Sutton Town Centre and Cheam Village Business Travel Networks

Jakub Bojczuk, SWELTRACOn behalf of Smarter Travel Sutton

14th May 2009ECOMM San Sebastian

IntroductionSmarter Travel Sutton is a 3-year project, which encourages people to consider the most sustainable mode of travel for their journey. The project aims to reduce residents car trips by 10% by September 2009.

So what’s special about Sutton?- Car ownership is one of the highest in London- Trips to work by car are high – 50%- Outer London Borough with a green reputation.

Sutton and Cheam within Greater London

Sutton Town Centre

Cheam Village

ContextCriteria Sutton Cheam

Existing travel patterns •46% of journeys to work made by car•36% of households do not own the car•57% people live 5 km away from their workplace

•57% of journeys to work made by car•14% of households do not own the car•42% people live 5 km away from their workplace•The highest car ownership in the borough

Public Transport accessibility PTAL: 6a•One of the key rail stations in South London•26 bus stops served by 13 bus routes

PTAL: 2•Conveniently located rail station•9 bus stops served by 4 bus routes

Cycling/Walking •Shared pedestrian/cycle space on High Street and cycle routes in surrounding area•Numerous cycle racks

•Good pedestrian facilities•No dedicated cycle paths•Sheltered cycle parking outside the railway station

Controlled Parking Zone Yes Yes

Business •Office space and retailers•The largest employment in the borough

•Office space and retailers•Community spirit

Planning applications •A few large new developments planned •One development

CheamSutton

Methodology• Appoint a consultant on performance related pay.

• Target 50% of businesses in Sutton Town Centre with 20+ employees and 50% of businesses in Cheam Village with 10+ employees

• Working group established – TfL, Enterprise, CEN, LBS, SWELTRAC

• Refine the business list

• Work with existing business networks such as Sutton Chamber of Commerce, Town Centre Manager, Economic Renewal and Regeneration team

• Networks promoted at business events as well as directly to businesses via letters/email, telephone and face-to-face contact.

• Registration and engagement with businesses

Methodology (2)• TP networks launched in October

2007

• Baseline TP surveys undertaken in February/March 2008 – 30% response rate – prize draw to encourage participation – I-trace compatible

• Area wide travel plans drafted

• Site specific travel plan statements completed – including site audits

• Measures and initiatives implemented

• Follow up surveys undertaken in February/March 2009

• Future surveys in February/March 2010.

Measures & Initiatives•Enterprise and Corporate

•Free cycle stands including installation

•Match funding

•Free signs

•Discounted pool bikes

•Workplace engagement events

•Liftshare and car sharing promotion

•Free cycle training

Measures & Initiatives (2)•Secure bicycle marking kits

•Led walks

•Free showers at the Holiday Inn

•“Try Cycling” programme

•Dr Bikes

•Local travel advisors

•Personal safety courses

Communication• A club newsletter is sent out every 1-2 months to all

business champions• Businesses are sent A3 posters to display for staff with

the latest offers• An offers’ page has been set up and updated regularly

on www.smartertravelsutton.org/btn/offers• Businesses receive our help in updating their intranets

and websites• Sustainable transport events have been held at

medium and larger organisations to make sure staff are aware of their travel options

Web pages

Results• Sutton Town Centre Network covers 60 businesses (5000

employees) • Cheam Village Network covers around 30 businesses (800

employees) • The preliminary results suggest that 25% of staff travel more

sustainably than they did a year ago. • 50% increase in cycling in the whole borough• 17% decrease in cycle theft.• 13% increase in bus patronage.• The first London Borough to have 100% of schools covered by a

travel plan.• Over 16,000 employees covered by a workplace travel plan in

LB Sutton.• 29% of residents aware of campaign.• Nearly 25,000 residents reached by STS at events in Sutton.

Lessons Learnt•Know your target audience

•Agree on performance related pay

•Listen to stakeholders and businesses

•Be aware that response rates may be difficult to achieve

•Launch the BTN with business support

•Use the BTN to disseminate information

•Keep it simple

Contact details

Kathryn McLauchlan

kathryn.mclauchlan@sutton.gov.uk

020 8770 4508

Jakub Bojczuk

j.bojczuk@richmond.gov.uk

020 8891 7665

www.smartertravelsutton.org.uk