Campaign 4: Workplace Engagement - Employees There is a captive audience element of engaging employees in their place of work. The programme centres on encouraging more cycle commuting so what better place than to target workplaces. If employees see their peers or colleagues taking the bike to work they are more likely to consider changing how they travel.
Primary audience: those people who occasionally cycle or are interested in increasing cycling to work.
Step 1: Identify workplaces
Working with organisations which are involved with Campaign 3 (and preferably also 6) identify the benefits to employees of taking part in more active travel and use the activities suggested to promote sustainable/active travel.
Identify staff in the workplace to liaise with to carry forward initiatives. This will need a mixture of higher level management who can make decisions and will work with Sustrans (or partner organisation) and with the travel champion in the workplace. This is the bridge between Campaigns 3 and 4. These individuals do not have to be already cycling to work but show an interest and enthusiasm to be role models.
Step 2: Develop travel plans
Working in partnership with the workplace,develop plans to offer employees to encourage more sustainable travel, especially cycling.
Carry out workplace survey – develop planning around barriers to cycling.
Example Barriers – based on Belfast findings
Develop Active Travel Champions in the workplace. These people will be offered support from Sustrans/partner organisation to develop plans, run activities, the chance to network with champions in other organisations and training.
Step 3: Deliver activities
Deliver activities (listed above) as agreed with the workplaces, such as information sessions and Champion training, based on the annual plan developed.
Review
Delivery of interventions/activities should be trialled and evaluated.
In Northern Ireland 29 per cent of total carbon emissions are from road transport, with cars providing over half of this figure. At current rates of change, in a few years transport will become the largest source of greenhouse gases.
Whether you are commuting to school or to work, cycling can get you there up to twice as fast when compared to travelling by car in rush hour traffic
Apart from other health benefits cycling is a low impact activity making it one of the safest ways to exercise without putting strain on your muscles or joints.
Walking or cycling burns calories, gets your heart pumping and works your legs and abdominal muscles. It can also lift your mood, put a smile on your face and improve your general health and wellbeing.
In addition, see evidence set out in Campaign 3
The Wellhub website pictured on right, is for employees in Belfast used by a number of employers to promote health and wellbeing. Sustrans monthly led rides for commuters are promoted on Wellhub.
My beautiful commute: encourage people to think about their commute and share pictures on social media and company intranet sites or staff newsletters.
Encourage the idea of ‘normal people’ cycling, anyone can do it – use case studies from other cyclists (Campaign 8) and buddy cyclists.
Sustrans case study “Cycle training gave me the confidence to cycle to work”