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Measures and Progress
An important part of this plan is the user-oriented approach, which puts the transport needs of businesses and their employees on centre stage. Mobility management is then used in the search for solutions, which can only be done if town councils, province authorities, businesses, project developers and investors all work together. We intend to take the following measures. 1. Local traffic performance
For the business parks that are yet to be developed, a comparatively new instrument will be used: "local traffic performance". In this approach, the way to optimise accessibility is investigated in every aspect and at an early stage of the plan development. We gain a clear picture of transport supply and demand and consider realistic alternatives to transport by car. 2. Optimising slow traffic infrastructure
It turns out that many workers live within 7.5 km of their work at the business park. Only a small number of them now come to work by bicycle. Improving the infrastructure for cyclists will encourage using bicycles as a means of commuting. A survey has been made into the missing sections in the network of bicycle paths. This has resulted in the proposal to build a tunnel for cyclists under the railway. 3. Central parking and parking management
In the new business parks, the best way to create a central parking area is being developed. This will make it possible to use the available space more efficiently and will incite businesses to be more aware of how they use cars. The central parking lot will be supervised by a parking manager. At present, it is being investigated what possibilities park management has to offer to the ISEV business parks. A proposal has been made to lay down terms and conditions for park management in the allocation contract. This proposal will be discussed by the town council of Ede and with the businesses involved. 4. Collective demand-dependent transport system
Public transport does not offer sufficient means to reach the parks. To supplement public transport, a central demand-dependent transport system will be created, aimed at commuters. In co-operation with the public transport company, the Djopper system was introduced. Minibuses will pick up workers at their homes and bring them back again, for the same fare as public transport. On 6 June 2005 Djopper transport started for the firm Deli XL. In September 2005 the kick-off was festively celebrated. At the moment there are 9 minibuses on the road. The system’s strength lies in the fact that the company employees pick each other up on the way to and drop each other off on the way from work. This makes transport cheap, fast and comfortable. 5. Mobility facility point
The mobility facility point has also started up. This facility point has services and products in the mobility field for companies and their staff. The aim is to inform and give support to companies and staff about mobility issues. The mobility facility point is going to develop collective services for the companies. A user-oriented approach is the main focus. The mobility facility point is staffed by an accessibility agent who has an office in the business area. The facility point can be contacted by phone during week-days. The previously held (baseline) survey revealed that there are good leads for developing customised solutions. 6. Signage system
Together with the mobility facility point, a system will be created to supply employees and visitors with travel, route and traffic information. The information will probably be exchanged interactively.
An exploratory inquiry has been made into possible travel information systems. A website will now be built based on the results of the inquiry, giving information on the accessibility of Ede’s business parks. This website will be linked directly to the mobility facility point and is operational since the fall of 2005.
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Djopper
Park Management
One important factor is that concrete steps have been taken towards integrating mobility into business park management. But for the time-being this presents difficulties. In the Netherlands, and among the other partners, there are no good models on hand.
In the case of the existing business parks, integration was achieved by linking the mobility facility point to the park management organisation which was recently set up. The mobility facility point will thus become a part of the overall business park management.
It has been agreed, for the new business parks, that mobility will be an optional service in the park management run by the association of owner-occupiers. It turned out not to be feasible to include mobility in the basic service package at the moment. Although it has been agreed that the mobility facility point will offer its services to companies free of charge for the next two years, via the park management organisation. After that period, there will be an evaluation with the association of owner-occupiers and others, about the way in which mobility can be included in the park management. Furthermore, companies who buy land are obliged to draw up a transport plan. The mobility facility point can draw up this transport plan free of charge. This obligation aims to make companies more aware of the mobility aspect and to draw them into discussions on this subject. At the moment the mobility facility point is in contact, for the first time, with a company that is moving to Ede concerning their mobility policy at the new location. This is seen as a model for the development of a customised transport plan.
Integrating mobility into park management is crucial because mobility management can then be imbedded structurally in the sustainable management of the business parks. The first steps for this have been taken, as described above. Innovative Aspect and Transnational Relevance
Mobility management for industrial parks is still in its infancy. Accessibility is usually only put on the agenda once there is traffic congestion or lack of parking space. In the Ede project the approach will be innovative in the following ways:
- Attending to mobility early in the plan development process. This way mobility can be integrated into an approach designed for the area.
- Focusing on the user-oriented approach, that puts businesses and their employees centre stage when optimising accessibility.
- Ensuring co-operation between authorities and businesses, working together and reaching agreements on the implementation of measures.
The establishment of a mobility facility point, a collective user-oriented transport system and sustainable parking management are innovative measures based on this approach. Another innovative aspect is the signage system using real time data. To bring this about, it is important to share knowledge and lessons learned and to co-operate with the other OPTIMUM² partners.
More on Measures and Results
A website is being built for the mobility facility point and also for general communication purposes. The the website is live since December 2005.
The website displays images from the webcams which are to be installed on the entry and exit roads of the business area. This will give employees direct and live information, via the website, about the traffic situation on the entry/exit roads. Ede has commissioned the development of a database for bicycle systems in co-operation with the Gouda project and the Province of Noord-Holland. This will create an up-to-date overview of bicycle systems which are currently in operation all over the world. The aim is to provide access to the available information, and to enable further development not only in the OPTIMUM² projects, but also elsewhere. The communication and marketing have been elaborated in a concrete plan of action. A newsletter is being published and email messages are regularly exchanged with the market panel which consists of representatives from about 30 companies on the business parks. The launch of the Djopper was a festive occasion and it was publicised by flying a zeppelin over the business area. A new mobility manger has been appointed. The mobility manager will be visiting all the businesses in the park and starting to make travel plans with them.
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