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Commuter Challenge
WINNERS


What is it?
When is it?
How to take part?
Who can take part?
How to record the miles you have saved
Organisations taking part
Trophies and Prizes
Rules and Objectives of the Challenge
Benefits
Mileage Calculator
Kick your Car Habit!
Publicity Material
What next?
Feedback

WINNERS  

RBA, a firm of local architects have won the Commuter Challenge for the 3rd year in succession!
They saved 13 miles per person employed and had 90% of their employees taking part.

RBA won in the small organisation category while Gunwharf Quays Management Ltd won in the Large Organisation category

A breakdown of the miles saved can be found in the Commuter Challenge Report. DownloadDownload Word Document.

What is it?   The Commuter Challenge is a friendly competition between local businesses competing against each other to reduce car miles on a single day.

When is it?  
Wednesday 10th May 2006

How to take part?  
 You will need to use an alternative to the car for the journey to work on Wednesday 10th May 2006.

Walk, cycle, run, use the bus, train, ferry or car share or any combination of these.

Then record all the miles saved for all the journeys made during the day eg:-
  • Both legs of the journey to work
  • Journeys during the day
  • Journeys that you were going to make but avoided by making a phone call or videoconferencing instead
  • Using the stairs instead of the lift

How to record the miles you have saved
Travel plans are ways of promoting more sustainable travel to and for work. They are a package of measures tailored to meet the needs of an individual business, to promote cleaner, greener travel choices and to reduce reliance on the car.
Record all miles that you save during the day on the recording slip on the rear of the leaflet / recording slip (link to download).

Car Sharing
If you car share with one other person then split the miles between you, if you carshare with two others split the miles three ways. So if your return journey was 10 miles and you split this with one other you would record 5 miles each.

Take the stairs
For the purposes of the Commuter Challenge it is assumed that one flight of stairs equals 0.1 of a mile (therefore 10 flights of stairs = 1 mile)

If you don’t know how many miles you have travelled you could use one of the many online route planners

Who can take part?
Either the company you work for is taking part or you can take part as an individual.

1 The company you work for is taking part, you can take part and help them win the Commuter Challenge Trophy. The Commuter Challenge Co-ordinator in your workplace will be contacting you about how to get involved. You should return your mileage recording slip (on the rear of the leaflet) to him or her by May ?.
The following organisations are taking part in the Commuter Challenge.
To find out if the organisations that you work for can take part go to the Rules
2 Take part as an individual
If the organisation that you work for is not taking part (check the list of participating organisations) you can still take part in your own right. You simply need to be living or working in the Portsmouth area and record the miles for the journey to work and any other journeys that you make.
Download the leaflet which includes the form, complete the miles saved on the day and return to:

Amanda Morris, Travel Plan Officer
Portsmouth City Council
Planning Services
4th Floor
Civic Offices
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO2 3AU

You will be entered into the prize draw and your miles will be added to the total number of miles saved.

Organisations taking part
The following are organisations are currently listed as taking part in the Commuter Challenge. If your employer is not listed you may like to refer them to the guidelines, leaflet and poster and ask them to consider taking part. You might like to speak with your Manager and suggest that they take part.

  • BAE Systems (Naval Base) - Claire Williamson
  • B&Q - Paul Richards
  • Cycle World – Nigel Kernan
  • Cycle Exchange - Andy Verrall
  • FIRST Buses – David Garney
  • Havant Borough Council Tracey Ford
  • Gunwharf Quays Management Team and selected tenants - Romayne Spooner
  • Highbury College – Barbara Green
  • IBM – Tansy Tier
  • PHA Goizeder Cotano
  • PCCS – Shelley Price
  • Pentagon - Terry Harris
  • Portsmouth & SE Hampshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry Maureen Frost
  • Portsmouth College – Richard Watts/Jax Hunt
  • Portsmouth City Council - Amanda Morris
  • Portsmouth Primary Care Trust – Marjory Harvey
  • RBA – Andy Young
  • Southampton City Council -
  • Stagecoach - Dave Rossiter
  • Team Portsmouth – Andy Silvester and Cheri Hazlewood
  • University of Portsmouth – Lisa Dowells

Rules and Objectives of the Challenge
Rules

1 Organisations that will be able to take part:

  • Those in the PO1 to PO6 postcode area of Portsmouth
  • Any organisation that is a member of the SignPOST Travel Forum
  • Other organisations by invitation
  • Plus any individual or member of the public who would like to take part but the organisation is not getting involved. Their names will be entered into the Prize Draw for a chance to win one of the prizes.

2 The winning organisation is that which demonstrates the highest mileage saved per member of staff employed. This will allow smaller companies to compete against larger companies.

3 The organiser at Portsmouth City Council will supply leaflets and posters, including PDF versions, guidelines for the Co-ordinator and a basic spreadsheet for collating the results.

