Case Studies 2015-17
1 Table of Contents Introduction
Aberdeen City Council: Aberdeen Promotes Smarter Travel Choices 5 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) is a grant programme that supports delivery of targeted behaviour change interventions Aberdeenshire Council: Aberdeenshire E-Bikes Entice New Users 11 designed to increase active and sustainable travel in Scotland. The programme is administered by Paths for All and funded by Angus Council: Angus a Hub for Cycling Activity 15 Transport Scotland. Argyll and Bute Council: Argyll Active Travel Counts in Argyll & Bute 19 The current programme commenced in 2015/16 and has continued since then. It builds on the work and outcomes of Clackmannanshire Council: Clackmannanshire’s Wee Cycle Festival 23 SCSP Pilot projects delivered between 2008-12, as well as earlier Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: Outer Hebrides partnerships reap rewards 27 Smarter Choices projects in Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway Council: Annan and Dalbeattie challenged to The broad goals of the current SCSP programme include: 31 ‘Beat the Street’ to be more active • Promoting changes in knowledge, attitudes and Dundee City Council: Delivering Clean Car Club in Dundee 37 beliefs towards sustainable travel choices; East Ayrshire Council: East Ayrshire Travel Hub Gets People Active 43 • Increasing the walking and cycling modal share for East Lothian Council: East Lothian communities explore active travel options 49 short local journeys; City of Edinburgh Council: A 20mph Future Makes Edinburgh a Better Place to be 55 • Increasing other sustainable travel choices for Falkirk Council: Falkirk Football Club ‘Takes the Right Route’ 61 longer journeys, i.e. public transport and car share;
Fife Council: Sustainable transport, St Andrews style 65 • Reducing car use for short local journeys; and Glasgow City Council: Glasgow communities get cycling 69 • Reducing driver only journeys. The Highland Council: Highland Cycling Project has Velocity 73 SCSP provided Scottish local authorities with access to a share of Midlothian Council: Changing Mode in Midlothian 79 £5 million in both 2015/16 and then again in 2016/17, to support delivery of eligible interventions. The impact of projects has been Moray Council: Moray pupils track their travel 83 extended by match-funding from grant recipients. North Ayrshire Council: North Ayrshire Workplaces Travel Smart 87 The case studies found in this publication bring a range of different SCSP interventions to life, capturing how they were North Lanarkshire Council: Walking wows North Lanarkshire pupils 91 delivered, what resulted and importantly, what factors influenced the associated outputs and outcomes. They are designed to Orkney Islands Council: Orkney Islands Heritage Trails designed for active travel 95 facilitate knowledge sharing and the sharing of good practice. Perth and Kinross Council: Schools on the Go: School Transition Workshop 99 A total of ten case studies were prepared for the 2015/16 projects Renfrewshire Council: Travel planning gets personal in Renfrewshire 105 and progress updates were appended to nine of these during 2017. Nineteen case studies were subsequently produced about Scottish Borders Council: Borders Hub integrates community transport 109 a range of interventions delivered during 2016/17.
South Ayrshire Council: Travel HUB gets Ayr active 113
South Lanarkshire Council: Make Your Way in South Lanarkshire 117
Stirling Council: Stirling Schools Cycle Safely 121
West Dunbartonshire Council: Cutting Car Use at Queens Quay 125
2 West Lothian Council: West Lothian Loves to Ride 131 3 Smarter Choices, Aberdeen Smarter Places Promotes Smarter 2015-17 projects Travel Choices
Summary
Local authority: Aberdeen
In partnership with:
European Mobility Week1 has been promoting sustainable urban mobility to citizens in European towns and cities since 2002. The campaign runs every year from 16th to 22nd September. European Mobility Week gives people the chance to experience car-free streets and encourages them to consider concrete solutions to tackle challenges like traffi c congestion, road safety, air pollution, climate change, the decline of public spaces and the many health issues caused by sedentary lifestyles. The week culminates in In Town Without My Car Day when participating towns and cities close one or more local roads for the day, restricting the movement of cars and reserving the area instead for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. Aberdeen City Council, working with partners in the Getabout group2, has participated in European Mobility Week since 2010. Building on previous campaigns, Aberdeen’s 2015 programme consisted of a series of sustainable transport themed events running throughout the week (in schools, public spaces and at a public event). The week culminated with In Town Without My Car Day when the Council formally closed a selection of roads to motor traffi c for the day and fi lled them with events and activities for members of the public to participate in instead.
1 www.mobilityweek.eu 2 www.get-about.com
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
4 55 Aberdeen Promotes Smarter Travel Choices Aberdeen Promotes Smarter Travel Choices
Since 2010 Aberdeen’s European Mobility Week City Moves on-street dance school; a bouncy process more involved. However, many activities simply require long lead times to ensure they are campaigns have aimed to encourage school castle and infl atable assault course; well planned and that there is enough time available to prepare properly. For instance, booking third- children, families, residents and commuters to try party activities, such as the Adventure Aberdeen roadshow, must be done well in advance and at more healthy and environmentally friendly forms Aberdeen Play Forum; street entertainment least 8 weeks’ notice are required to arrange street closures. of transport, to raise awareness of alternative via Graham Benson and Aberdeen University transport options and to highlight air quality Circus Skills Society; and face painting and problems in the city centre resulting from motor glitter tattoos. One of the main attractions was traffi c. a giant, open-air waterslide on the street. Given that this had never been done in Aberdeen Although we originally set out to promote the benefi ts The campaigns are scheduled around the dates before it generated a lot of press interest, which “ set for European Mobility Week and school further helped to promote the whole event and of sustainable transport, we’ve learned that things like the holidays are avoided so pupils can be involved. was instrumental in engaging businesses and Consideration is also given to the timing of other members of the public. waterslide, climbing wall and face painting are necessary events in Aberdeen so there are no signifi cant clashes. In addition, In Town Without My Car From the outset, Aberdeen’s European Mobility to attract citizens and to help reaffi rm the message that Day is typically held on a weekend day to avoid Week campaigns have been delivered and without the traffi c, there is so much more room to bring inconveniencing people unnecessarily and supported by members of the Getabout causing disruptions to week-day bus services. partnership, and particularly, NESTRANS and people together and host events like this. This is the third It also ensures that the largest number of people, Aberdeen City Council. especially families, are able to enjoy the traffi c Aberdeen City Council were the main project year we’ve used this area and the continuity has really free space. managers for the city events: planning, booking helped the businesses to engage with the event as they The 2015 campaign opened with a family cycle and ensuring they had a presence at all of them. ride, the Wee Jaunt Aberdeen, which started They organised the road closures, coordinated now know what to expect and see the benefi ts of people- and fi nished in Duthie Park and formed part of engagement with schools, businesses and the Cycling Scotland’s national Pedal for Scotland public, provided relevant promotional materials, friendly spaces fi rst hand. Our desire is to upscale the programme. Subsequent activities included a including Getabout branded merchandise, and event every year and we feel it now needs more specialist series of Getabout bicycle roadshows and the evaluated the campaign. NESTRANS promoted Middleton Park School sponsored cycle. the campaign and provided support in the form expertise to grow it even further. We are keen to engage of staff, fi nancial input and merchandise. The programme culminated in Aberdeen’s In with events and promotions teams to investigate this. Town Without My Car Day event, which featured Whilst Aberdeen City Council and its Getabout partners now have considerable experience ” road closures and a range of activities, including: of delivering their European Mobility Week Alan Simpson, Planner, Aberdeen City Council campaigns, advanced planning is still a key to success. The 2015 campaign was larger than In numbers in previous years, which made the planning
Appox. Almost All 500 180 350 750 1,150 people visited an visitors to the Aberdeen’s entire European Aberdeen’s European Mobility school pupils Middleton Park tickets for a free NHS stand during Getabout tent were Mobility Week 2015 campaign Week was successfully attended School pupils waterslide event held the 2015 In Town offered information programme cost approx. advertised on social media a cycling undertook a as part of Aberdeen’s In £18,500 around Without My Car about active and to deliver, with with 32,000 people reached, roadshow sponsored Town Without My Car Day half Day to learn more sustainable modes this funding coming from the 463 engaged and 404 via two school cycle ride in were sold out within about healthy of transport SCSP programme committing to action via events their local area lifestyles two hours Facebook alone 6 77 Aberdeen Promotes Smarter Travel Choices One year on: Aberdeen Inspires Car-Free Celebration
Another successful programme of car-free about how public spaces around the city could activities with the highlight of In Town Without be used differently. It also led to a trial of a new My Car Day was delivered by Aberdeen City west-end street closure, which created the Council and its partners in 2016. space for local businesses to pilot a market. This proved to be so successful that traders Wow really big event compared to The event, which was part of European Mobility have run the market again. “ Week, provided an opportunity to promote previous years. Took us by surprise the level sustainable transport and highlight how urban Detailed planning and preparation underpinned space that is currently given over to traffic the success of the 2016 programme. The of footfall so next year it’ll be 2 extra staff! can be temporarily closed and used for other increased scale of the event led to the ” purposes. Council’s in-house Events team taking on its management, thereby helping to contain costs Books and Beans. Belmont Street As with the 2015 event, several streets and allowing the Transport Strategy team to were closed to provide space for a range of focus on promoting and raising awareness activities, including many of those offered about sustainable transport through the event. in previous years and a selection of new initiatives. For instance, the waterslide once Delivery of the 2016 programme cost less than again proved to be hugely popular, and the half of the original budget of £30,000. If this “ Really good. Would love to Getabout tent was a key attraction. level of funding can be sustained or increased, the delivery team expects to be able to offer see more events like this. The involvement of Aberdeen’s Business an even more impactful programme in future ” Improvement District – Aberdeen Inspired – years. in the 2016 event created an opportunity to Member of the public incorporate a street piano into the programme, thereby encouraging people to linger and think Key achievements 303K 81% 94% an people reached of participants The West End want to see estimated on social rated the city Market was also more popular, with 8,000 media with centre event traffic free 91% of surveyed people around half the very highly spaces attended the activity being driven attendees saying 2016 event by Facebook it was excellent 8 or very good 99 “ In Town Without My Car Aberdeenshire Day is a fantastic initiative and the fun stalls will help to show people there are alternatives E-Bikes Entice to using a car sometimes, something Sunday will help to New Users showcase. ” Aberdeen City Council Spokeswoman Summary
Local authority: Aberdeenshire Council
In May 2016 Aberdeenshire Council launched an innovative, electric bike (e-bike) pilot scheme that provided staff with an opportunity to try out one of four e-bikes for work-related and commuter trips. Historically, cycling to work has not been an attractive or viable option for many members of staff because they tend to live too far away from work. The provision of e-bikes helped to tackle this barrier as they offer users the ability to travel longer distances, more quickly and with less effort than conventional bikes. Planning and preparing for the launch of the pilot took a signifi cant Super day at ITWMCD well investment of time. Amongst other things, it was essential to “ address legal, as well as health and safety risks, and consider how organised and laid out and plenty to promote the scheme to staff. Once it was up and running, the pilot scheme proved to be popular, staff to help! Kids really enjoyed with some participants enticed by the novelty of the bikes and all the different activities and others signing up through associated promotional activities, such as try-out rides. even better that it was free! Such was the success of the pilot scheme that the Council now plans to buy four of its own e-bikes. In addition, the Council is Can’t wait for next year. working with the Inverurie business community to trial use of an ” e-cargo delivery bike for local deliveries. Anonymous
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
10 1111 Aberdeenshire E-Bikes Entice New Users Aberdeenshire E-Bikes Entice New Users
