TravelWise West Midlands WebsiteAn Introduction

www.travelwisewestmids.org.uk

Andy ThorpeSandwell MBC

How did we get here?• Launched in April 2012….once again!

• Same address:www.travelwisewestmids.org.uk

• Based on the innovative Community TravelWise website

• Also schools, residential developments and companies – 5 website addresses potentially!

• All websites under one umbrella / portal

Why did we start the journey?• Same as most organisations, to provide information

• How to travel in healthy and environmentally friendly ways and provide information about TravelWise activities

• To overcome the barriers to accessing helpful but “buried” information, ie many websites/pages

• Not just well-meant words on sustainable travel

• We needed a useful tool for use by the public etc

What does it do?

• The website provides information on:

- sustainable travel and TravelWise

- different methods of transport in particular areas

- news and events

- carbon, calories and car costs calculators

- links to the Company, School, Residential and Community areas with own travel related web pages

• Organisations can set up their own pages (free!)

How do I use it?

• Sustainable Travel and TravelWise

- Banner on the right hand side

- Navigation bar “About TravelWise” and “Smarter Choices?”

• Travel Information

- Mode of transport pages with journey planners

- District based information – drop down list

- Alternatives to travel

How do I use it?• News

- Use navigation bar on home-page- Most recent story highlighted, plus a link to the ACT TravelWise news page - regularly updated

• Events - Click on calendar dates - Look at the list - all the main sustainable travel events are listed

• Calories, Carbon and Car Costs Calculators- Use links at the base of the home-page

How do I use it?• Company, School, Residential and Community Areas

- Please feel free to register your organisation!- From homepage click on “enlist your business today”

then use the wizard to help with setting up page- “Get Directions” - quickly plan journeys- Dedicated travel page for staff, visitors, interviewees

• Online travel surveys module - useful for Travel Plans- Core questions- Survey is sent by email

Where do we want to go next?• Useful resource, but still room for improvement

• Increase number of visits from the general public, employees, residents, schools, community groups

• Companies and business parks to register with the site…..and then to tell others about how useful it is!

• Website to be regarded as the main reference point for general journey planning

It’s your turn to drive!• Bound to be mistakes so please let us know

• Would like to make improvements to the website, to ensure effective connection with people

• When using the website and promoting it to people, think about possible different approaches then let us know:

andy_thorpe@sandwell.gov.ukmike.cooper@birmingham.gov.ukwww.travelwisewestmids.org.uk “Contact Us”