4 Each organisation taking part will be required to nominate a Co-ordinator who will be responsible for internal publicity, collation and reporting of results. Results will need to be returned on the blank spreadsheet provided by Friday 26th May.

5 All recording slips must be returned in order to be entered into a Prize Draw for one of the prizes. They should be returned by each Commuter Challenge Co-ordinato to Amanda Morris at Portsmouth City Council (see page 13 for contact details).

6 Members of the Steering Group will be eligible to take part in the Commuter Challenge but may not enter the prize draw.

7 Extraordinary journeys for work purposes outside of Hampshire and the South East area should not be taken into account when recording miles saved.

Objectives
The main objectives of the Commuter Challenge are to:-

  • increase the number of commuters that use active and sustainable modes of transport
  • to decrease the number of single occupant vehicles as a means to reduce emissions and air pollution
  • to encourage individuals to explore healthier options
  • to recognise and reward the individuals and groups that support environmentally healthy commuting options
  • to publicise the social, personal and environmental benefits of sustainable commuting and encourage other commuters to make healthy choices

Benefits

Benefits for Employers
Trophy for winning organisations:-
Overall Winner

  • Commuter Challenge Shield for Overall Winner (held for one year)

  • Free Half Page advertising in the Chamber of Commerce magazine Business Link
    Small Organisation Winner
  • trophy (to retain)

    • Larger Organisation Winner
  • trophy (to retain)

    Certificate to all those taking part detailing miles and emissions saved for year on year comparisons.
    Opportunity to use the event for team working purposes, promotion of green travel, encouraging more physical activity amongst workforce, healthier and happier workforce, encouraging

    Benefits for Individuals

  • Everyone taking part will be entered into a prize draw to win one of many prizes
  • Everyone taking part will receive a free one day Guest Pass for two people to use the Cannons Health Club
  • There will be an opportunity to have a FREE health check on offer from FItness First
  • Health benefits of walking, cycling or running to work )
  • Savings by carsharing, taking the bus or train (season tickets)
  • Reduce pollution by not using your car
  • Reduce congestion
    There are numerous benefits to using more sustainable alternatives to the car particularly health benefits, benefits to the environment and those for the employer.

    Health & Personal

    Regular exercise such as brisk walking and cycling will improve your health and fitness:-

  • ½ hour 5 days a week
  • can be split into 10 minute chunks

    Reduce risk of:-

  • heart disease
  • stroke & high blood pressure
  • diabetes
  • osteoporosis (thinning of the bones)

    Improve:-
  • mental health, mood and stress levels
  • blood cholesterol levels
  • blood pressure levels
  • diabetes control
  • can easily be incorporated into your daily routine
  • no need to join a gym, take up a sport or use special equipment to exercise
  • door to door convenience
  • known journey length, as you are unlikely to get stuck in traffic queues
  • environmentally much less harmful
  • helps you to lose weight and gives you more energy
    A reduction in the number of journeys made by car by using alternatives such as carsharing or public transport will improve air quality.

    Environment

    • Reduce congestion, pollution and global warming
    • Towns and cities will become much more pleasant environments in which to live
    • Air quality improvements for everyone
    • Less road accidents due to less road traffic
    • Help preserve the resources we have by using them more responsibly

    Financial

    • the average cost of driving a car is 50 pence a mile (based on AA figures for an average car and typical annual mileage)
    • there are great savings to be made with monthly, three monthly or annual bus or train season tickets over the single or daily return tickets
    • walking and cycling are cheap/free forms of transport
    • car sharers are able to ask their passengers for a contribution to any costs eg petrol, parking as long as they do not make a profit. You could save £1000 a year
    • by not driving, when appropriate, you will reduce wear and tear on your car – thus reducing running costs
    • reduce the health care costs to society, not just of ill-health but the costs of road accidents

    Employers

    • less demand for car parking and more land available for landscaping or development
    • less money spent on provision and maintenance of car parks
    • greater staff retention and recruitment especially if improved bus, cycle and or walking routes are developed or loans for season tickets/bikes introduced
    • encouraging individuals to use the train over the car could save on business mileage payments and they could spend the time more profitably by working or reading
    • by reducing the number of meetings that individuals need to travel to there will be obvious savings both in terms of business mileage costs as well as time savings
    • a fitter, healthier workforce will be less likely to take time off sick.