Aberdeenshire is a distinctively rural region with a Evidence suggested many staff were unfamiliar The bikes were also equipped with high quality dispersed population. There are high levels of car with e-bikes and therefore, did not understand their panniers to facilitate commuting trips. ownership and use in the area, and this contributes capabilities or suitability for certain journeys. By The novelty of the e-bike technology proved I think the loan bike towards traffi c congestion, transport-related carbon making e-bikes available to staff on a loan basis, “ emissions, poor air quality, low levels of physical the pilot enable them to gain fi rst-hand experience to be a drawcard as it encouraged those who is a fantastic idea, it activity as well as an increase in levels of risk of the technology. would not normally consider riding a bicycle to other road users, including pedestrians and to participate in the pilot scheme. Interest was opens your eyes to a cyclists. Launched in May 2016, the e-bike pilot scheme also generated by offering lunch time try out provided a means to address some of the common rides, publishing articles about the pilot on the whole new way of not As a ‘rule-of-thumb’, commuters living further barriers to cycling faced by Council commuters, Councils intranet and in the staff magazine, and than 5km from their workplace are typically less because they offer the opportunity to travel longer by encouraging staff to use an e-bike during the only commuting but likely to consider travelling by bike. On the other distances, more quickly, with less effort than ‘Love to Ride’ cycle challenge in September. hand, cycling shorter distances tends to be conventional bikes. using it as a genuine more achievable for a wider range of fi tness and Evidence of the success of the pilot loan scheme motivation levels and cyclists are less likely to need Four e-bikes were used during the pilot. These has encouraged the Council to procure four of alternative to car a shower once they arrive at work. were hired from the Huntly Development Trust. Not its own e-bikes. Alongside this, several Council only was this a relatively cost-effective and time- teams are actively exploring the feasibility of transport, my bike was Being a rural authority with many satellite offi ces, a effi cient option, it also provided valuable support to using e-bikes for certain work-related journeys, signifi cant proportion of Aberdeenshire Council’s the trust. such as inter-site trips and on-site inspections. fi tted with pannier staff travel further than 5km to get to work. As a bags which made it result, commuting to work by car is common, whilst Crucially, a signifi cant amount of time was invested Following positive engagement with the business commuting by bike is not generally popular. in advance of the launch, to respond to legal risks, community in Inverurie, the Council has also very practical for going develop a robust health and safety plan, confi rm procured an e-cargo delivery bike. Several local The Council has been implementing measures insurance cover and prepare an effective loan businesses have signed up to trial the bike for into town, getting to help reduce the impacts of car-dominated agreement. In addition, consideration was given local deliveries, with a view to procuring their own commuting for many years. In support of this, in to how to promote the scheme to staff, how the if the pilot proves worthwhile. some shopping and early 2016, the Council successfully applied for bikes should be secured, charged and stored, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places grant funding to and how to deal with theft or accidents. It was also Without doubt, the e-bike pilot scheme has made me really enjoy enable a new initiative to be piloted. necessary to procure bike maintenance services to been a huge success. It has clearly infl uenced going out for a cycle. ensure full safety checks were carried out between the travel behaviour of participants and more The pilot offered Council staff an opportunity to try loans. generally, appears to now be infl uencing the using electric bikes (e-bikes) for both commuter mobility choices of both Aberdeenshire Council On some social trips, and inter-site travel. The Council provided participants with a £30 cycle and local businesses. I clocked up 20 miles shop voucher as part of the loan agreement, to help them buy personal cycling equipment, such which is something I In numbers as helmets. would never even felt was possible... I have enjoyed it so much I 4 5 have applied for my own one through The pilot The project e-bikes were e-bike users All The project launched targeted loaned to 49 staff, have gone on participants budget the cycle to work in May c.1,500 staff at thereby transferring to buy a bike have gone was some 200 road miles to scheme. 2016 the Aberdeenshire specifi cally for on to cycle £7,500 Council HQ in bike and saving 525 kg/ commuting regularly ” Aberdeen CO2e over the course of purposes to work E-Bike user the year
12 1313 Aberdeenshire E-Bikes Entice New Users Angus a Hub for
“ This has got me Cycling Activity back into cycling. I used to cycle a lot but was fi nding I had to get off and push up hills last summer Summary which is a hassle and put me off going Local authority: Angus Council
out. I live in a village In partnership with: where all roads out Angus Council actively promotes the benefi ts of walking, cycling are uphill. With the and public transport through its ongoing ‘Angus on the Go’ initiative, which focuses on awareness raising, education, improving e-bike I have not had connectivity and encouraging participation. to get off and walk In 2016/17, the Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding that enabled it to deliver a variety of new and at all. I can cover a continuing ‘Angus on the Go’ interventions, including an award- lot of ground in a winning work programme delivered by Angus Cycle Hub. Established in 2014, Angus Cycle Hub plays a central role in short time. promoting and supporting cycling in Angus. The Hub offers a ” variety of training and outreach, including Essential Cycle Skills E-Bike user training, Bike Maintenance workshops, social rides, cycling advice and route planning. It also provides a bike recycling service that gives residents the opportunity to hire or buy cost-effective, refurbished bikes. Although successful delivery of these activities has not been without challenge, the Hub has proven it can learn from experience, thereby improving the services it offers and the results that are generated. Angus Cycle Hub hopes this approach will help it secure a more fi nancially sustainable future that will enable it to continue infl uencing the travel behaviour of Angus residents over time.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
14 1515 Angus a Hub for Cycling Activity Angus a Hub for Cycling Activity
In 2011, Tactran, NHS Tayside and NHS Forth This included the provision of ongoing support to is hampered by a range of entrenched barriers, Valley adopted a Health & Transport Framework Angus Cycle Hub, which formed in January 2014 including a general lack of appropriate physical Angus Council for the Tayside and Central Scotland region. In with the broad aim of nurturing and promoting infrastructure and a culture that does not yet tend “ response to this, a Health & Transport Steering cycling activity in the Angus area. to value cycling. Group was established as part of the Angus have been pleased to Community Planning Partnership and in May SCSP funding of £14,500 was secured to help The activities and interventions offered by the Hub be able to support 2013, an action plan was agreed. Angus Cycle Hub provide services through go some way towards tackling these barriers, but its Community Cycle Hub and Bike Recycling ongoing partnership work is essential if they are to Angus Cycle Hub The Health & Transport Framework recognises Centre in Arbroath. The Hub backed this funding be overcome. that active and sustainable travel contribute up with an additional £5,000 of in-kind support. in growing the towards an array of health, social, environmental On this basis, Angus Cycle Hub works closely and economic policy objectives. This led to the The Hub offers a physical space to run with several partners, including Cycling Scotland, availability and development of ‘Angus on the Go’, a behaviour cycling workshops, training and events, Scottish Cycling, NHS Tayside, Angus Council, change campaign that encourages active including Essential Cycling Skills Training, Bike Angus Social Care and Health Partnership, opportunities and sustainable travel by raising awareness, Maintenance Workshops and training to help SUSTRANS, Cycling UK and the Angus related to cycling providing education, improving connectivity and participants secure leadership and coaching Environmental Trust. encouraging participation. qualifi cations. Through its bike recycling activities, the Hub also offers affordable The Hub now also recognises how challenging within the ‘Angus on the Go’ aims to change local opportunities for members of the community to it can be to promote cycling in circumstances Angus area. This people’s attitudes and behaviours by maintain, purchase and hire bikes. where low incomes mean cycling is not seen as encouraging and enabling them to walk, cycle an affordable mode choice. Whilst there has been partnership has and use public transport more often. The The Hub targets a variety of audiences through some encouraging engagement with low-income campaign acknowledges that improvements to its work, including deprived communities in residents, recycled bikes provided by Angus Cycle allowed cross infrastructure will be needed before some people which the up-front purchase price of a new bike Hub have often been sold on by participants. On can consider changing their travel behaviour, can be a signifi cant barrier to uptake. The Bike this basis, Angus Cycling Hub is now considering sector work whilst others will respond positively to the Recycling initiative helps to address this barrier rolling out a bike loan scheme that will provide to maximise provision of support and encouragement. by providing low-cost opportunities for people to cost-effective access to recycled bikes without the access bikes. Other work focuses on the wider risk that they will be sold on, rather than ridden. opportunities that In 2016/17, Angus Council successfully applied Angus community, although the Hub runs an for Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) annual Cycling Festival, which promotes cycling Moving forward, Angus Cycle Hub will continue will encourage funding to support ongoing delivery of the ‘Angus in Angus to visitors, as well as locals. delivering a variety of funded initiatives and plans on the Go’ initiative. to use a social enterprise structure to help fund more people to Through delivering these and other cycling these and other projects over the longer term. In initiatives, Angus Cycle Hub has come to this way, Angus Cycle Hub aims to remain at the consider cycling recognise that uptake of cycling in the area centre of cycling activity in Angus. and have access In numbers to bikes. This work also supports the need to promote 333 12 12 more active volunteers Cycling 3,244km of From 2015 to 2016, bikes were were trained Leaders The Hub was and sustainable the number of supported cycling recycled back into the as community were awarded a provided by Angus Silver Cycle participants grew Angus community in bike mechanics trained communities. Cycle Hub to individuals from 1,785 to 4,558, 2016, thereby helping to Velotech silver to provide Friendly ” Kirsty Macari, Senior who otherwise might with the Hub running to instigate 21,000km standard, and 4,002 Communities led cycle Planning Offi cer, Angus not have engaged with and supporting 107 of cycling and save volunteer hours rides in the Award by Council cycling events in 2016 17,580 CO2e were committed community Cycling Scotland 16 1717 Angus a Hub for Cycling Activity Active Travel Counts in Argyll & Bute
Summary
Local authority: Argyll and Bute Council
In partnership with:
Argyll and Bute Council recognises the value active travel routes can offer members of the community. However, until recently, a lack of robust data about how active travel infrastructure is used has made it diffi cult to understand how much value these routes really generate and how best to manage them. For many years, the Council has had automated counters in place in key locations on the core path network. However, these had become outdated and unreliable over time. In 2016, the Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding to procure a modern, reliable system of counters that would simplify the data collection process and enable effi cient, accurate and timely monitoring of active travel patterns at selected points on the path network. An external provider was appointed to install the counters. The associated web-based monitoring dashboard enables real-time monitoring of count data “ This scheme is providing a great service as well as monitoring of trends over time. From the outset, data generated by the new system provided useful insights. to the community, it’s encouraging more For example, the new system enabled Islay Community Access Group to and more people to get into cycling and is source accurate information on user numbers and types on a new path. It is hoped that, by improving the quality of information available, Argyll and preventing unused bikes going to landfi ll so Bute Council and its partners can improve how they manage, maintain and promote the path network. it really is a win-win for everyone. ”
Dr Marshall Halliday, Director, Angus Environmental Trust This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
18 1919 Active Travel Counts in Argyll & Bute Active Travel Counts in Argyll & Bute
Argyll and Bute Council has been developing, The aim of this project was to simplify the The new counter system enables the Council to maintaining and improving walking and cycling monitoring process and enable effi cient, accurate gather and view usage data for key routes in real- infrastructure across Argyll and Bute for many and timely monitoring of pedestrians and cyclists time, thereby supporting ongoing work to develop years. A total of 1,200 miles of core paths have using the path network at key locations. and promote walking and cycling across the region. We are very been designated across the region, encompassing The quality and quantity of data that is now recorded “ a variety of routes. On award of the SCSP funds, the Council invited is far superior to the information that was previously pleased with tenders to install fourteen new automated counters available. Argyll and Bute covers the second largest local at various sites throughout the Local Authority area. the new counter authority area in Scotland, which means monitoring In July 2016, the contract was awarded to TDC Data generated by the new system has already been and managing the area’s path network is logistically Systems Ltd (TDC), who had previously supplied put to work. For example, it has been used to record system that has challenging. One historic strategy used by the fi ve counters to the Council. By September of the level of pedestrian and cyclist use of recently Council to help with effi cient path monitoring has that year, TDC had completed installation of the upgraded path infrastructure, thereby enabling Argyll been installed. Our involved use of automatic counters. additional counters and the new system became and Bute Council and Sustrans to monitor the impact operational in late October 2016. of this intervention. Similarly, the new counter system staff no longer In theory, setting up automated counters on Argyll has enabled the Islay Community Access Group to have to travel and Bute’s path network should streamline the task The new system continuously gathers pedestrian source accurate information on user numbers and of monitoring pedestrian and cyclist activity over and cycle data from the counters and uploads it types on a new path on Islay. to the counter time. However, fourteen of the counters that were in once a day to a server via GPRS. The uploaded use prior to 2016/17 were old, unreliable and used data is hosted by TDC and made available via a The Council’s new system is complemented by a to gather data 3 different software systems. In addition, some of bespoke web reporting system. This allows real Scottish Canals project, which saw a similar counter the counters did not have the capacity to gather time information to be viewed for the fi ve