Transport Policy Sub-Committee
7th November 2005
Agenda item 4
TPSC/05/02
Report from 2020 Travel Plan Co-ordinator to Transport Policy Sub Committee
February 2005
First Travel Plan newsletter sent out to staff outlining what a Travel Plan is, informing staff
about current initiatives such as the Uni card, providing initial information about car sharing,
introducing idea of a travel survey and giving information about the other 2020 member’s
Travel Plans
March 2005
A staff Travel Survey was designed during February and sent out in March. 696 responses
were received, equating to about 30% of the staff population. 33% of respondents always
travelled to work alone by car. 28% never drove to work, and 89% occasionally used other
forms of transport to driving alone. The 89% of people that occasional use other forms of
transport shows that it is possible to use alternatives and encouraging the occasional to
become a regular should be a priority. (Appendices A&B)
June 2005
Second Travel Plan newsletter sent out to staff providing survey results, advertising National
Bike Week, launching the Colchester2020’s car sharing scheme, providing detail about the
Uni card and information requested from the survey results.
Colchester2020 Traveltogether car sharing website was launched. The site includes a secure
registration and matching scheme, plus information about all types of travel and links to other
useful websites. 69 Essex University staff have signed up so far.
National Bike week, a two hour bike maintenance workshop was held at the University. A
Bike event was also organised and was attended by Brightlingsea’s Bike Surgeon, and the Recycle charity. A special coffee and cake deal was available to cyclists and a number of
volunteers from the staff offered their services to do a health check of colleagues bikes.
September 2005
Three newsletters were sent out to promote In Town Without My Car day on the 22nd
September. Free cycle training was provided in the lead up to ITWMC day. 3 members of
University staff attended the training. A prize draw entry was made available for those
pledging to use sustainable transport on the 22nd September. First provided free bus tickets for
the 22nd. 156 pledges were received in total. 54 of those were from University staff. 22 of
those were regular car users. 20 came by bike, 8 by foot or running, 14 by bus, 5 by train with
walking or cycling, 4 by car sharing and 3 by motorcycle. Those that pledged travelled
approximately 340 miles overall. Andrew Nightingale won one of the £50 vouchers for an
outdoors shop, and 41 University staff won a BBC Big Challenge pack that included a
pedometer and healthy eating information.
The Estate Management Administration Officer and 2020 Travel Plan Co-ordinator attended a
2 day conference at Southampton University which focused on Bus Travel and how different
Universities had addressed bus travel to ensure a quality service was provided to staff and
students. The presentations provided useful background information about the bus industry,
deregulation, and the role of the Traffic Commissioners. The presentations from the different
Universities covered, starting up a bus company, contracting out bus services, running the
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service in house and negotiating with existing public transport providers. The conference has
provided ideas and insight into how good quality bus services can be achieved.
A staff post code map has been created and will be used in considering what approach or
future initiatives should be focused on.
Liaison with First Bus
Three meetings have taken place with First since January 2005 to discuss a number of
matters.
Feedback from staff has been provided to First regarding timeliness and the reliability of their
bus services and the attitudes of bus drivers. First agreed that their drivers required customer
service training but have yet to take up the University’s offer of their Working with
International Students training workshop, although contact details for the Equal Opportunities
Officer have now been passed on to First.
First have undertaken a number of their own surveys of service performance. Since January,
First reports that the situation with bus maintenance has improved, as has staff recruitment
and retention, thus addressing two of the key issues affecting service reliability. However
issues continue to be experienced by staff. Feedback directly to First is encouraged however
the Estate Management Administration Officer also collates details. Of particular concern are
the morning buses from the Hythe area which are regularly failing to turn up or are late and
the evening buses coming to the University from the town centre which are late on a regular
basis.
Dialogue with First is ongoing and a quarterly update meeting has been arranged with First’s
Operation Manager.
A meeting also took place with First to review the Unicard and a number of changes and
additions were proposed. As a result Zone 1 has been extended to include Tesco's and the
journey from Hythe Station to the University and Zone 2 has been extended to include
Greenstead, Highwoods, St John’s, Mile End, Severalls and West Bergholt. A Zone 4 has also
been introduced which covers travel to the University from Brightlingsea and Clacton, Tiptree
Heath, Kelvedon, Marks Tey and Coggeshall. The academic year pass has been replaced with
an annual pass.
Telematic real time information at bus stops
One telematic screen was introduced by ECC at the Valley Road bus stop, another is being
funded by the University. The screens will provide real time information regarding arrival
times of buses.
A meeting took place in September with Essex County Council and the bus providers to
discuss what actions were required to get the telematic system fully operational and to make
the system more useful to passengers. First and Network Colchester have committed to
having the majority of their staff trained in how to use the on bus technology enabling real
time information to appear on the electronic screens by the end of the year. ECC have agreed
to look into and cost various improvements such as the introduction of 8 line screens in key
town centre locations and reprogramming the information appearing on the screens.
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Actions for next six months
Undertake student travel survey, particularly focused on assessing performance and timetable
of bus services. Establish action points in line with survey results.
Colchester2020 Travel Plan club will start negotiations with ‘One’ to see if discounts can be
obtained for travel by train for Travel Plan club members.
Focus on marketing the car sharing scheme once daily car park charges are introduced, along
with car sharing bays etc.
Travel information to be developed and included in staff and student inductions and intranet
travel pages to be promoted.
Provision of regular Travel Plan updates preferably in an already established publication
rather than as individual Travel Plan newsletters.
Consider whether official launch of Universities Transport Strategy required.
Continue liaison with First to improve bus services to the University and review options.
Lobby for overall infrastructure improvements within Colchester which will increase travel
options for 2020 members.
Preparations will start in the New Year for next year’s ITWMC day to make it a really big
event and encourage more people to participate.
Emily Harrup
Colchester 2020 Travel Plan Co-ordinator
November 2005
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