Combining solutions

 

Combining solutions and how it can contribute to mobility management


To cater for the demands of different site users, many sites implement not just one, but a combination of measures. In addition, there are some measures which can help meet a number of different objectives at the same time.

 

Examples include:

 

  • Mobility service points, which are responsible for the co-ordination of mobility services at the site, will also take care of communication, administration and financial issues.
  • Mobility cards have the facility to allow users to pay for a variety of mobility services using just one card. Parking, bus, train, light rail as well has bicycle hire can all be included. This makes it simpler for users both to change between different modes and to pay for services.
  • Personalised Travel Planning, Journey Plans or Travel Advice, enabling specific information of a range of different modes to be given, in person or by phone. 
  • Dedicated websites allow information on all modes of transport to presented in a coordinated and hence more understandable form.  

  

Each of the OPTIMUM²  sites implemented one or more of these solutions.  

 


When should you consider combining solutions?

 

Combining solutions can be effective in a wide range of contexts. It is particularly important where there is no obvious single alternative to car use and to ensure that there are both disincentives to car use at the same time as incentives to use other modes. 

 

Mobility service points
Mobility service points work best in large organisations, on business parks or as part of a Local Travel Plan Group. While initial set up costs may be provided by a local authority it is preferable for organisations that benefit from the service to at least contribute to the running costs as soon as possible to ensure long term financial viability of the mobility point. Stakeholder contributions also tend to mean that the service continues to meet the needs of the users.

 

Mobility cards
Mobility Cards should be considered if you have a variety of transport services to your site and where different fare / pricing structures make it difficult for users to transfer between them. Due to the complexities of introducing them, they are not really suitable for a single sites and are best implemented in a business park or area situation. Within OPTIMUM², various plans concerning Mobility Cards were eventually abandoned.

 

Personalised travel planning
Personalised travel planning can be particularly effective for employees new to a site. It has the advantage that it can be delivered to anything between a few people to hundreds of people at the same time. In the case of Edinburgh, it was combined with other travel information campaigns to increase awareness of upgraded bus services.

 

Websites
Combining information via a dedicated web site should be considered when existing information is poor or badly coordinated. This measure can also be combined with promotions, competitions and branding of mobility management services more generally.

 


What can combining solutions achieve?

 

Mobility service points can:

  

  • Improve the effectiveness of mobility management packages through enhanced coordination;
  • Deliver services more efficiently due to scale economies;
  • Increase awareness of mobility alternatives to the car through enhanced marketing efforts.

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 Mobility cards can:

 

  • Increase public transport patronage by making it easier and therefore more attractive to use it;
  • Reduce the cost of travel to the user, as they avoid the need to pay (more expensive) cash fares;
  • Reduce transport costs and making them more predictable for employers, by making it possible to pay a single annual fee for transport services;
  • Act as branding & marketing tool.

 

 
Personalised Travel Planning can: 

 

  • Reduce car trips;
  • Increase public transport trips;
  • Enable trips to be combined (trip chaining);
  • Increase the number of local trips made on foot or cycling.

 


Integrated travel information websites can:

 

  • Increase awareness and knowledge of transport services to a site or area;
  • Act as marketing tool for an area or organisation.

 

 

How do I implement solutions together and what will it cost me?

 

Combining solutions often requires working in partnership with other organisations and finding new ways to deliver services together.

 

Mobility service points have been established at  Hilversum Media Park, Ede Business Areas and Amsterdam Southern Business Areas. Use the hyperlinks to learn more about the implementation process.
Even better: at Goudse Poort, mobility management has been integrated within the park management function, making  mobility management an issue for the owners organisation/employers instead of it being an imposition of the municipality.  

 

Amsterdam Southern Business Areas offers undoubtly the most succesfull example of the mobility card within OPTIMUM². Also, Goudse Poort Business Park has made a start with the mobility card, soon to be extended with other services.  

 

Personal Travel Advice has been the primal mobility management measure in the Edinburgh Business and Hospital Areas. Also, Amsterdam Southern Business Areas has developed a tool to offer personal travel advice, which will soon be implemented. 

 

Dedicated websites have been developed and implemented at each and every OPTIMUM2 site. The most elaborate example, with extensive documentation on the making and costs of such a website, is offered by Colchester General Hospitals. Another very succesfull website we would like to mention here, was developed and implemented at Hilversum Media Park. The website offers personal travel advice as well as real time travel information. 
Use the menu to check out other sites.