existing system installed across the Scottish canal network, which dramatically pedestrian data and they all required data to be and fourteen new automated counters across Argyll including the Crinan Canal. In combination, these downloaded on-site. Consequently, large volumes and Bute. systems can generate data about how many of the improves staff of data were regularly lost or simply not recorded. core paths and routes found in Argyll and Bute are time effi ciency. The new system allows the status of the counters used. Robust monitoring of path use should provide and their battery power to be remotely monitored Argyll and Bute Council with important information through the hosting web system, a process that The success of the Council’s 2016/17 counter The new system that can facilitate and improve the management, used to involve a series of time-consuming site upgrade project led to it submitting a new SCSP also provides the promotion and maintenance of the network. In visits. It also provides a more effective way of application in 2017/18, to enable it to install four recognition of this fact, in early 2016, the Council detecting system malfunctions, which have, in the additional counters at key sites. It is hoped that, Council with more successfully applied for £40,000 of Smarter past, resulted in considerable loss of data. Another by improving the quality of information available Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding to procure feature allows remote access for system update about how the path network is used, Argyll and Bute accurate data a new, unifi ed system of counters. and diagnostic purposes. Council can improve how it manages, maintains and promotes these infrastructure assets over time. on levels of path usage which will In numbers help to inform future projects. ” 3 14 Fergus Murray, Head of Economic different systems new counters Pedestrian and The quality Selected The data will inform Development and and quantity were in place were cycle information stakeholders now the design, delivery Strategic Transportation; of data now Argyll and Bute Council previously, with installed in can now be have access to the and evaluation recorded is the older counters various locations, monitored in data, including Sustrans of future being unreliable and at a cost of real-time on 19 far superior and the Islay Community requiring manual, approximately interventions at paths to previous data Access Group on-site data collection £40K these sites 20 2121 Active Travel Counts in Argyll & Bute Clackmannanshire’s Wee Cycle Festival
Summary
Local authority: Clackmannanshire Council
In partnership with:
In 2016, Clackmannanshire hosted a Wee Cycle Festival to encourage residents and visitors to get on their bikes. This highly successful event was pioneered in 2015 by Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village (Sterling Mills) in Tillicoultry. Although Clackmannanshire Council provided some support to the inaugural event, in 2016 the event was planned and delivered via a robust partnership between both organisations. Effective planning and preparation underpinned the success of the event. For instance, promotional activities, including radio, newspaper and bus shelter advertising, were crucial. Running over a weekend in early August 2016, the festival featured a range of indoor and outdoor activities, including a Street Velodrome, a Bike Doctor service, personalised travel planning sessions and a selection of non- cycling activities, such as face painting and balloon sculptures. In combination, the activities attracted hundreds of participants and overall, footfall at the Shopping Village was signifi cantly higher than usual. Such was the success of the 2016 event that Sterling Mills and Clackmannanshire Council plan to run it again in 2017. In addition, traders in Alloa have now delivered their own cycling festival, thereby helping to encourage Clackmannanshire residents to get on their bikes more often.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
22 2323 Clackmannanshire’s Wee Cycle Festival Clackmannanshire’s Wee Cycle Festival
In common with many other Scottish communities, Whilst Clackmannanshire Council provided some Clackmannanshire, actively encouraging people to Clackmannanshire residents are faced with a support, this event was largely planned and funded cycle more often and improving cycling skills. The range of issues related to high levels of car use, by Stirling Mills. target populations for the event included families, The cycle festival including road risks, traffi c congestion, air pollution, young people, individuals and community groups. “ carbon emissions and community severance. In The inaugural event was a success, which is a great idea. I’m a recent years, the level of car ownership has risen encouraged the project partners - Sterling Mills Pre-event promotion involved radio, newspaper and most journeys are still being made by car. and Clackmannanshire Council - to start planning a and bus shelter advertising, social media activity, regular cyclist but it’s Whilst some residents have limited travel choices, follow-up event in 2016. On this basis, the Council posters, as well as a range of outreach activities, good to see so many there is evidence to suggest at least some car applied for and was granted £12,500 through the such as engaging young people via in-school trips are made because of a lack of awareness or Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, to promotion and the Active Schools Summer people getting involved. understanding of existing, practical alternatives, help focus and expand the reach and impact of the Programme. such as cycling. Wee Cycling Festival. Additional contributions from I brought my kids along the two project partners brought the total funding The Festival incorporated a wide range of indoor Clackmannanshire Council has been working available to run the 2016 event up to £22,500. and outdoor activities, which helped create today and they’ve tried for many years and with a variety of partners resilience in the face of unpredictable weather to tackle these and related challenges. One Preparation for the Festival commenced in conditions. Activities included a Street Velodrome, all the cycling activities. such partnership has involved working with April 2016, with the event itself running over the a Bike Doctor service, Bikeability and Balanceability the managers and tenants of Sterling Mills in weekend of the 6-7 August 2016. The long lead- sessions for children, led rides, a pump track and It’s also reminded me Tillicoultry. time before the event was crucial as it allowed personalised travel planning sessions. Other non- detailed planning to be carried out, key service cycling activities, such as face painting and balloon that cycling isn’t only Sterling Mills is home to 24 retail businesses, providers to be briefed and booked and a range sculptures, were also held, thereby helping to a weekend activity. ranging from cafes and clothing outlets to sports of advertising and promotional activities to be ensure the event was attractive to family groups. shops and a supermarket. It is located immediately delivered. These preparations underpinned the The kids have enjoyed to the north of the River Devon, just a third of a success of the Festival. The 2016 Festival was even more successful mile to the south of Tillicoultry’s High Street and than the inaugural event. As the numbers below meeting Strider and adjacent to the Devon Way, which – as part of The timing of the Wee Cycling Festival was an demonstrate, footfall was high and participation the National Cycle Network - provides important important consideration. For instance, it was rates in the activities on offer were excellent. telling me all about off-road links to Alloa, Dollar and many points in scheduled to avoid the fi rst two weeks of summer, Feedback from participants was also very positive. what they’re doing at between for walkers and cyclists. when many people tend to take holidays. It was also important to run the event at a time when Based on this success, Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village and Clackmannanshire Council In 2015, Sterling Mills established its “Wee Cycling key suppliers were available and when weather school to promote are already planning to run the Festival” to help attract both new and return visits conditions were more likely to be settled. Wee Cycling Festival walking and cycling. to the site. again in 2017. In fact, the success of the event has During the planning phase the aims of the prompted traders in Alloa to run their own cycling event were sharpened to focus on raising festival, thereby helping to promote cycling even The Travel Hub was awareness about existing cycling infrastructure in more widely around Clackmannanshire. excellent. I picked up In numbers lots of information on local cycling routes and Around was able to speak to 200 someone about how I Despite poor weather A range of people Approximately Balanceability - a Personal travel conditions on the Sunday, indoor arrived by 800 people learn to cycle programme planning advice can change the way I around 11,000 people activities were participated in for children aged 2½ to was given to 100 bike, including 6 years old – attracted visited the Sterling popular on individuals and Get Cycling people visiting travel to work. approximately 100 Mills site during the the Sunday of families over activities the pop-up ” participants Andrew, Menstrie event, a signifi cant increase the event, due to the course of active travel hub on usual footfall inclement weather the weekend
24 2525 Clackmannanshire’s Wee Cycle Festival Outer Hebrides “ I really enjoyed the festival on Sunday partnerships – kids enjoyed the velodrome, the try a bike activities and stalls and my partner spent lots of money in Sterling Mills so reap rewards event objectives achieved! Also had a good ride round Gartmorn Dam which I last did 25 years ago. ” Summary Keith, Glasgow
Local authority: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) I hadn’t been on a bike for years and “ Travel patterns in the Outer Hebrides are undoubtedly infl uenced by the area’s weather. The remote and rural nature of the area and the sparsity of population thought I might be too old but I’ve had a great also make it more challenging to provide the necessary infrastructure and time. I came along to Sterling Mills to get some services to meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. Despite this, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council) understand shopping at Marks & Spencer’s and ended up the benefi ts that active and sustainable travel choices can generate and remain committed to delivering measures to encourage more people to walk, cycle and having a go on a recumbent trike which was use public transport. more fun than I could ever have expected. In 2016/17, the Comhairle was awarded funding through the Smarter Choices, ” Smarter Places programme to deliver its Smarter Travel Choices project. This initiative aimed to make walking and cycling more attractive and safe for short Alison, Dollar, Clackmannanshire local journeys, thereby helping to reverse the trend towards sedentary lifestyles, tackle health inequalities, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. Market research, which identifi ed why local people do not walk and cycle more often, informed the project’s design. Several stakeholders provided strong support for the project, thereby creating synergies and effi ciencies. Project I came on my bike with my friends. activities included delivery of cycling, road safety and walk leader training. “ Despite the challenges, delivery of this project has shown the Comhairle it can I’ve been on the Velodrome and successfully encourage more residents of the Outer Hebrides to walk and cycle. climbing wall, tried all the different practice bikes and made a smoothie. This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, It’s been really good fun. Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland. ” James, aged 11, Alva, Clackmannanshire 26 2727 Outer Hebrides partnerships reap rewards Outer Hebrides partnerships reap rewards
Travel patterns in the Outer Hebrides are shaped In 2016/17, funding from the Smarter Choices, Active Schools coordinators, secondary and primary by the climate and geography of the islands. For Smarter Places programme enabled the Comhairle schools, the NHS Health Promotion team, HITRANS, The opportunity instance, unpredictable and changeable weather to deliver a new project to encourage changes Police Scotland, Cycling Scotland and local bike shops. “ patterns tend to encourage residents to use their to travel behaviour. The broad aim of the Outer This approach helped to avoid duplication of effort, provided by this cars rather than risk battling the elements on foot or Hebrides Smarter Travel Choices project was to create synergies and ensure the project was delivered programme has been bike. In addition, commuters may fi nd it diffi cult to make walking and cycling more attractive and safe as effi ciently as possible. fi nd suitable public transport services as many bus for short local journeys, thereby helping to reverse immensely benefi cial services are scheduled around school start and the trend towards sedentary lifestyles, tackle health Several different interventions were delivered during fi nish times and in some cases, ferry timetables. inequalities, cut carbon emissions and improve air this project. For instance, the project partners: for Comhairle nan quality. distributed information and promotional material about Anecdotal evidence from the main employers local walking and cycling routes; offered cycling Eilean Siar as well – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles The project aimed to reach residents across the and road safety training in schools, workplaces and as local residents in Council) and NHS Western Isles – suggests many Outer Hebrides, with a specifi c focus on school community groups; and offered walk leader training. employees use their cars for very short journeys, pupils, employees and residents living and working the Western Isles. particularly during the working day. It is also clear in the more densely populated communities of Most measures were implemented during the warmer, that a signifi cant proportion of school children are Stornoway and its immediate surrounds. However, drier, less windy months, when residents are more likely Increasing active travel to be receptive to undertaking journeys on foot or by being taken to school by car, despite at least some over time, it became clear that people living in more is a common goal for of them living near enough to the schools that they remote areas were also interested in walking and bike. School-based activities also needed to be delivered could safely walk or cycle. Given this, it is likely cycling as a leisure pursuit as well as for commuting. during term-time and when schools could fi nd space in many organisations that many people are unaware of the route options their already busy curriculum-based timetables. To better understand the interests and needs of the available to them and they may lack the confi dence The Outer Hebrides Smarter Travel Choices project has and this project has to walk or cycle in or near traffi c. target population, the Comhairle issued an active travel survey. The results provided the Comhairle delivered many positive outcomes. One highlight has provided a great The Comhairle recognise many benefi ts can with a better understanding of some of the common been identifying and working in partnership with other come from increasing the proportion of local barriers to active and sustainable travel in the organisations that have a common interest in increasing opportunity to build journeys made by active and sustainable modes, Outer Hebrides and helped it develop a suite of rates of walking and cycling. This has created effi ciencies relationships and work including positive health, environmental and social interventions designed to address these barriers. by enabling sharing of resources, information and ideas. outcomes. For this reason, it has – over many years Another highlight has been the use of travel surveys, with external and - developed policies and implemented a raft of Delivery of the project was led by the Comhairle. which have generated insights into existing travel patterns measures designed to encourage more people to However, a signifi cant amount of time was invested and informed the development of a robust and effective internal partners to walk, cycle and use public transport. in identifying and forming strong partnerships with programme of behaviour change interventions. other established groups and organisations that had achieve our common an interest in or were already promoting active and The Comhairle believes that - with persistence, strong objectives. As a result, sustainable travel to residents of the Outer Hebrides. partnerships and research insights – it can successfully For example, partnerships were formed with local encourage more residents of the Outer Hebrides to a strong, proactive undertake short trips on foot and by bike. In numbers network has been created that will help ensure the future sustainability 10 21 4 2 of active travel Delivery of workplaces Essential HGV Cycle Road Bikeability initiatives in the this project and 16 Cycling Awareness Safety reached an cost an schools Skills training events were estimated 249 islands. sessions were held estimated were engaged sessions pupils from May ” run for over 60 Director of Technical Services, £75k in the project offered 2016 to June 2017 HGV drivers Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
