the Centre Child and Women's Health onto the main hospital site, the excisting Park & Ride Service will operate longer hours. It is hoped that this will reduce the number of permits issues by around 250-300 per year.
* Provision of an additional 80-100 sucure cycle spaces, thourgh the OPTIMUM² project, in conjunction with Devon County Council.
* Issue a questionnaire to staff asking what measures could be introduced to encourage additional cyclists.
* Introduce a Salary Sacrifice scheme to enable staff to purchase bicycles at a discounted price.
* Further promotion of Alternative Travel Options especially to staff transferring to the main site in June 2007.
* Encourage increased usage of the existing Car Share system (linked to Devon-wide system).
* Provide an updated 'Buses to the RD&E Hospital' leaflet, in conjunction with Royal Devon County Council.
* Undertaking an end of project questionnairwe to staff, patients and visitors to use as a comparative to the simlair run at the start of the project.
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Transnational Relevance
Most major hospital sites, in western Europe and beyond, face problems of congestion resulting from increasing patient numbers and the growing dependence on the car. It is hoped that the information gained and the lessons learned in Exeter will have application in many other hospital settings.
Innovative Aspect
A travel bureau providing personal travel information for patients, staff and visitors is an innovative development for a hospital.
While not funded as part of OPTIMUM², the hospital's dedicated park & ride service is one of very few such services, at least in the UK. More on Measures and Results
We expect the following results:
* A social change towards greater willingness to use alternatives to the car.
* At least a doubling of park & ride usage at the end of 2007.
* Increase cycling and walking amongst staff by 20 – 25%.
* Provision of individual 'travel plans'.
* The ability to undertake major building and service developments while meeting local planning requirements for traffic containment.
* Accessible and uncongested hospital sites. 
Free Pedometers
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