UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Estates and Buildings

Travel Planning at University of Glasgow

Welcome to the Travel Planning pages of the University of Glasgow.

Here you can find out about the progress of the Travel Planning process, the actual Travel Plan and Travel Planning initiatives.


News

Shelter with 5 cycle stands (space for 10 bicycles) installed at the Biomedical/Cardiovascular Research Buildings (from University Place) (5/12/12)

Travel information to Garscube campus by public transport now online (09/05/12)

Shelter with 5 cycle stands (space for 10 bicycles) installed at Hetherington Building. (14/03/12)


What is Travel Planning ?

The reliance on cars to travel from and to work has brought advantages for many people, but also problems which become more and more apparent. Too much car traffic on the streets is a widely discussed issue in our society, which affects the every day life of nearly everyone of us. Examples of negative impacts of too many cars on the roads are 

  • congestion and delays caused by this,
  • difficult parking,
  • poor air quality,
  • loss of space,
  • deteriorating fitness and health,
  • lack of investment and low degree of integration for public transport,
  • contribution to global warming through usage of petrol.

Travel planning is one way to address the problems caused by car traffic. It aims for opening choices for staff, customers and visitors of a site between driving or using alternative modes of transport. This can only happen when the conditions are given for alternatives to car use, and that's exactly what travel planning is about: creating the right conditions that people are encouraged to walk, cycle, car share or use public transport. Also it looks at avoiding unnecessary travel at all.

Many employers have recognised the advantages travel planning can bring for their business. It also contributes to community development and the improvement of the environment. The idea behind travel planning is:

  • to make staff happier and healthier,
  • to cut down in delays (and related costs) caused by congestion,
  • to improve access to premises, shops and businesses,
  • to enhance the working environment,
  • to decrease emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases for better air quality, and less contribution to global warming.

After a review of the conditions for a site (in many cases also a staff survey is carried out) a travel plan is produced. A travel plan is: "a general term for a package of measures tailored to the needs of individual sites and aimed at promoting more sustainable travel choices and reducing reliance on the car. Travel plans help reduce the impact of travel on the environment; they also make good business sense. Introducing a travel plan involves the development of a set of mechanisms, initiatives and targets which bring a number of benefits, both to your organisation and to staff." (definition from Scottish Executive: 'Travel Plans: An overview')

The travel plan normally includes

  • objectives and targets,
  • an action programme (measures with responsibilities and time frames),
  • a monitoring procedure,
  • definition of review periods for the plan.

The action programme could for example list measures like

  • setting up a car sharing scheme,
  • negotiating discounts for season tickets for public transport,
  • improving walking and cycling paths,
  • making information about bus and train lines and timetables easy accessible,
  • etc.