28 2929 Outer Hebrides partnerships reap rewards Annan and Dalbeattie “ The Paths for All funding has been hugely positive in terms of supporting challenged to and promoting active travel in our local communities. Active travel is a key target ‘Beat the Street’ area for the Active Schools section in Comhairle, and this funding has allowed us to further promote and deliver a to be more active more sustainable network of training, promotion and volunteers. The additional equipment has also proved invaluable Summary when delivering the important Bikeability Local authority: Dumfries & Galloway training locally to primary pupils, as our geographical location makes transporting In partnership with: bikes and equipment very diffi cult. In autumn 2015 Annan and Dalbeattie, two communities in Dumfries and Galloway, were Working in partnership has supported invited to participate in a six-week game designed to encourage the whole community to walk and cycle more often. existing work, encouraged further, more Called Beat the Street, this engaging, fun and highly successful initiative helped motivate cohesive planning, along with providing residents to be more active by setting a goal for the community to achieve a target number of miles. Individuals and teams were eligible to win prizes with more active participants a welcome boost to road safety, namely increasing their chances of winning. An on-line leader board provided daily feedback. the partnership event between a number Players were issued with either a Radio Frequency ID card or key fob which they used to show they had walked or cycled between different sensors, called ‘Beat Boxes’. Sensors of partners on a cycle / road safety were strategically placed on lamp posts around each community, allowing players to scan awareness programme in relation to HGV their cards to record their journeys, whether to work, school or the shops. The Beat the Street challenge ran in both Annan and Dalbeattie between 1 September and lorries. As a direct result, we are seeing a 12 October 2015. A total of 3,385 residents (39% of the population) from Annan and 1,625 (36% of the population) from Dalbeattie took part in the six week challenge and follow-up positive impact in regards to active travel surveys of participants suggests the event was highly successful. in our communities. ” This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Active Schools Co-ordinator, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
30 3131 Annan & Dalbeattie challenged to Annan & Dalbeattie challenged to ‘Beat the Street’ & be more active ‘Beat the Street’ & be more active
Beat the Street is an initiative of Intelligent Health1, The communities of Annan and Dalbeattie were Alongside this, the public, private and third sector an organisation dedicated to making physical specifi cally selected from a number of similar were also willing to provide active support to Beat activity a way of life through expertly delivered, towns because existing strong Council / NHS the Street. Other local partners included Healthy The community measurable campaigns with long-term, community- engagement with local partners meant that a Dalbeattie, the Annandale & Eskdale Safe & Healthy “ wide benefi ts. Intelligent Health has successfully signifi cant part of the initial network development Action Partnership, the Forestry Commission. atmosphere around delivered Beat the Street in many locations across was already in place. As the scale and the world although – prior to this project – never in demography of these towns are typical of many Beat the Street was delivered during school term- Annan has been great Scotland. in the region and the rest of Scotland its success time to ensure pupils, staff and parents could get demonstrates the repeatability of the project. involved. Delivery was also scheduled during late since the launch of NHS Dumfries and Galloway was fi rst to recognise summer / early autumn when daylight saving was the health and wellbeing benefi ts Beat the Street In the run up to the game the Council and NHS still in place and when the chance of wintery weather Beat the Street. Every could offer communities in the area. Following this, engaged with a broad spectrum of the local effecting participation rates was lower. partner Dumfries and Galloway Council was quick communities including schools and NHS service night I would see local to see how the initiative could support its Local providers to prime them to engage with the game. In the lead-up to and during delivery of the initiative people out, pounding Transport and Active Travel strategies as well as its Intelligent Health then worked closely with the Intelligent Health ran a social marketing campaign Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme. Council and NHS to engage the community as which complimented a strong media presence from the pavements and a whole to anticipate the game. This included the Council’s Communications Unit that focussed Beat the Street was attractive to these stakeholders Intelligent Heath attending community groups, primarily on engaging school communities. Other making their way round. for a number of reasons, including its history school assemblies and engaging individuals at residents were also encouraged to get involved of successfully delivering positive health, events both existing and those created as part of through a range of other activities and events. But most importantly, environmental, transport and community outcomes the project. and the fact that its delivery by Intelligent Health Monitoring and evaluation is built in to the Beat the everyone was having allowed them to provide dedicated additional staff In addition, a number of related initiatives had Street initiative. When people register online they are resources. For these and other reasons, Dumfries already been delivered in Annan and Dalbeattie asked to provide baseline information about their fun, stopping and and Galloway Council and NHS Dumfries and and this reinforced their suitability as target health, physical activity and travel habits. At the end chatting. It is the Galloway decided to invest in the initiative. communities. For instance, the Council had of the intervention period participants are invited already distributed active and sustainable travel to complete a short online survey. Comparing and strong sense of Although Intelligent Health was commissioned to maps in both towns, a Sustrans I Bike Offi cer contrasting the baseline information with the results deliver most of the associated work, the Council was in place and working in the area and Cycling of the follow-up survey allows any changes to travel community spirit that provided helped with initial community Scotland’s ‘Give me Space’ initiative had been behaviour to be identifi ed. engagement and ongoing communications, I have seen embraced delivered, thereby bringing infrastructure and The legacy beyond a more physically active including signposting to the GoSmart brand behaviour change together. www.gosmartdumfries.co.uk community is a more engaged an cohesive since the challenge community and a number of groups have already formed or expanded to take forward local initiatives. started. In numbers 1 www.intelligenthealth.co.uk Everyone is talking about it; it’s nice to see the whole town engaged in something 50% 20% 90% positive and enjoying of surveyed 90% of Many local of participants of surveyed The initial investment in Beat the participants in participants said businesses said that Beat participants Street in Annan and Dalbeattie taking part. both places said the Street reported they they felt was £82,620. Beat the Street was ” the challenge reported signifi cant helped them would try to more involved increase in footfall a cost effective intervention with a Cllr Ronnie Ogilvie, Chairman, helped them get back on maintain the in their and turn over as a Return On Investment on this Annandale & Eskdale Area take the car a bike changes they community result of the game initial sum of £1 = £14.24 after Committee less had made 2 years 32 3333 Annan and Dalbeattie challenged to ‘Beat the Street’ to be more active One year on: The game continues in “ Helped us discover Dalbeattie… Loved doing it with our grandchildren. Kept us very fit and active as we Dumfries and Galloway did the lot every day, enjoyed meeting and joking with The 2015/16 Beat the Street games in Annan and For instance, in Dalbeattie, the established other families and people as we passed each other. Dalbeattie were a resounding success, with very community groups of Healthy Dalbeattie and A brilliant idea! high levels of participation in each location. As a the Dalbeattie Initiative successfully restored, ” result, Dumfries and Galloway Council decided improved and promoted a new active travel route to introduce a new community – Stranraer – to the for the town. In Annan, the SHAP has supported Participant from Dalbeattie game in 2016/17. several successful health and physical activity initiatives. Results of the Stranraer game did not disappoint. Nearly 40% of the town’s population participated, Delivery of legacy activities in Annan and with 35 workplace teams, 22 schools and many Dalbeattie showed it can be time-consuming, individuals signing up to play. but ultimately rewarding to initiate ‘grass-roots’ Stopped watching as much TV (or sleeping activities in community settings. In recognition “ The game generated an array of positive of this, the approach taken to building a legacy in front of it), did not diet but I’ve lost 4lb in outcomes, including an increase in the proportion to the Stranraer game has been designed weight and didn’t cost me a penny! Enjoyed of participants meeting the Department of to facilitate community engagement over a Health’s physical activity target for adults, which sustained period. the social side meeting people of all ages rose from 62% to 82%. For every £1 spent on Beat the Street in Stranraer, it is estimated that - In 2017/18, the Council hopes to apply learning and walking in areas I haven’t since I was a after 2 years - savings of £18.14 will be generated from previous games when Beat the Street is for productivity (£8.46), healthcare (£7.74) and implemented in the regional capital, Dumfries. child… With my sports pedometer and a wee transport (£1.94). Legacy support will also be provided in Annan, Dalbeattie and Stranraer, to help ensure the spreadsheet to log my miles I will continue to Meanwhile, support was provided to Annan and fantastic gains made through their participation in Dalbeattie to help these communities maintain this initiative are maintained. Beat the Streets of Annan! the active travel momentum created by their ” participation in Beat the Street in 2015/16. Participant from Annan Key achievements “ It got my wife and I out walking as we are 73 years old it keeps you moving and motivated. Plus the people 3,905 you meet and speak to all helps to keep it interesting. The Council was awarded players took Delivering Follow-up work in Also we have a different view of Dalbeattie now. the SOLACE Best part in the 2016/17 the game in Dalbeattie has included ” Team Award at the event in Stranraer, Stranraer cost restoration, 2016 COSLA Excellence walking and cycling a improvement and Participant from Dalbeattie £53,000, with a Awards in response to the combined 100,679 further £3,000 being promotion of the 2015/16 Beat the Street miles spent on legacy work “Dalbeattie 34 initiative in Dalbeattie Heritage Trail” 3535 “ General levels of physical activity noted in the community. ” Delivering Clean Car Club in Dundee “ We walk now more as a family. ” “ Have joined the local running club in a bid to step up my activity. Felt Summary
empowered to do this following Beat Local authority: Dundee City Council the Street. ” In partnership with:
Anonymous Dalbeattie participants Dundee’s car club is playing an important and growing role in shaping travel choices made by the city’s residents, students and employees. Launched in 2012 and operated by Co-wheels car club, the scheme provides members with access to a fl eet of 15 low-emission, pay-as-you-drive vehicles that can be booked for as little as half an hour upward. Vehicles are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are parked in dedicated parking spaces which are conveniently located in or near key residential and commercial areas. In early 2015 Dundee City Council was awarded funding through Paths for All’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme to support delivery of a range of initiatives, including promotion of the car club to residents, students, workplaces and “ I now walk approximately 14 to businesses within walking distance of car club vehicles. Co-wheels was tasked with designing and delivering the promotional campaign. 16 miles per week. Through this they delivered two launch events and waived joining fee for new ” members. Co-Wheels also generated conventional and social media activity, a suite of leafl ets, fl yers and posters, advertising as well as direct marketing to businesses. A core aim of this initiative was to increase car club membership by 250 by March “ It gave me an incentive – it 2016. During 2015/16 there were steady increases in membership and by February 2016, the car club was well on the way to achieving this target. Vehicle bookings and was Beat the Street that gave utilisation have also increased during the year, with the two campaign launch events me a target to aim at. appearing to contribute towards spikes in member activity. ” Over the course of 2015/16 Dundee City Council had also hoped to fi t Council pool cars with car club technology that would allow them to be incorporated into the Co- Anonymous Annan participants wheels fl eet for use outwith core business hours. However, this outcome is still very much a work in progress.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
