CYCLING SUITS
INTRODUCTION In 2009, MEPC Birchwood Park conducted a travel survey that found 25% of employees lived within a five-mile radius, but commuted predominantly by single occupancy car. Birchwood Park worked with social enterprise BikeRight! to encourage 60 employees working in the Birchwood area, to swap four tyres for two as part of the Cycling Suits Project. The project aimed to persuade 60 people to commute to work by bike. The project provided cycle training and bike maintenance programs to improve road confidence and cycling practicalities for commuters, while encouraging customer engagement with key occupiers.
INTRODUCTION Cycle Maintenance Training at Birchwood Park The Cycling Suits Project was conducted in weekly half-day sessions, and aims to: Improve commuter health Reduce congestion Reduce CO2 emissions Lessen parking issues Save on commuter costs. MEPC and Birchwood Park s Green Transport Policy and fully integrated travel plans are widely recognized for their success, and proactively seek to encourage people to use alternatives to single-occupancy car use. The success of the Cycling Suits Project has meant more awareness and take up of the Park cycle initiatives, and has enabled more investment in cycle parking, facilities, and cycle infrastructure across the site. MEPC Sustainability Brochure, http://www.mepc.com/sustainability/pdf/6pp_s ustainability_brochure.pdf, p. 4.
TESTIMONIAL The cycle infrastructure work at Birchwood Park has been welcome, and is well used (becoming more so all the time), while the improved showers and facilities are also appreciated. Improved cycle parking seems to fill up quickly, and is encouraging even more people to arrive by bike on the Park. Cyclist consultations are appreciated, and BUG suggestions are usually adopted and implemented throughout the Park. Birchwood Park s contribution to Warrington Cycle Forum goes beyond the call of duty, and helps with the success of that body in bringing about urban change in the area". Jonathan Wood Chairman, Warrington Cycle Campaign
THE IDEA Birchwood is situated in Warrington, Cheshire, and was originally built as a New Town development in 1972, equidistant between Manchester and Liverpool. With the site being just 30 minutes drive from each city, Birchwood was developed as a road-access hub on junction 21 of the M6 & junction 11 of the M62. This legacy has led to a substantial cardependency in the immediate area, which the Birchwood Park Travel Management Plan has sought to redress with more sustainable alternatives. This has been encouraged by annual travel surveys of the site. Analysis of the 2009 Birchwood Park Travel Survey postcode data showed that the largest number of employees on the Park reside in the WA postcode area, equating to 47% of the overall survey responses. Of this 47%, over 22% reside within the immediate WA3 postcode area, making them an ideal target for commuter cycling options.
THE IDEA Esstta Hayes (Birchwood Park Travel Co-ordinator) and Jonathan Wood (Warrington Cycle Campaign) enjoying a training session The survey also indicated that overall, 81% of respondents travel to work by car. Of these, 70% travel in single occupancy vehicles, while 11% car share (8% driver, 3% passenger). Cycling has shown a promising increase, growing from 2% to 4% since 2006. This evidence, and the 70% of single occupancy car users, show Park employees could potentially benefit from more Travel engagement and the Cycling Suits project. By inviting BikeRight! to provide accredited training, we can enable many more cyclists, no matter how inexperienced, to acquire the skills and confidence that will enable them to cycle safely to and from their workplace. While making roads safer, we will also reap the environmental benefits as a result of reduced single occupancy car journeys.
STEPS TO SUCCESS The Travel Co-ordinator identified four key organisations which represented over ¼ of the total workforce on Birchwood Park. Working together, all parties discussed the Cycling Suits Project with Bikeright! and agreed to take the project forward. Successes of the project will lead to decreased singleoccupancy car use, reduced parking issues and increased take up of cycle as a commuter option.
ACTION PLAN February 2009 Birchwood Park Travel Survey conducted April/March 2009 BikeRight!, Friends of the Earth, Warrington Borough Council & Birchwood Park meet to discuss the Cycling Suits Project March 2009 Cycling Suits Project established & presented to Amec, Atkins, Serco, and Vodafone representatives April 2009 Posters displayed across the Park & sent via email April/May 2009 Park customer liaisons with BikeRight! Cycle training begins May 2009 Commuter Challenge Diaries maintained for project participants June to August 2009 Project ends, evaluation undertaken, case studies created and plans developed for future development to encourage continued cycle use
COMMUNICATION The Cycling Suits Project was communicated a number of ways: A Park/occupier presentation meeting introduced the idea & presented BikeRight! to all parties Specific one-to-one meetings were held between occupiers, designated Park Travel Champions & BikeRight! to tailor program delivery BUG members were targeted on the Park via one-to-one contact & BUG update emails Recruitment drives were held in participant s reception areas to bring in more attendants Recruitment drives were held in communal areas across the Park and during the Park s June Bike Week Event, to advertise the scheme en masse in different areas In addition, our on-site travel co-ordinator has staying involved on a regular basis and worked with all parties to promote and encourage the project throughout.
RESULTS Since the launch of the Cycling Suits Project the Birchwood Park Bike User Group (BUG) has grown to 175 members. Over 90 cycles are now listed on the Park s Cycle Registration Database, and the Park now has a free Borrow a Bike scheme for use during to working day. Monthly cyclist/travel updates are now sent by email to the BUG and the group are consulted on the development of cycle facilities and events throughout the Park.
FEEDBACK Individuals feedback from the project has been overwhelmingly positive; Amazingly I got in on the bike every day! And I'm in on the bike today in the rain. Thank you again for the course. Christine. F, Amec The cycle training came at an opportune time. I recently bought a new bike on the company 'cycle to work' scheme - and, after 25 years without a bike, have begun to enjoy being on two wheels again. I have also been acutely aware of the change in traffic since I was last on a bike and didn't feel very confident. The simple rules we were shown on the cycle training scheme were a revelation. The benefits are so obvious when you have been told and shown. The practical sessions helped reinforce the theory Andy G, Principal Consultant, Amec Helpful & informative, particularly on negotiation of roundabouts. I would recommend it, particularly to those who are new or nervous of cycling on roads. I know of one convert who now cycles to work! Karon F, Serco It was excellent! I haven't ridden a bike for over 30 years, so was terrified of starting to ride one. By the end of it I'd stopped wobbling all over the place and now feel that I'm ok to ride on public roads. Gerry M, Serco
SUMMARY Left to right: Liz Clarke (BikeRight!), Esstta Hayes (Birchwood Park), Lachlan Fulton (BikeRight!) Birchwood Park will continue to support and develop this initiative, providing the time and resources needed to help and encourage the companies and workers located here in Birchwood to consider and try where viable, cycling to work. It is only by providing long term support to these types of initiatives that we will achieve our goal to increase the shift from single occupancy car travel to more sustainable alternatives such as cycling to work and ultimately help relieve congestion, pollution and improve sustainability for Birchwood and its surrounding areas. For more information on Birchwood Park please visit www.birchwoodpark.co.uk or contact akennedy@mepc.com