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Sustainable Cheshire Forum Climate Change Guide |
Alternatives
To The Car
Public Transport
Wherever you're going, taking public transport instead of the car helps
save money and the environment. It can also lower stress levels, be
faster and save hassle trying to find somewhere to park. Trains and
buses mean faster, easier access to town and city centres. Your car
insurance could drop if your annual mileage drops. You can relax, read,
daydream or work on public transport and you don't have to deal with
traffic jams, bad-mannered drivers or traffic wardens. For information
on all forms of public transport and how they integrate, visit www.transportdriect.info
Working remotely
Thanks to email and the internet, remote working is a practical proposition
for many employees and allows them to fulfil their work commitments
without the need to travel. Whilst this method of business is not suitable
for every individual or business scenario, it is worthy of consideration
in many instances. Working remotely reduces the need to travel - either
to work or a client meeting - which saves time, money and the environment.
Even working from home once a fortnight reduces an employee's commuting
time by 10%. It has the benefit of improving the quality of life for
employees, because it is easier to combine work and family commitments.
It is also easier to concentrate with less unnecessary interruptions.
It saves space at the office and allows 'hot-desking', potentially resulting
in reduced building costs.
Car Sharing
Car sharing can be a very effective way of reducing peak hour congestion
and easing parking problems in your car park. With car sharing, a problem
shared really can be a problem halved (and maybe even quartered)! Basically,
car sharing involves two or more people sharing a car for their journey
to and from work. Not only does this deliver both financial (both to
the employer and employee) and environmental benefits but, importantly,
it also means that staff do not have to give up the convenience of the
car. Car sharing reduces traffic. This in turn reduces pollution and
also shortens journey times. Less cars mean less need for car parking.
This means cost and space savings. Sharing a car will save your employees
money, because they'll also be sharing the costs of their petrol. It
can also lead to other benefits such as increased socialising amongst
employees.Visit www.nationalcarshare.co.uk
or www.liftshare.org for more
information
Cycling
Cycling isn't just good for the environment - it's good for you too.
Whether it's for fun, fitness or just to get to work and back, cycling
is a low cost way to travel that's often quicker and easier than using
a car or public transport. It is ideal for short trips and getting about
every day - especially if you work within a three mile radius of work.
Cycling is good for the health of body and mind. In fact, regular cyclists
are as fit as non-cyclists who are ten years younger. It's low cost,
it's friendly to the environment and it is possible for employers to
offer tax free bicycle loans. According to the British Medical Association,
cycling just 20 miles per week halves your risk of heart attack. The
National Cycle Network offers 10,000 miles of signed cycle routes throughout
the UK - putting almost 75% of the UK population within two miles of
the Network.Visit Sustrans for information on local safe cycle routes,
www.sustrans.org.uk or call
on 0845 1130065