36 3737 Delivering Clean Car Club in Dundee Delivering Clean Car Club in Dundee
Over the last decade, car clubs have achieved Dundee’s car club provides its members with Around half of Dundee’s car club signifi cant growth and research shows the access to a fl eet of modern, effi cient vehicles, vehicles are electric or hybrid cars positive impact they have on reducing car thereby offsetting the need for members to own and vans, with low-emission vehicles ownership levels and car usage, reducing or operate one or more private vehicles and comprising the remainder. This mix of I’m confi dent that Dundee’s business mileage and improving air quality. helping households to manage the amount they low and ultra-low emission vehicles is “ Car club members are also more likely to spend on mobility and travel more effectively. important to Dundee City Council as car club has generated a wide walk, cycle and use public transport than the it helps to familiarise members with average car user in Scotland. Cars are located in dedicated parking bays, electric and hybrid technologies and range of benefi ts, especially booked online, and unlocked with a smartcard. tackle the city’s air quality challenges. They are also likely to reduce the number Once their journey is complete, members given the high proportion of of miles they travel by car and to purchase simply return the car to its bay. Co-wheels Dundee has also been supporting the fewer cars for personal use than the rest of the will then automatically issue a bill covering all uptake of low and ultra-low emission electric and hybrid vehicles in Scottish population. monthly activity. vehicles in other ways. For instance, the the fl eet. council has over 60 electric vehicles in In recognition of these benefi ts, Co-wheels By late 2015 the car club was providing its its own fl eet and a high proportion of launched a car club in Dundee during early 340 members with access to a fl eet of 13 Dundee’s taxi fl eet is also electric. In Along the way we’ve learnt 2012 with 3 vehicles. Initial funding support vehicles, including one suitable for wheelchair support of these vehicles, Dundee has for this trial was provided by charity Carplus, use. Dundee City Council has a clear ambition secured funding to create an extensive many things and realised that which manages Transport Scotland’s to continue working in partnership with Co- charging network, including a high providing the infrastructure to Developing Car Clubs in Scotland programme. wheels to build on these fi gures over time and proportion of rapid chargers. Funding covered procurement of vehicles, recognises active promotion of the scheme is support car clubs and electric provision of off-street parking, operational costs key to ongoing success. In this way, Dundee has been creating and a part-time development worker. Within 12 the infrastructure and services needed vehicles does not necessarily months of its inception the car club grew to a This scheme enables NEC holders to pair to underpin more widespread adoption membership of 75. their card with the Co-wheels’ booking system of ultra-low emission cars and vans lead to rapid changes to and use them to to access car club cars. In and fostering a culture in the city that Co-wheels, a public access car club that is run addition, membership fees for new members embraces the role these vehicles can travel behaviour. as a social enterprise, operates the scheme holding a NEC were waived and these play in meeting the ongoing and future and provides convenient access to vehicles members were offered £20 free driving credit. mobility needs of residents, students It is important to promote for Dundee City Council staff as well as other and employees in a cost-effective and users. convenient way. the car club and there is a need for this to be sustained 1 More information about Carplus and the Developing Car Clubs in Scotland programme in the long term so that the can be found at: www.carplus.org.uk car club can play its part In numbers in delivering our ambition of creating a full range of sustainable travel options 2 404 and an electric vehicle promotional campaigns members had revolution in Dundee. car club launched in membership the car club grew launched in 2015 and access to 15 January 2012 with 3 grew by a further to include 13 low ” costing £20,000 - vehicles by the vehicles and within a 108 during and ultra-low John Berry, Sustainable Transport Team contributed towards end of year, membership 2013-2014 emission vehicles Leader, Dundee City Council 75 a clear spike in February 2016 grew to membership growth and 340 members by the end of 2015 38 3939 Delivering Clean Car Club in Dundee One year on: Clever Campaign Drives “ Co-wheels hopes to build upon the Car Club Membership expanding membership in Dundee and looks forward to engaging with the Council to help develop access to its own low emission Launched in 2012, Co-Wheels car club operations to pinpoint specific residential areas that are in Dundee has grown slowly but steadily. likely to be interested in accessing car club vehicles by other organisations and individual services. Once identified, a range of advertising In the past, Co-wheels has driven membership techniques, including door-to-door, direct mail car club members in the city. growth via a combination of traditional direct and digital methods, were used to reach and ” marketing and digital techniques. These methods communicate with the selected residents. were used again during 2016/17, although their Tony Archer, Co-wheels Regional Manager for Scotland effectiveness was improved by the introduction of The 2016/17 campaign was delivered between a bespoke marketing planning tool, that enables April and August, to capitalise on the typical delivery of a more targeted approach. tendency for car club vehicles to be used more often during the summer months. It was also The 2016/17 campaign aimed to recruit new designed to target students during term-time, members and users from local businesses, and especially, the start of each term, when they including staff, but particularly students from both arrived back on campus. Abertay University and the University of Dundee. These and other organisations – and particularly In the future, Co-wheels expects to focus more those located close to car club vehicles - were of its marketing and advertising budget on digital approached using a combination of direct mail methods, such as advertising on Facebook and and targeted digital advertising. Google, because campaign results demonstrate that more traditional approaches - like The campaign also aimed to entice Dundee conventional advertising and direct mail - have not residents to join and use the car club. The achieved the same level of success. marketing planning tool enabled Co-wheels
Key achievements 15 This campaign vehicles make up The campaign A total of £5,500 helped the fleet, including 9 used a specialist of the original Dundee’s car electric cars and marketing £10,000 club to grow vans, with the remainder planning tool to budget was being a mix of low identify and target the by 33%, to 570 spent delivering emission petrol and hybrid audiences most likely members this campaign 40 petrol / electric cars to join a car club 4141 “ Last year we built on our East Ayrshire previous experience with the campaign to build and strengthen the audience Travel Hub Gets for car sharing in Dundee to make it more sustainable. And People Active this year we will be refi ning our work more, using tools that helps us target more accurately where to locate Summary cars and how to target the best potential audiences Local authority: East Ayrshire Council for car sharing. ” In partnership with: Tony Archer, Location Manager, Co-wheels In early 2015 East Ayrshire Council received funding via the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which helped to establish an Active Travel Hub in Kilmarnock. Modelled on a successful project in Stirling, the Kilmarnock Hub now employs an Active Travel Project Offi cer who – with support from a team of volunteers – has been extremely busy setting the Hub up and delivering a wide range of campaigns to promote active travel to local residents and visitors. For instance, during 2015/16 the Hub team managed the development of a website and set up social media accounts. They also ran a variety of initiatives, including: Engagement with various groups promoting the health benefi ts of walking and cycling; • Personalised and workplace travel planning; • Guided walks, as well as guided rides utilising a fl eet of E bikes, including ladies only activities; • Attendance at various events including Play Day at Kay Park (annual event); • Balanceability training; • Main sponsor of Irvine Valley Walking Festival (annual event); and • Corporate cycle hire for East Ayrshire Council. Although there were a number of unforeseen challenges along the way, the fi rst year of operation for Kilmarnock’s Active Travel Hub delivered some great results that encouraged East Ayrshire Council to secure ongoing funding through the 2016/17 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme. These funds will enable the Hub to enhance the work undertaken during 2015/16 and stakeholders are confi dent its success will continue to grow.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
42 4343 East Ayrshire Travel Hub Gets People Active East Ayrshire Travel Hub Gets People Active
East Ayrshire Council has for many years been The concept of The Hub sits well within the The Active Travel Hub Kilmarnock proactive in promoting sustainable transport Community Village which has been established in project runs in parallel with a similar East Ayrshire is a land of including walking, cycling and public transport. the Station. project being undertaken by South “ For example, the Council has secured funding Ayrshire Council. Both projects are for various extensions to the cycle network from An Active Travel Offi cer was appointed in June being delivered under an Ayrshire rolling hills and is the perfect partners Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) 2015 to progress the Kilmarnock Hub project, Roads Alliance banner and as such, landscape for cyclists to test and Sustrans. including delivery of a programme of initiatives and a signifi cant number of the elements interventions to support the ongoing sustainability 1 within the two projects require their abilities as they explore Having become aware of the Stirling Cycle Hub of the Hub. The Active Travel Offi cer was sourced continued cross authority working. This project in 2015, offi cers from East Ayrshire Council through and is supported by Sustrans and a team of not only helps to create operational the delights and challenges our realised the concept of Active Travel Hubs could volunteers recruited by the Active Travel Offi cer also effi ciencies; it also provides an be used to help increase demand for Ayrshire’s help. opportunity for the two Active Travel countryside has to offer. 2016 active travel infrastructure. Over time, a relationship Kilmarnock Railway Station now provides a Offi cers to support and learn from each is an incredible year for cycling formed with the Stirling Cycle Hub that helped other. council offi cers shape their own ideas. Stirling physical base from which the Active Travel Offi cer and we will be welcoming some subsequently granted permission for East Ayrshire and volunteers develop, deliver and monitor a In early 2016 East Ayrshire Council Council to modify the Hub’s logo and use its website programme of behaviour change interventions to secured further funding through the of the top cyclists in the as a template. support increased uptake of active and sustainable 2016-2017 Smarter Choices, Smarter travel modes. Places programme. These funds will be world to East Ayrshire. The During early 2015/16 East Ayrshire Council Successfully planning and delivering these activities used to retain the Active Travel Offi cer successfully applied for funding through the Paths post and further enhance and develop Tour of Britain, the Marmotte for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme necessitates working in close partnership with various council departments such as Leisure, the Active Travel Hub, Kilmarnock Grandfondo Ecosse, the Flying to establish an Active Travel Hub located in Project. Kilmarnock town centre. Vibrant Communities, Education, and Roads & Transportation, as well as partners such as SPT, In the latter part of 2016 Transport Scotsman Sportive and the East Ayrshire Council initially thought The Hub could Sustrans and Cycling Scotland. It also involves Scotland expects to launch a Challenge Braveheart Cycling race will all be located within an empty shop unit in Kilmarnock. proactive engagement with local community and Fund to facilitate the delivery of active However, this proved to be more diffi cult and time- volunteer groups. and low carbon travel hubs across be competing on our roads. consuming than originally anticipated and the Hub activities target both visitors to and residents Scotland. Without doubt, applicants to Council was fortunate to establish a relationship with the Challenge Fund will benefi t from the the Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage Trust which of Kilmarnock. With a resident population of 45,000 The Active Travel Hub, from and Kilmarnock serving as the central transport experience and knowledge generated led to the location of the Hub within Kilmarnock through the successful delivery of the Railway Station. hub within East Ayrshire, the target population is its perfect location within substantial. Active Travel Hub, Kilmarnock project. Kilmarnock Railway Station,
