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Smarter commuting
Train travel has boomed, as
commuters have become more eco-
conscious and driving more diffcult
and expensive. Figures published by
the Association of Train Operating
Companies (ATOC) show that over
the fnancial year 2010/11 a total of
1.34bn journeys were made on the
railways. Passenger numbers grew
by 4.8% in the frst three months of
2011, taking growth over the entire
fnancial year to 6.6%.
From an environmental perspective,
travelling by train is the next best thing
to walking or cycling, producing 60g of
CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre,
compared to 89g by bus and 133g
for the average car. However, it still
accounts for a tiny proportion of the
daily commute.
Analysis from the Offce for
National Statistics shows that outside
London, most people (71%) drive to
work, with 10% walking, 7% catching a
bus, 5% getting a train and 3% cycling.
Within London, 35% of those who work
in London drive, and half of all workers
take public transport: 20% train, 18%
Tube and 12% bus.
The Government’s announcement
that it is changing the formula for
calculating fare increases, from the rate
of infation according to the Retail Price
Index (RPI) plus 1%, to RPI plus 3%
means that train travel’s share could
become even smaller.
With July’s RPI remaining unchanged
at 5%, season ticket holders are looking
at a hike in fares of 8% in the New
Year. And because this fgure only has
to be an average, passengers on some
routes could face even higher increases.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond
responded by saying that the railways
have become a ‘rich man’s toy’.
If that is the case and train travel
becomes unaffordable what are the
alternatives for those who can’t walk to
work? And what can be done to lessen
the environmental impact of journeys?
As the railways become a ‘rich man’s toy’ what are
the alternatives for the hoi polloi
The Car
People who revert to car travel can
reduce the fnancial and environmental
consequences of their decision by being
a bit smarter about their choices:
1. Choose a car with a smaller engine
or lower carbon dioxide emissions,
as these qualify for environmental
discounts on road tax and, in some
cities, on parking permits. Find out
more at www.direct.gov.uk.
2. Drive smarter. The Energy Saving
Trust says that driving more carefully
can cut fuel bills by £250 per driver,
per year and that the frst 15,000
drivers to complete its smarter
driving training course achieved
an average 15% reduction in fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions.
Find out more at
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
3. Join a car club. Car clubs remove
the need to own a car and replace an
average of 24.5 private cars per club.
Members typically pay an annual
membership fee to an operator who
provides and maintains a feet of
vehicles in their area, plus a per mile/
per hour usage fee. If you drive less
than 6,000 miles per year, a car club
could save you up to £3,500 a year.
Find out more at
www.carplus.org.uk.
4. Car share. Sharing your car with
one or more passengers has many
benefts: it saves money on petrol,
has a lower carbon footprint, makes
boring solo journeys more sociable
and can even reduce stress.
There are many schemes in the UK.
Find out more at
www.jbgb.com, www.liftshare.com
and www.gocarshare.com.
On your bike
Cycling to work is a cheap, green and
healthy alternative to shorter car
journeys, yet only one in every 100
journeys in the UK is by bike, compared
with 27 in the Netherlands and 18
in Germany. Many people are put off
cycling by fear of traffc and a lack of
changing facilities in their workplace,
but attitudes are changing.
1. The Cycle toWork Guarantee
Scheme. The Department for
Transport’s voluntary scheme
encourages employers to make their
business more bike-friendly though
the provision of changing facilities,
bike parking spaces and the tax-free
loan of cycles. Find out more at
www.dft.gov.uk,
www.cyclescheme.co.uk,
www.cycletoworkguarantee.org.uk.
2. Bike buddies. Conquer your fear
and get back into the cycling habit
by fnding a bike buddy to share all
or part of your journey. A number
of services exist to match you up
with others going on the same route,
including www.bikebudi.liftshare.com
and www.thecyclingcommuter.com.
Just because you can’t afford to
travel by rail, doesn’t mean you can’t
be green.Today, there are plenty of
alternatives that can save you money
and shrink your carbon footprint.
...season ticket
holders are
looking at a
hike in fares
of 8% in the
New Year.
“
H2 Bike Run is a new commuter club for people who cycle or run
to work in theWest End of London. Located in Dufours Street,
Soho, it provides commuters with bike parking spaces, servicing
and repairs, luxury changing facilities and a gym. It is even open
to users of Boris Bikes, the bike hire scheme operated by TFL,
who can make use of the club’s showers for an introductory price
of £2.50. TfL is aiming to increase the cycling rate in London by
400% by 2025. www.h2bikerun.co.uk
Advice for Business
The National Business Travel Network (NBTN) is a dedicated business-to-
business network promoting sustainable travel and fexible working. NBTN
enables companies to share best practice and promotes the fnancial,
environmental and social benefts of reducing the negative impacts of work-
related travel. Its website has loads of guidance, advice and resources for
businesses to download. www.nbtn.org.uk