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Measures and Progress
The key objective of the Southwark project is to realise effective mobility management measures in locations that attract large numbers of people (business areas and hospitals, for example) in order to reduce (solo) car use.
Over the past three years the project has researched and piloted sustainable transport from three angles. 1. Tools/ Actions
A series of tools or action programmes has been run which each last about 6 months. They are:
- Bikes for Business
- Mobility management events
- Web based information
- Street Audits
- Signage and mapping 2. Travel Plan Groups
Two local Travel Plan Groups have been set up in Bankside and Camberwell. The intention is to develop these two groups so they become a key delivery agent of workplace travel plans and initiatives to encourage the production and implementation of travel plans in the two areas. They actively involve members of the two groups to work in partnership with the borough, transport providers and neighbouring businesses to produce tailor made and therefore more effective sustainable transport solutions for the neighbourhood.
Brochure Local Travel Plan Groups The project has set up two websites:
- www.betterbankside.co.uk: Look under information and click on map. This is an interactive map of Bankside, which has the aim of encouraging people to use local transport and local services and to walk around the area for both work and pleasure.
- www.walk2go.com: This site shows the first interactive 3D film of a real location (Borough High Street) and gives everyone the chance of being a traffic engineer. Have a look and put your own design on. This website also offers tailor made walks with photos and the opportunity to post your own favourite walk and for others to comment on your route. This is the first time this has been done in the UK.
Over the rest of this year we will be adding a lot more walks and extending the mapping to Camberwell. 3. Planning processes
The project is also looking at mobility management and special planning from the policy and guidance perspective. How can be ensured through the planning process that sustainable transport is the first consideration and that mobility management is built into the process from the start. Two brochures has been published with Transport for London:
- Bikes for Business
- Local Travel Plan Groups: A Practical Guide for Setting up an Effective Group A Master Travel Plans for Bankside and Camberwell is written to provide aims and objectives for companies in these areas writing their travel plans. Also three research papers have been written:
- Delivering Sustainable Transport Through the Planning Process
- Marketing and Communications Strategy
- Unlocking the Potential of Site Based Mobility Management Through Local Travel Plan Groups
More on Measures and Results
Travel Awareness Events
A series of travel awareness events aimed at businesses are being run as a pilot of this kind of travel planning measure. The events aim to influence people’s transport choices by highlighting their current choices and the advantages of the alternatives. A travel awareness stand was held at the Bankside Information Day, to promote these events and gather baseline information through a Travel Diary. A Clever Commuter Event was organised and local businesses invited to participate, this attracted local press. Further events have been targeted to specific businesses. Planned events include asking people to complete a Travel Diary then holding a Travel Awareness Stand and offering personalised journey planning, offering health checks to encourage walking and cycling, then promoting local history walks. A good practice guide will be published for setting up travel awareness events in businesses and similar schemes being implemented in new locations and with new businesses.
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Camberwell street audit
Street audits
Street audits have been introduced as one of the travel planning measures, as a means for the Local Travel Plan Group to identify objectives for improving the street environment and tackling transport related problems. Infrastructural measures may be identified as a result of the street audits. Street audits have been run with businesses in the BBTPG area. Results from this have been taken to the BBTPG, to help form future plans for the group. Further street audits are planned with local businesses, both feeding into the BBTPG and as awareness raising exercises in themselves. A good practice guide will be published setting out street audit methodology for businesses and similar schemes being implemented in new locations and with new businesses.
The Southwark OPTIMUM² pilot team has made it possible for companies and other organisations to participate in an innovative scheme, which offers fully funded pool bikes for a six-month trial period. Businesses who join the scheme receive a full support package with the bikes, including cycle parking, helmets, reflective vests, locks and maps, insurance cover, regular bike services from a professional pool bike company and help and advice with any problems they come across. After the trial the companies have the option of buying the bikes at cost, hiring them with maintenance support or returning them to the hire company.
A good practice guide will be published for organising pool bike schemes in businesses and similar schemes being implemented in new locations and with new businesses.
Travel awareness events
Southwark Travel Planning and Development Control Policy
Review of current guidance on transport issues for planning officers, within context of overall formal “Southwark Plan” (master plan for sustainable development / regeneration)
- Impact of road user hierarchy
- Development travel plan groups
- Car free developments
Linked to work for Transport for London on how to use planning system to boost implementation of travel plans – guide for officers
First step for both: review of current transport related procedures used by development control / planning officers Transnational Relevance
Local governments find it hard to solve the above-mentioned transport-related problems. We see this in urban areas all over the world, so any method that will aid this process has international relevance.
If the local travel plan groups are successful in Southwark, they may also prove effective in other parts of London, in the UK or in other countries.
Innovative Aspect
The innovative aspect of this project consists of two elements.
The first element is the concept of LTPGs, with a central role in the development of future transport plans. These groups will work together with the borough and transport companies to produce tailor-made transport solutions. This method is different from the usual approach, where transport solutions tend to be imposed on people.
Secondly, a range of innovative mobility management tools are being investigated, which could be replicated and/or further developed in other areas in the UK and in Europe.
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