1 www.stirlingcyclehub.org will harness the excitement In numbers and interest these events will create promoting Active Travel throughout East 1,524 83 80 70 Ayrshire. 2016 is our year of personalised people views were In their fi rst 9 months children A fi rst year Costs included cycling and Active Travel generated by the Hub Twitter travel planning took part in took part in budget of employing an the Hub website account attracted sessions were a balance guided rides £226,000 Active Travel will have a very important Offi cer, establishing over its fi rst three 166 followers and completed by bike try out and a further 20 was set aside a social media months, with Facebook page the Active Travel during the tried an e-bike to deliver the role to play. its presence, buying 25% being Offi cer during the 2015 Kay Park between June East Ayrshire ” generated 235 likes a fl eet of electric Provost Todd, East Ayrshire Council return visitors fi rst 10 months Play Day 2015 – April Active Travel 2016 Hub bikes etc. 44 4545 East Ayrshire Travel Hub Gets People Active One year on: East Ayrshire Hub “ We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Sustrans shifts gear in promoting Active Travel. The Active Travel Hub Is the latest addition to the The Kilmarnock Station During 2016/17, Kilmarnock’s Active Travel Hub events; led rides and walks; Essential Skills Community Village which already boasts a coffee shop, continued to encourage modal shift across all Training; Dr Bike sessions; active travel maps book and gift shop, meeting room facilities and railway ages, from use of private and fleet cars to active and leaflets; and a corporate cycle hire scheme. and sustainable transport. The Hub premises For example, Hub staff are helping the new records archive room. We look forward to supporting are now fully kitted out and opened to the public Ayrshire College campus to deliver its travel plan during core hours Monday to Friday. and there continues to be strong interest from the fantastic work already done in promoting Active Nursery Schools wishing to borrow the Hub’s The Ayrshire Roads Alliance continues to lead the Balanceability kits. Travel within Kilmarnock and East Ayrshire. project, with support from volunteers, Sustrans, ” Paths for All, Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage In September 2016, the incumbent Active Travel Alan Vass, Trustee, Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage Trust Trust, East Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire and Arran Officer resigned, which delayed project delivery. NHS and Ayrshire College. By January 2017 the post was re-filled and Sustrans had funded a second post, thereby Over the past year, the target population doubling staff numbers. was refined. Instead of trying to reach the broad audience of visitors to and residents of The new Hub officers got quickly up to speed Kilmarnock, the Hub aimed to influence the travel and diaries filled up fast with walking and cycling behaviour of short-distance car commuters, activities. Hub footfall continues to increase students and staff from Ayrshire College in and interactive travel mapping has been made Kilmarnock, NHS staff, as well as shoppers who available to assist with travel planning. drive short distances. The majority of the £112,125 funding allocated to The Hub used several approaches to achieve the project is expected to be spent by June 2017. its goals, including promotion of active and Meanwhile, ongoing funding for 2017/18 has sustainable travel through: workplace travel been secured. planning; awareness and media campaigns; Key achievements
Short-listed Social media activity Over 30 East for the Ayrshire included 505 Ayrshire Council Chamber of Facebook ‘likes’ employees are Commerce Health and 307 Twitter registered to use the pool at Work Award ‘followers’ bikes based in The 2016 Johnnie Walker Bond 46 4747 “ Sustrans Scotland is pleased to East Lothian support the aspirations of the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and East Ayrshire Council communities explore to get people making more local journeys on foot or by bike. active travel options Our staff and volunteers based in the Hub have already been encouraging residents, students and employees to consider the alternatives to getting in and around Summary Kilmarnock by car. Local authority: East Lothian Council
We are looking forward to delivering our In partnership with: East Lothian Area Partnerships planned activities and initiatives and hope the Hub can become a valuable resource During 2015/16 East Lothian Council managed delivery of a high quality community engagement process designed to increase local people’s awareness of sustainable for the people of East Ayrshire. travel in their area. It was also designed to help local people exchange knowledge and ” develop Local Action Plans for improving sustainable and active travel provision. John Lauder, National Director for Sustrans Scotland Local Area Partnerships, which have been established in East Lothian since 2014, were highly supportive of this initiative as sustainable and active travel has been highlighted as a key priority by several Partnership groups. The Council commissioned consultants to carry out the engagement with local people and Area Partnerships provided strong support for this process. This included delivery of a series of Mini-Conferences followed by Joint Fact Finding Task groups designed to improve people’s awareness of active travel options in the area, establish local priorities for active travel and identify community led ‘seed’ projects focused on behaviour change. Up to £10,000 in funding was offered to seed projects, which were required to be delivered within the 2015/16 fi nancial year. Branded “East Lothian on the Move”, this project has delivered a set of locally relevant, effective, achievable, community endorsed Action Plans designed to help raise community awareness, encourage behavioural change and increase access to and use of active and sustainable travel options. The results will be integrated into ward level Area Plans as well as the East Lothian wide Local Transport Strategy, Active Travel Improvement Plan and other strategic policies.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
48 4949 East Lothian communities explore active travel options East Lothian communities explore active travel options
As a largely rural county, a signifi cant The need to improve sustainable transport A number of key lessons emerged during the proportion of East Lothian’s population lives in options has been identifi ed as a key local project. For instance, in future years, more time Through this project we the west, towards Edinburgh. priority and the Area Partnerships were keen to should be built into the delivery schedule to help “ respond. ensure public attendance at events is maximised have worked with our local The county has good quality infrastructure and and Area Partnerships have suffi cient time to services that support active and sustainable On this basis, East Lothian Council engaged process the inputs generated by the consultation communities and given them travel choices. Despite this, around half of the specialist consultants to facilitate a mini- process. working population commute across the county conference in each ward area, hosted by the a ‘vehicle’ for implementing boundary for work, with the majority making these local Area Partnerships. These events focused The legacy of this project includes greater journeys by car. For adults, rates of active and on increasing understanding of local active mutual understanding, respect and trust between some of their aspirations sustainable travel also tend to be low for other travel opportunities, exploring options for participating organisations. This will facilitate trip purposes, although the proportion of pupils increasing use of active and sustainable modes future collaboration in support of sustainable and which previously due to travelling actively to school is encouraging. and facilitating local knowledge exchange and active travel in the county. Indeed, 3 of the 6 Area These facts suggest there may be potential to ownership in relation to the the topic. Partnerships have already formed active travel fi nancial pressures or successfully encourage more people to use sub-groups to take forward the long-list of actions requiring a range of Council sustainable travel options more often. Following this local Area Partnership sub identifi ed through the consultation process. groups were formed, involving local residents, In recognition of this potential, East Lothian representatives from key stakeholder groups East Lothian Council has secured ongoing funding teams to come together Council, in collaboration with East Lothian’s and relevant Council offi cers. These groups to enable its “East Lothian on the Move”1 project has proved impossible to 6 Area Partnerships, successfully applied for worked to identify and prioritise actions, through to continue generating community endorsed Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding in an intensive process of fi eldwork, research active and sustainable travel solutions. This highly achieve. Involving a range of early 2015/16 to commission consultants to and deliberation, kick-started by the evidence successful model is one that other local authorities deliver a series of community engagement and gathered at the mini conference. They then could easily adapt and use. community stakeholders action planning processes (‘ mini-conferences’) facilitated the development of a set of local focused on increasing active and sustainable Action Plans that detailed both short term ‘seed has seen the creation of travel choices at a local level within the county. projects’ and longer term aspirations. an innovative approach to The Area Partnerships operate across East Task Groups were allocated £10,000 each tackling a range of barriers Lothian and deliver community planning to deliver ‘seed projects’ during 2015/16 to at a local level. Made up of community infl uence travel behaviour. Funded projects to encouraging our representatives, Area Partnerships seek to include installation of cycle stands, cycle 1 identify local priorities and determine how to shelters, new seating and speed reactive communities to actively deliver better local outcomes. signage. Longer term actions will be incorporated into Area Partnership Area Plans travel. Due to this, East and integrated into other East Lothian Council Lothian Council have policies. In numbers submitted an application to APSE citing this Up to A total of project as an excellent example (Fa’side Area 6 263 £10K £60K Partnership’s example) Mini-Conferences residents and was allocated to each of 6 local was spent The total budget for of public sector and 6 Active Travel 26 interest Task Groups to deliver ‘seed delivering ‘seed the entire project was Action Plans were groups £104,000 excellence. were projects’ targeting behavioural projects’ delivered between engaged through change in response to locally Simon Davie, Area Manager,” June - October 2015 the process identifi ed priorities Fa’side Area Partnership
50 5151 East Lothian communities explore active travel options One year on: East Lothian “ It has been recognised for some time in East Lothian that transport and travel options have been the focus On the Move for many community groups and commentators. This is largely due to the rurality of many of our communities, so the opportunity to embrace the East Lothian on During 2016/17, East Lothian Council continued to who were enabled to deliver these projects, often work closely with its six Area Partnerships to refine in very short timescales. These processes have the Move initiative was very welcome by many of our and implement a range of active and sustainable helped to raise local awareness and build the constituent groups. The timing of the initiative was travel projects. These were identified in the Area capacity of Area Partnerships, allowing them to Partnership Action Plans developed in 2015/16. plan and deliver successful projects. also perfect following the establishment of 6 Area Each Area Partnership was offered up to £10,000 of seed funding to enable high priority measures Area Partnerships have increasingly sought to partnerships in 2014/15. The Partnerships comprise to be actioned. deliver seed-funded projects that have strategic importance in the local context and that add representation from a range of community groups A wide range of measures were implemented, value to other local initiatives where possible. including: audits of all core paths in two Area For instance, delivery of some projects has and organisations who have been examining key Partnership areas, which provided detailed complemented other local initiatives, such as a priorities within their area. One of the early priorities recommendations for improvements; installation town-centre regeneration scheme in Haddington, of 40 cycle-parking spaces at 10 new locations; which included a focus on promoting active and identified by Partnerships was to focus upon active installing 4 benches at strategic points on active sustainable travel. travel routes; path improvements to encourage travel, particularly given the excellent network of walking and cycling; as well as design and East Lothian on the Move continues to generate publication of path promotional leaflets. valuable local engagement and input and deliver infrastructure that exists across East Lothian to important local projects. Amongst other things, Two features of the approach taken stand out. the project will support the development of East support active and sustainable travel options. Arising These are the extensive knowledge-sharing Lothian Council’s Local Transport Strategy and from the On the Move initiative a range of collaborative between the Area Partnerships, as well as the the associated Active Travel Improvement Plan, ongoing communication and engagement with thereby helping to shape East Lothian’s future in a discussions and events took place which began to members of the public and key council officers meaningful way. shape up possible project initiatives but primarily focused upon the need to promote greater awareness of sustainable travel already existing within areas and Key achievements the opportunities of improving active travel. The ability to secure external funding to support early project delivery has assisted greatly in promoting the value 15 and impact of the initiative and presents an excellent seed-funded Area Partnership Sub-Group Area partnership The total members have indicated foundation to build upon further development by Area active travel meetings attracted over budget for their understanding of projects were 100 regular attendees, the 16/17 Partnerships and supported by the Council. delivered over who provided input and how to successfully project was ” the course of support for delivery of engage their local £60,000 Tom Shearer MBE, Head of Communities & Partnerships, East Lothian Council the year actions identified through communities has 52 the process improved 5353 p for Local People “ Our ‘On the Move’ Group is committed to increasing A 20mph Future You maccessay have ntoot iclocaled a nplacesumber o andf pat hservices.projects h aWeppe wantning in to your area over recent months? Much of this work is an exammakeple of t hite easierlocal Are fora P apeoplertnership tos in getactio aroundn. our area using Makes Edinburgh a Area Psustainableartnerships w eandre se activet up in E travelast Loth choices,ian in 201 4atan thed are same desigincreasingned to be a “ ltheocal vsafetyoice” fo randloca lavailabilitypeople to inf lofue nactivece transport how sroutes,ome of t hincludinge Council’s routesbudget i stosp schools.ent in their The Group, working Better Place to be community. We arwithe deli gEasthted t hLothianat there h Councilas been a haslot o alreadyf interest inachieved some improsignifi cant improvements and have commissioned a ving and promoting the local path networks, showdesigning how mconsultationuch local peop leCharrette,value their l osupportedcal by Scottish Summary pathsGovernment,. There are six A rtoea Pexploreartnersh ipothers.s in East Lothian and they have all committed a large ” Local authority: The City of Edinburgh Council propoLesleyrtion Kay,of th Co-Chairperson,eir budgets t oNorthwar dBerwicks acti vCoastale Area Partnership In partnership with: travel.
