For businesses
Norfolk County Council is working with Sustrans who will work intensively with organisations to raise awareness of sustainable and active travel options amongst workplaces, providing a tailored support package to help them overcome the barriers they have travelling actively and sustainably.
There is no “one size fits all” in helping organisations and their staff to try walking and cycling to work. Sustrans will work with organisations to identify what elements, from a menu of different activities, would be of greatest benefit to them and their staff.
Working with Sustrans
Sustrans will deliver the programme of work for businesses. Their team will work intensively with organisations to raise awareness of sustainable and active travel options amongst workplaces, providing a tailored support package to help them overcome the barriers they have travelling actively and sustainably.
Menu of options
Sustrans Officers will work with the organisation to review the current provision and identify where improvements could easily be made. This could be accessible gates and well-lit paths visible and secure cycle storage, or lockers and showers. This element could be combined with a “staff travel survey” to help the organisation understand current staff travel habits, where there are opportunities for improvement and level of interest in change/investment.
There is no “one size fits all” in helping organisations and their staff to try walking and cycling to work. Sustrans will work with organisations to identify what elements, from a menu of different activities, would be of greatest benefit to them and their staff.
Staff are able to bring their bike into work where Sustrans staff will security mark it and register it with the UK’s national, police-approved database. The marking kit permanently marks the frame of the bike with a unique BikeRegister ID.
This chemically etches the coating of the bike frame with a visible and permanent blue mark which does not affect the frame’s integrity. The compound also contains a UV element so the Police can see the marking under a UV light.
A newsletter and ad-hoc communications to staff can be developed bespoke to
the organisation. These will include information on high level travel options for staff, benefits of active and sustainable travel, incentives, signposting to further opportunities, promoting initiatives and events etc.
Small changes to a site can make a huge difference in supporting active travel. Sustrans Officers will work with the organisation to review the current provision and identify where improvements could easily be made. This could be accessible gates and well-lit paths visible and secure cycle storage, or lockers and showers. This element could be combined with a “staff travel survey” to help the organisation understand current staff travel habits, where there are opportunities for improvement and level of interest in change/investment.
Events to promote and raise awareness of active travel and provide the opportunity for staff to discuss their travel needs and barriers with the Officer. These events could take place in the workplace or in a public space, broadening the offer of support to smaller organisations located nearby.
A short session can be provided which helps people from the organisation become active travel advocates. The session will help the champions start to gain the skills they will need to continue to empower and lead people to enjoy active travel. Active Travel Champions will be able to join a Champions Network so that they can collaborate with other businesses and can ask questions and access resources easily.
Sustrans officers will meet with clients (online or in person) to discuss how
they travel to work currently and what sustainable travel options would suit them. Following this meeting, clients will be sent a personalised travel plan suggesting a route which matches their needs and interests. When further support, such as training, is required, individuals will be referred to a local organisation.
A pop-up mobile bike repair session. The mobile bike repair will be free of cost to the staff and include a bike health check from a qualified mechanic and minor repairs to ensure the bike runs smoothly. Staff bike maintenance sessions can also be offered. These sessions will cover the basic repairs (puncture repair, minor adjustments) to give commuters the confidence to travel by bike.
Walks and rides can be organised with single or multiple organisations (depending on location) to build the confidence of staff in cycling, highlight route options to the workplace that are more suitable for active travel, provide a social experience, and identify potential walk/cycle groups.
Sustrans can promote and facilitate options for buddy rides and lift shares. Using data from staff surveys and individual conversations/travel plans, along with promotion of these initiatives through newsletters and internal comms, opportunities can be identified to make connections between staff and develop shared journeys.
Officers can work with HR teams to help new staff identify the best way to travel
to the office. Staff can share local maps and include information in your policies about active and sustainable travel for the commute and business mileage. The local Sustrans officer can provide guidance on Bike to Work schemes, Bike User Groups, shared bike emergency repair kits for the office or cycle gear loans. This information and resources can also be collated into a pack suitable for sharing with new recruits.
These events offer a free breakfast of snack to anyone who commutes actively/ sustainably. They offer a great opportunity to start up a conversation and raise the profile of active travel. They can be delivered as a standalone event, as part of a day of activities or tying into national campaigns such as Clean Air Day, Cycle to Work Day or World Environment Day.