    Community

    • support community based businesses
      • decrease traffic noise – quieter more pleasant environment Reduce traffic jams and parking problems Increase social interaction within the local community

    Trophies and Prizes
    Trophies
    All organisations taking part will be competing for the following prizes:-

    Commuter Challenge Shield for the overall winner

    Trophy for winner of the Smaller Organisation category
    Trophy for winner of the Larger Organisation category

    Prize Draw Prizes
    All individuals taking part will be entered into the prize draw to win one of the following prizes (* see rules)

    • B&Q £100 voucher
    • CycleWorld £150 voucher
    • City Car Club Annual Membership
    • FIRST - 2 month bus pass
    • Fitness First – annual membership and health checks
    • Gosport Ferry - 2 Family cruises on the Spirit of Portsmouth
      • -->
    • Mountbatten Centre - Annual Membership and two 3 month memberships
    • PGL Family Activity Holiday 20th - 22nd October on the IOW (non-transferable)
    • Stagecoach - 2 month bus pass
    • SWT - 2 month pass

    Kick your Car Habit!

    How we can help you to change.

    How many times have you thought you’d like to kick the habit of using the car for every trip but somehow you still get into your car every time you leave the house?

    Well now’s your chance.

    If any of the following apply to you and you also drive to work the Commuter Challenge might be a good way to kick the car habit and help improve the health of the planet as well as your own.

    • You want to lose weight
    • Get fitter
    • Feel healthier
    • Save money
    • Feel less stressed
    • Know exactly how long it will take to travel to work
    • Are concerned about the environment
    • Hate being stuck in traffic jams
    • Know that you should think about using your car less but just can’t get round to it
    First plan your route (think about the way you will travel, how long you will need and what time you will need to set off).

    Walking – check the best route, check the weather forecast, make sure you have a waterproof coat and/or umbrella if it looks like rain.

    Cycling – Check out your bike, pump up the tyres, check the brakes, pack your bag with everything that you will need for work. Ensure that you have either checked the route using a cycle routes map to help you plan the best roads to use, or find someone who already cycles to work to give you some advice (eg a Bike Buddy)

    Bus & Train – Find out the times of the bus or train, give yourself enough time to get to the bus stop or station. Take a book or MP3 to take full advantage of the time that you have to yourself.

    Car share – Find a carshare partner, either by registering on your company carshare database, or some companies are members of Hantscarshare database or ask around the office to see if there is anyone you could share with.

    Once you have made your plans remember to take the precaution of hiding your car keys the night before the Commuter Challenge so you won’t be tempted to get into the car in the morning!

    Use the Commuter Challenge to help you find an alternative way to travel to work. Remember you might need to try if more than once to see if you could continue. It takes a long time to get into bad habits and it will take some time to change them! You might want to try a couple of options to see which works best for you and then think about trying to change the way you travel for one or two days a week at first.

    Before you know it you will be kicking the car habit out the window.

    Mileage Calculator
    If you are not sure of the distance that you have travelled use a route planner on one of the following websites:-
    AA www.theaa.com
    RAC www.rac.co.uk

    Publicity Material

    The following information will be online soon, please check regularly.
    Guidelines for employers DownloadDownload Word Document.

    Commuter challenge Leaflet DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Recording Slip
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Download the Poster - Version 1
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Download the Poster - Version 2
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    New PCC Green Travel Leaflets:-
    Active Healthy Travel
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Add Up Your Car Costs
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Cutting Your Car Use
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    Greener Driving
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    But I can’t stop using my car
    DownloadDownload PDF Document.

    What Next?
    If you took the Commuter Challenge and want to know what to do next read on…

    • Did you enjoy your experience?
    • Would you like to carry on?
    • Did it make you think that you could do it more regularly?
    • Did you experience any problems? Are these problems something that you can sort out yourself or something that you might need help with eg you missed the bus because you weren’t sure of the time or that the bus was late, or you enjoyed cycling to work but there wasn’t anywhere secure to leave your bike
    • Could you get your employer to help by installing secure cycle parking or ask them for help with purchasing your season ticket or a new bike
    Why not try to make the change for just one day a week to start with.

    If everyone left their car at home for just one day a week that would mean a 20% reduction in congestion and pollution.

    If you liked WALKING why not try Healthy Walks or Lunchtime Walk, consider becoming a Walk Leader. Find out about places that you could go walking locally by looking at the following websites.

    See Walking for links to useful information


    If you liked CYCLING why not try joining a local club or trying some of the local cycle routes and rides. If you don’t own a bike you could consider hiring one at first. Later on you might like to see if your employer offers a cycle purchase scheme.

    See Cycling for links to useful information

    See Cycle for links to Portsmouth Cycle Routes Map


    If you would like to use the BUS OR TRAIN more often consider buying an annual season ticket as this will substantially cut the cost of travel. The organisation that you work for may offer an interest free loan for the purchase of a season ticket. Local public transport operators will offer various schemes to encourage you to buy an annual ticket.

    See Public Transport Map for links to Portsmouth Public Transport Map

    Feedback
    If you took the Commuter Challenge and would like to give us feedback use the form to let us know what you thought about the Challenge
    DownloadDownload Feedback Form Document.