The City of Edinburgh Council is fulfi lling a long-held ambition to introduce a 20mph speed limit on many of the city’s streets. Although around half of the city’s residential streets have already been ‘calmed’ using ‘hard’ physical measures such as road humps, the new scheme will rely on applying road signs and markings across the city centre, residential areas and Finding sustainable transport solutions is shopping streets. This new approach will be signifi cantly cheaper to implement “ and maintain and it refl ects public consensus that 20 is plenty where people ever more important in reducing emissions, live, work, shop and learn. There is clear evidence that the new approach will be increasing physical activity and active travel effective. Planning and preparation for Edinburgh’s city-wide 20mph scheme dates back with the associated wider health and wellbeing many years. The initiative will be delivered in 4 zones spread over 18 months. Delivery of zone 1 started in June 2016. benefi ts. There has been a broad range of good A detailed communication and engagement strategy will support scheme implementation. A number of core partners are involved in delivering the strategy. work carried out in this area with offi cers and The 2015/16 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme provided communities working closely together, with fi nancial support for delivery of preliminary communications and engagement activities and these activities will intensify during the implementation phase. more work still to be done. It is planned the 20mph scheme will deliver a range of positive outcomes for ” residents and visitors to Edinburgh, including reductions in traffi c speeds, air Eamon John, Sport, Countryside and Leisure Manager, East Lothian Council pollution and road accidents as well as increases in the levels of walking and cycling. A signifi cant amount of monitoring activity will be carried out to assess the impacts of the scheme.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
54 5555 A 20mph Future Makes Edinburgh a Better Place to be A 20mph Future Makes Edinburgh a Better Place to be
The City of Edinburgh Council’s Local Transport This meant city-wide implementation of a 20mph The implementation schedule for this network Introducing 20mph in Strategy supports the introduction of 20mph limit could potentially be delivered to 50 times as will see a city-wide roll out in 4 zones over 18 “ limits in the city centre, main shopping streets many residents for the same cost as schemes months. Phase 1 involves implementation in and residential areas while retaining a strategic relying on ‘bumps and humps’. both the city centre and rural west of the city. residential streets, shopping road network at 30mph. Rollout in the city centre Rollout in the city centre commenced in June areas and the city centre commenced in June and the new speed limit In early 2012 Edinburgh launched a large- 2016 and is scheduled to be launched towards becomes effective on 31 July 2016. scale 20mph pilot in South Edinburgh that took the end of July 2016. will undoubtedly improve advantage of the changes to traffi c calming In September 2010 the Council’s Transport, legislation and tested out an approach that Each phase of implementation will be safety and that a relatively Infrastructure & Environment Committee did not rely on extensive physical measures to accompanied by a targeted awareness-raising recommended that public consultation proceed reduce traffi c speed. campaign designed to familiarise different low number of people in advance of a proposed large-scale pilot of a road users with the new scheme and promote 20mph speed limit in residential streets in South The 2013 evaluation of the pilot scheme showed road safety, active travel, better places and objected during the formal Edinburgh. Published in early 2011, the results the level of residential support for the initiative compliance with the new legal speed limits. consultation demonstrates encouraged the Council to promote a Traffi c increased. Residents also reported feeling safer, Regulation Order to enable the pilot scheme to a result that was backed up by evidence that A partnership approach will help ensure the public’s acceptance proceed. the pilot resulted in lower vehicle speeds that different target audiences are reached and that typically lead to a reduction in road incidents. key messages are appropriately tailored. Core of and, indeed, support Up until 2011 UK legislation required all 20mph As a result, more people felt they could walk partners include NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, schemes to include physical traffi c calming and cycle on the roads. These outcomes helped Lothian Buses, Living Streets, Spokes, for 20mph limits. We are such as road humps. Whilst this approach has shape the Council’s Local Transport Strategy Neighbourhood Partnerships and Transport been proven to work, installation and ongoing 2014-19, and particularly, its approach to setting Scotland. now ready to take a bold maintenance of the associated physical works speed limits in Edinburgh. is costly, making city-wide implementation a Communication channels will include posters, step towards becoming signifi cant fi nancial burden. Criteria for selecting potential 20mph streets leafl ets, events, bus wraps, bus-stop ads, were agreed in outline by the Council’s billboards, radio, social media, case-studies, a 20mph city, a change In 2011 UK traffi c calming legislation was Transport & Environment Committee and then advertising, media promotion as well as that is set to improve relaxed, meaning 20mph zones could be fi ne-tuned by a group of stakeholders including community engagement and launches. created that did not rely on the use of ‘hard’ bus companies and Police Scotland. In June safety and enhance the physical measures but rather, incorporated 2014 a draft network of streets was fi nalised Results of the research conducted by the City other ‘signs only’ means of calming like surface and the public were consulted on the draft. of Edinburgh Council and its partners have environment in streets markings and repeater signs. Feedback was incorporated into a revised shown that the city can expect implementation network plan that was approved at committee in of the 20mph network to generate many all over Edinburgh. January 2015. benefi ts, including reductions in traffi c speeds, air pollution and road accidents as well as Understandably, lowering increases in the levels of walking and cycling. speed limits will involve In numbers a culture change for the whole city, but we’re encouraged by the high level of support In 2015/16 Legislative changes 20mph zones with In a 2012 the Edinburgh In 2015/16 the SCSP A phased, received throughout the ‘hard’ traffi c calming in 2011 enabled councils People’s survey of 5,000 Transport Scotland initiative city-wide were introduced onto c. to cut delivery costs for residents revealed, 75% of brought out new supported rollout of consultation process. respondents supported the 20mph 50% of Edinburgh’s 20mph zones by up to 80% ‘best practice’ a £60,000 ” residential by using ‘signs only’ rather 20mph speed limits in guidance scheme will streets on campaign Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport by 2011 than ‘hard’ measures residential streets 20mph limits be delivered to promote Convener, City of Edinburgh Council which endorse the 20mph over 18 Edinburgh’s plans months 56 scheme 5757 A 20mph Future Makes Edinburgh a Better Place to be One year on: Edinburgh sets “ Edinburgh joins the many cities around the UK and Europe who are the pace realising that their places will be better places if we all take just a little more As the fi rst Scottish city to introduce a network acceptance of the new speed limits. time when driving. The city has been of 20mph speed limits covering the city centre, shopping areas and residential streets, Each phase of the implementation has been progressive in its Southside pilot which Edinburgh is leading the way. accompanied by local awareness-raising campaigns designed to help familiarise clearly established the benefi ts and this The project aims to create streets that are more different road users with the scheme. The was endorsed by the changes made attractive, social and people friendly, encourage campaigns have provided an opportunity to active modes of travel and reduce the number promote road safety, active travel, better places in 2015 by Transport Scotland to allow and severity of accidents. and compliance with the new speed limits. Communication has typically been via radio, all Scottish cities and towns to follow Launched on 31 July 2016, around half the media promotion, outdoor advertising, bus scheme has since been rolled out. One of the key advertising, digital adverts, leafl ets, posters, Edinburgh’s example. I am delighted that groups this project seeks to reach is car drivers. selfi e boards, information packs and community The Council recognises that –to reach a ‘tipping events. Edinburgh will be one of the many of UK’s point’ in compliance with the new speed limit – new social norms around driving speeds must be A partnership approach has helped ensure iconic cities that say 20 is plenty. established. different target audiences are reached and that ” key messages are appropriately tailored. This The new 20mph limits will rely on a shift in driver has been crucial to the project’s success. Rod King MBE, Founder and Campaign Director for 20’s Plenty behaviour (similar to wearing seatbelts) which for Us takes time to embed and become second nature. With the remainder of the project scheduled for completion on 31 January 2018, there is still a This is a core goal of the 20mph Education great deal to be done. Work continues to be and Awareness Programme, which uses social informed by a rolling programme of monitoring marketing techniques to raise awareness and and evaluation. This helps the delivery team learn increase understanding about the scheme, from experience and build on its successes. promote behaviour change and foster “ Edinburgh’s 20mph limit policy sets a positive example for cities across Scotland and the UK. Lower Key achievements speeds on shopping and residential streets means a safer and more pleasant city for everyone with high levels of walking and cycling. Living Streets look forward to working with the Council to promote the Phases 1 and In 2016/17, the Council Initial feedback suggests 2 have already spent £75,000 of Smarter there is a high level scheme and its benefi ts as it is rolled out. launched meaning Choices, Smarter Places of general awareness ” roughly half of the funding to support delivery about the 20mph initiative, Stuart Hay, Head of Living Streets, Scotland scheme has been of its Education and Awareness although ongoing delivered Programme communication is needed 58 5959 “ We encourage all local authorities in Scotland to intro- Falkirk Football duce 20mph zones or limits in residential areas and areas of towns and cities with a high volume of pedestrians and Club ‘Takes the cyclists where appropriate, as can be seen in Edinburgh and in line with the Scottish Government’s 2015 Good Right Route’ Practice Guide on 20mph Speed Restrictions. ” Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf Summary “ Casualty reduction on our roads remains a priority in Edinburgh and we continue to work alongside our Local authority: Falkirk Council relevant partners to promote safe and responsible In partnership with: driving practises, including adhering to speed limits. ” In 2016/17, Falkirk Council delivered a programme of Smarter Choices, Chief Inspector Mark Rennie of Police Scotland Smarter Places interventions in partnership with Falkirk Football Club, which serves as a community hub for a wide variety of activities and audiences. This partnership enabled Falkirk Council to promote the benefi ts of active and sustainable travel to site users through what is a credible and popular local organisation. Branded ‘Take the Right Route’, this initiative included pitch-side and We do recognise that 20mph speed limits are external advertising, which successfully increased brand recognition and “ communicated messages about active and sustainable travel. part of a long-term plan, and that changing drivers’ It also included a series of events that encouraged people to make more sustainable travel choices. For example, the ‘Kelpies to Kick Off’ event attitudes and behaviours will take time. But by involved a led walk, with participation incentivised in a variety of ways, such as provision of free match-day tickets and snack vouchers. This working closely with the Police, fellow agencies highly successful event provided participants with an opportunity to get like NHS Lothian, Sustrans and Living Streets and more active, socialise with others, get to know the local path network and support their local football team. engaging with communities across the city, we Evaluation of the 2016/17 Take the Right Route campaign shows it has been highly successful, thereby helping to provide Falkirk Council with aim to make 20mph the norm, creating a safer, an even stronger rationale for ongoing support of initiatives that positively more attractive city for everyone. ” infl uence local travel choices. Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, City of Edinburgh Council
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
60 6161 Falkirk Football Club ‘Takes the Right Route’ Falkirk Football Club ‘Takes the Right Route’
