Article: Plaza workers to travel smarter

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Plaza workers to travel smarter

Plaza workers to travel smarter

8th March 2012

STAFF at Maroochydore's Sunshine Plaza now have more reasons to leave their car at home when travelling to and from work.

Better cycling and walking facilities as well as incentives for public transport are just some of the activities which will take place as part of a joint program with Sunshine Coast Council's TravelSmart Team.

Sustainable transport councillor Vivien Griffin said the program would increase available parking at the centre and reduce the environmental impact of travelling to and from the area.

"Currently seven out of 10 employees drive to and from work alone. We want people to use more sustainable forms of transport such as buses, carpools, bikes and scooters," Cr Griffin said.

"We have a suite of activities planned throughout the year to encourage sustainable transport use.

"These include bike maintenance workshops, public transport incentives, a carpooling promotion, and involvement in national active travel days such as National Ride to Work Day."

Approximately 3,000 casual, part-time and full-time staff work at Sunshine Plaza in more than 220 shops.

Sunshine Plaza Centre Manager, Michael Manwaring said he was excited about working with council on the initiative.

"We're committed to finding sustainable transport solutions for our retailers and their staff, and this program aligns perfectly with that commitment," Mr Manwaring said.

"People who choose a Travelsmart option are reducing their carbon footprint and alleviating traffic congestion.

"The added bonus for our customers is an increase in available parking spaces."

Sunshine Plaza's program will officially kick-off with bike maintenance workshops for staff held during Bike Week, from March 10 to 18.

TravelSmart is a council program that encourages healthier commuting behaviour in the community and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the need for additional road space.

The program has been successfully adopted in local schools and organisations such as Sunshine Coast Council and Youi insurance.

For more information on this and other TravelSmart programs, please contact Sunshine Coast Council on 5475 7272 or email here.

[#Metro]

"Currently seven out of 10 employees drive to and from work alone. We want people to use more sustainable forms of transport such as buses, carpools, bikes and scooters," Cr Griffin said.

"We have a suite of activities planned throughout the year to encourage sustainable transport use.

"These include bike maintenance workshops, public transport incentives, a carpooling promotion, and involvement in national active travel days such as National Ride to Work Day."

Sigh. If you have to attach inducements to get people to use your system (or if your 'system' doesn't actually exist!), then something is wrong because that is saying "the network is not good enough to advertise itself".

Why don't they pull the funding from this and instead spend it on high quality bicycle racks (I have some photos from my sydney trip which I will post later), decent bus frequencies, end-of-trip shower facilities and so forth.

A big shopping centre could well have a market for a decent, high-amenity cycling centre.

[SurfRail]

TravelSmart actually delivers reasonably good outcomes.  There will always be people who just don't even consider using the public transport network (because it never occurred to them to do so, because they have false perceptions about it etc).  TravelSmart has had measurable successes in reaching people like this in places like Perth, the Sunshine Coast and the northside of Brisbane, and the outlay is pretty minuscule.

[Fares_Fair]

I agree SR,
Any plan to encourage public transport use or alternate methods is worth trying.

[achiruel]

How about building CoastConnect, CAMCOS & duplicating the NCL? 

[Fares_Fair]

How about building CoastConnect, CAMCOS & duplicating the NCL? 

LOL, of course achiruel,
My comment is in context of the local council initiative.
The critical issues you raise are for the State Government to address.
Federal Government involved too for national north-south rail corridor.Brisbane to Cairns.

Keep up the good work.

[Stillwater]

Sunshine Plaza already has showers and change rooms for staff who cycle to work.  many of the workers come from some distance away, so cycle not feasible, bussing to work viable option for them.

[Arnz]

Bus commuting to Sunshine Plaza is covered if you live on a trunk route (600, 610, 616, 620), but all other routes into the Plaza are hourly "coverage" routes which goes around the backstreets.

They really need to do something with the 601.  Most 601 services seem to be "Air Parcels" (less passengers than the other hourly coverage routes) with most folks just getting the 600 instead.