A sustainable transport scheme is launched this week at the University of the West of England (UWE) in a bid to cut the number of cars arriving at its campuses across Bristol.
joinmyjourney enables students and staff to walk, cycle or commute to a range of UWE locations across the city with others on compatible journeys, either regularly, or as a one off. The University is taking steps to reduce reliance on single occupancy vehicles, plus cut carbon emissions across its Frenchay, Glenside, City and Gloucester locations.
Free to use
The free to use, map-based website is launched thanks to funding from South Gloucestershire Council’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), development from Aztec West based resource efficiency and compliance scheme specialist Ecosurety, with support from North Bristol SusCom. Apple, Android and Windows app versions of joinmyjourney are due to be launched this Spring.
joinmyjourney launched in November for the 8,000 people travelling to Aztec West business park, with other business locations and employers coming on board in 2016.
What are the benefits?
Benefits include reduced numbers of cars attempting to park at UWE sites, lower emissions, and helping students and staff save money by cutting commuting costs.
Others include less stress from sitting in traffic queues, improved confidence from increased outside exercise and the option to share sustainable and safe journeys during the winter.
James Morvan, Travel Engagement Project Officer at UWE explains, “Travel accounts for a massive 49 per cent of our overall carbon emissions at UWE, with the majority of this coming from commuter travel by staff and students. As one of the largest and most prominent employing organisations in Greater Bristol, we have an obligation to reduce the impact of our daily activities on the environment, residents and other businesses near our main campuses.
“joinmyjourney complements a range of sustainable transport initiatives at UWE to cut peak time congestion, including dedicated car share spaces, flexible working, increasing bus services during term times, the launch of a cycle loan scheme, free bike repairs, improved facilities for cyclists and electric pool cars.”
How joinmyjourney works
Users specify the start point (via postcode) and the end point of their journey. Using an interactive map they identify potential sharers on the route, and can also specify their preferred mode (walk, cycle or car). Users then choose to message other users who most closely fit their needs, to plan their journey share, and the way can be easily amended if the default route doesn’t match the user’s preferred journey.
Once registered, users can also specify other key information, such as the days and times that they usually travel and state their preferences - i.e smokers, non-smokers, or to only share with somebody of the same sex, etc.
Advice on how to journey share safely is also provided, while users need to be working full-time, part time or contracted by an employer with an official work or student email address, to take part.
Roll-out plans
A number of large employers and business centres in South Gloucestershire and the Greater Bristol region have already expressed an interest in the scheme.
James Piper, commercial director at Ecosurety, says, “Ecosurety wholeheartedly supports sustainability. Our decision to run with the project and invest significant amounts of time, money and resources underlines our commitment to our local business environment and community, as well as to our core value of striving to continuously eradicate all forms of unnecessary waste.”
Verity Heal, LSTF project manager at South Gloucestershire Council, says, “joinmyjourney is a great example of how we are working with the business community to help resolve shared challenges. This is one of many schemes that we are delivering across the area to help take cars off the road."
“We hope that students and staff embrace this opportunity to make new contacts, find a travelling partner and leave the car at home.”
Ann O’Driscoll, from North Bristol SusCom, a group of employers that promotes sustainable transport to 40,000 employees and 30,000 students, says, “Travelling more sustainably can have a dramatic impact on congestion levels, commuting costs, emissions and parking problems. Joining forces with somebody else who wants to walk or cycle can also be very empowering, especially in the winter when it’s dark before and after work. Using more active forms of transport can also improve fitness and reduce stress.”
Other organisations or business centres can register interest at joinmyjourney.org.
To get in touch with the Ecosurety team please call 0845 094 2228 or email info@ecosurety.com
About Ecosurety
Founded in 2003, Ecosurety is the UK’s leading resource efficiency and compliance scheme specialist with end to end services including environmental compliance, waste and resource management, training and intelligence reporting. With more than 1,000 customers including The Co-operative Group, Innocent, BSkyB and Britvic, ecosurety is leading change in approaches to waste and compliance throughout the UK, driving ever greater efficiencies of resource use.
Committed to reducing the environmental impact of UK businesses while improving performance, ecosurety is targeting to influence over one million tonnes of waste by 2020.
Ben Luger
Marketing projects specialist
Ben joined the team at the beginning of 2015 and helps drive marketing communications and projects for Ecosurety, including project managing the launch of the Ecosurety Exploration Fund and website content development.
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