Local travel plan groups : a practical guide to setting up an effective group

Shortly after becoming Mayor of London in July 2000, Ken Livingstone noted that “the single biggest problem for London and Londoners is the gridlock of our transport system” and that “remedying this will be my first priority”. Although predominantly concerned with the inadequacy of public transport in the capital, the Mayor added that “traffic speeds in central London are now just 10 miles per hour, while congestion costs London business £5 billion per year. Residents and commuters alike suffer from delays, stress, discomfort and the overall poor urban environment.”i To help address these problems,Transport for London (TfL) is encouraging businesses and other organisations to develop workplace travel plans. Developing and implementing a workplace travel plan requires resources and expertise, so it can be easier for businesses located in the same area to get together and form a local travel plan group. This good practice guide sets out the process of establishing a local travel plan group, based on research conducted for the Optimum2 project in the London Borough of Southwark, in which the Better Bankside Travel Plan Group was established (see Acknowledgments for further information).