News - Sustainable transport initiative to change the way we travel

17th January 2011

The Deputy First Minister has announced the start of an innovative new framework to encourage more people to use sustainale modes of transport for local journeys

The Welsh Assembly Government has awarded a contract to take forward the initiative, entitled Personalised Travel Planning, to three successful tenderers – Sustrans and Socialdata, JMP Consultants and Steer Davies Gleave. The Assembly Government will now be working closely with Sustrans and Socialdata, who ranked first in the procurement tender process, as work on this initiative gets underway.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, who is also the Minister for Economy and Transport, said

“I am pleased to launch this exciting initiative, which will provide valuable research into traffic habits and encourage more sustainable travel patterns.

“Personalised Travel Planning could become an important part of our transport system, challenging all of us to consider how we could benefit from alternative modes of travel other than the private car and contribute to greater accessibility, social inclusion and sustainability.”

Jane Lorimer, Sustrans Cymru Deputy Director, said,

“This has the potential to bring about real and sustained change in the way people in Wales travel, which will encourage more active lifestyles, tackle congestion problems and help cut carbon emissions from transport.

"Sustrans has already seen great results from delivering this kind of project elsewhere in the UK, typically seeing a reduction in car trips of around ten per cent."

Personalised Travel Planning (PTP) seeks to challenge habitual use of the car, enabling more journeys to be made on foot, bike, bus, train or in shared cars. This is achieved through the provision of information, incentives, and motivation directly to individuals to help them voluntarily make more informed travel choices. PTP forms an important part of national, regional and local transport policy contributing to the suite of tools promoted under the general heading of Smarter Choices.

Working in partnership with the Local Authorities and Regional Transport Consortia the initiative will be delivered to households across a range of towns and cities. Initially the project will establish people’s current travel habits. Plans will then be drawn up to provide advice and information on the local alternative and more sustainable modes of transport available to households, together with the motivation to realise change.

Sustrans will work in partnership with Local Authorities and Regional Transport Consortia in the planning and delivery of each PTP project including pre-contact publicity and marketing.

The work will mainly focus on where the most impact can be realised, for example Cardiff and Mon a Menai, two of the emerging Sustainable Travel Centres in Wales, where public transport and new cycling infrastructure is being delivered, but schemes will not be limited to these areas.

The Minister also congratulated Sustrans on their successful tender, and looked forward to working together further.

“I’m delighted that we will be able to further enhance our relationship with Sustrans, following the many successful years working together on the Safe Routes agenda, and in developing the walking and cycling network.

“This is an issue which affects every person on a daily basis and we are hopeful that introducing people to alternative means of travel will lead to less congestion on our roads, a reduction in carbon emissions and a healthier nation.”