Travel Plan is a green transport initiative set up by the UK Government to encourage employers to develop travel plans, aimed at reducing car use for travel to work and for travel for business. A plan is typically a package of practical measures to encourage staff to choose alternatives to single-occupancy car-use, and to reduce the need to travel at all for their work. A plan should be tailored to a particular site and include a range of measures which will make a positive impact at that site, e.g. setting up a car sharing scheme; providing cycle facilities; negotiating improved bus services; offering attractive flexible-working practices; or offering part subsidies, restricting and/or charging for car parking; setting up video conferencing facilities to cut business travel. The idea is to make the alternatives more feasible and more attractive to employers.

A plan can have real benefits to the organisation, employees and local community. It may help to relieve an on-site parking or congestion problem, or it may help to improve public transport services where there was previously a deficiency. In turn it may relieve stress on employees through reduced travel delays around the site, through healthier forms of travel as walking or cycling, or through the opportunity to reduce their amount of travel, perhaps by working at home.

For more information on the Travel Plan initiative, please contact the Government's Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585794 or visit http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/travelplans/#what.

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