Falkirk Council has been delivering Smarter The aim of this programme was to encourage Falkirk Council’s ‘Take the Right Route’ Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) interventions employees and visitors to the Falkirk Football advertising is situated at the South Stand since 2008, when it was one of the original pilot Club site to reduce single-occupancy car trips by goal area, making it visible to a much wider Falkirk Football towns delivering the 2008-2011 programme. walking, cycling, using public transport and car audience via television coverage and match day “ Branded ‘Take the Right Route’, this behaviour sharing more often. photographs of home games. Match coverage Club’s partnership change campaign has continued to reach and is provided by a variety of television channels, successfully infl uence the travel behaviour of The programme was launched during an event including SKY, BBC Scotland, BT Sport and BBC with Falkirk Council’s residents, employees and visitors to the area. involving Falkirk Football Club players, press articles Alba. Falkirk Football Club also advertise Take Take the Right Route and social media feeds. Subsequent activities the Right Route messages to fans through social In 2015, Falkirk Council’s Take the Right Route included walks around the stadium with Falkirk’s media and match day PA announcements. team started working in partnership with Falkirk Blind Club, a Match Day Mascot competition and a team has been an Football Club to deliver interventions designed to seniors’ walking group. Several of these activities Falkirk Council and Falkirk Football Club use a overwhelming success highlight the benefi ts of active and sustainable were delivered by a partner organisation, Forth variety of methods to monitor and evaluate the travel to site users. Through their partnership, Environment Link, including a series of led cycle Take the Right Route programme. For instance, for both parties. As a Falkirk Council and Falkirk Football Club meet rides to football matches. market research is carried out in the central regularly to identify opportunities to encourage site- Falkirk area, including Westfi eld, where Falkirk club, we have a strong users to use more active and sustainable forms of A major walking event was also held in October Football Club is situated. Amongst other things, transport. 2016. Called ‘Kelpies to Kick Off’, this initiative the 2016 research results showed a signifi cant community ethos and involved 254 participants walking around the Helix increase in advertising recall of the ‘Take the working with Lynn and Situated in central Falkirk, Falkirk Football Club Park, taking in the iconic Kelpies, and fi nishing Right Route’ brand. attracts up to 8,750 supporters on match days. At at Falkirk Football Club, where participants were Adam, encouraging other times, the site serves as a community facility, rewarded with a goody bag, stunt shows, free match Event-specifi c monitoring involves on-line with a signifi cant number of visitors accessing the day tickets and a snack voucher. Although the event surveys and collation of attendance fi gures. For more active and Westfi eld Café, youth football activities, nursery took 3 months to plan, it was a huge success, so instance, the ‘Kelpies to Kick Off’ walks were a facilities, senior citizen groups, amateur football the investment of time proved worthwhile. It is now huge success, with 254 people taking part. Post- sustainable travel, activities and hospitality events. hoped ‘Kelpies to Kick Off’ will be held annually. event surveys indicated that 99% of respondents would take part in the event again and 98% has allowed us to In 2016/17 Falkirk Council was granted SCSP In addition, the SCSP funding enabled the thought it was ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. funding that enabled it to build its partnership with partnership to deliver one year of pitch-side demonstrate this to the football club by delivering a fresh programme advertising, depicting the well-established ‘Take In 2016/17, the pitch-side advertising campaign of Take the Right Route interventions. the Right Route’ brand and promoting the benefi ts cost a total of £14,500 and the programme the people of Falkirk of active and sustainable travel. Key messages of events cost around £9,000 to deliver. The and beyond. We have included ‘Take the Right Route’, ‘Save Money’, ‘Get demonstrable success of these activities Fit’ and ‘Reduce Stress’. Advertising was booked suggests this has been money well spent. worked jointly on from 1st April to 31st March and was seen by thousands of visitors to Falkirk Stadium. numerous initiatives In numbers which have captured the imagination of the public and we 8,750 are proud to be supporters When television and From January 2016 to January Website The “Kelpies to The “Kelpies saw pitch-side other media coverage is 2017, a social media campaign hits rose Kick Off” walk to Kick Off” partners. considered, pitch-side saw Facebook likes more walk was so ” advertising at by around attracted 254 Kieran Kozsary, Director of promotion reached a successful, it Falkirk Football than double and the number 10% to participants, with Commercial Operations, cumulative audience 3,347,060 will now be Club’s stadium on of Twitter followers more 99% of those surveyed Falkirk Football Club match day of around 125,000 than treble over the indicating they would an annual same period take part again event 62 6363 Falkirk Football Club ‘Takes the Right Route’ Sustainable “ Great idea and really well organised. Great way transport, to make good use of the fabulous Helix on our doorstep and so nice to see families enjoying it St Andrews style together.... just a pity about the score that day! ” Participant - “Kelpies to Kick Off” walk Summary
Local authority: Fife Council
In partnership with:
In 2015/16, Fife Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding that enabled its partners, Transition University St Andrews, to deliver a package of measures designed to encourage university students and staff, as well as local residents to use active and sustainable transport more often. Additional SCSP funding was awarded to the Council in 2016/17, thereby enabling Transition University St Andrews to consolidate and build on the previous year’s work. Delivered by one employee and a consultant, the work programme included bike maintenance sessions, training for cycle trainers and a marketing campaign. The University of St Andrews offered strong support to the project by recruiting and managing the project’s employee. In addition, a grant from the Climate Challenge Fund enabled Transition University St Andrews to offer a complimentary bike refurbishment and loan scheme and a Cycling Scotland funded Campus Cycling Offi cer helped develop a Cycle Strategy for the University of St Andrews. SCSP funding has provided the capacity and resources needed to successfully promote active and sustainable travel in St Andrews. Without doubt, the projects that have been delivered through this initiative have helped build local knowledge, skills and capacity and encouraged more people to enjoy and benefi t from cycling more often.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
64 6565 Sustainable transport, St Andrews style Sustainable transport, St Andrews style
The Scottish Household Survey Local Area and particularly cycling, to students, staff and Transition University St Andrews used multiple channels Analysis for Fife (2015) shows that around 70% residents of St Andrews. Activities included led to promote cycling and sustainable transport to its of respondents indicated their main mode of rides, bike maintenance training, a series of target audience, including several Facebook pages transport was a car or van. Just under 20% said interventions designed to infl uence travel behaviour that featured daily posts relating to sustainable travel Fife Council are their main mode was walking, around 9% said as well as support for the St Andrews car club. and the monthly Cycling in St Andrews newsletter. It “ public transport and around 1% indicated their also engaged people via a local Bike User Group, the keen to encourage main mode was cycling. Nearly 60% of all trips In 2016/17, Fife Council secured new SCSP Space for Cycling community group and a monthly Bike were 5km or less, suggesting there is likely to be funding, thereby enabling Transition University St to Work Breakfast. sustainable travel good potential to increase the proportion of trips Andrews to consolidate and build on the work it undertaken by active and sustainable modes. led during the previous year. For example, bike The SCSP-funded work delivered by Transition projects, particularly maintenance sessions were continued and ‘train- University St Andrews complimented several other In recognition of this potential, over the past 20 the-trainer’ sessions for volunteers were offered local projects. For example, a grant from the Climate if they are led by years, Fife Council has developed, maintained again, to help build local capacity to provide cycle Challenge Fund enabled Transition University St community groups. and continuously improved a network of nearly training. In addition, a new marketing and publicity Andrews to offer a low-cost bike refurbishment and 400 miles of dedicated cycleway, together with campaign was delivered to raise awareness about loan scheme. In addition, Cycling Scotland funded The initiatives extensive 20mph residential zones, as well as local sustainable travel options, and particularly, a Campus Cycling Offi cer, who led the delivery of a almost 2,000 miles of footways and footpaths cycling. range of promotional work and helped develop a Cycle undertaken by across Fife. Strategy for the University of St Andrews. The SCSP-funded work programme was delivered Transition St Infrastructure and policies such as these have by one employee and a consultant. The University SCSP funding has been central to the development enabled people to walk and cycle more often and of St Andrews offered strong support by employing of sustainable travel initiatives in St Andrews as it Andrews benefi t with greater safety in Fife and have underpinned the member of staff, as well as providing them has provided the capacity and resources needed to both the a range of initiatives designed to infl uence with necessary desk (and other) space and line- undertake key engagement projects that would not travel behaviour. For instance, the Council has management support. otherwise be funded. Transition University St Andrews residents successfully promoted active travel as a way to has made effi cient use of these funds and gained tackle traffi c congestion and pollution, as well as Volunteer training was initiated in October 2016 excellent engagement with the local community. and University to generate economic benefi ts from cycle tourism and delivery of Bikeability training in a local students, and recreation. school followed shortly afterwards. Planning of Whilst some elements of the programme started a promotional campaign commenced in early slowly, it has ultimately been successful. Not only has providing training In 2015/16, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places 2017, with the formal launch of the Go St Andrews it contributed towards the University being recognised (SCSP) funding provided an opportunity for Fife campaign taking place in March 2017. The as a Cycle Friendly Campus with distinction, it has also and maintenance Council and its partners Transition University St campaign featured bespoke branding, a website helped to build knowledge, skills and capacity in the Andrews to promote active and sustainable travel, and a range of marketing materials. In addition, local community that will enable more people to enjoy of bicycles, as Tripshare St Andrews, an on-line platform that and benefi t from cycling more often. well as an active facilitates peer-to-peer journey sharing, was launched in March 2017. travel map for St In numbers Andrews and are fully supported 27 81 by Fife Council. ” Jane Findlay, Lead people were 81 bike Professional, Asset The Maintenance A further 40 Rental project trained maintenance was carried bikes were income of Management and workshops Sustainable Transport, budget through fi ve out on a refurbished, £2,970 was was 1-day Bike were undertaken Fife Council total of 604 bringing the generated £26,777 Mechanic at 7 venues bikes through the bike sessions across St fl eet up to 99 bikes loan scheme Andrews
66 6767 Sustainable transport, St Andrews style Glasgow communities “ The University of St Andrews recognises the importance of embedding get cycling sustainable travel within our activities and developments. We welcome the opportunity provided by Fife Council to Summary work with them on the SCSP Local authority: Glasgow City Council programme to promote and In partnership with: facilitate active and shared travel within the University
and wider community of St In 2016/17, Glasgow City Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding to deliver a unique, collaborative behaviour change intervention designed Andrews. to promote cycling, social inclusion and diversity. The project targeted individuals ” with health problems, disabled and able-bodied persons, young children and David Stutchfi eld, Sustainability Manager, families, black and minority ethnic communities and the long-term unemployed. University of St Andrews The project was delivered by the ‘Glasgow Community Cycling Network’ (GCCN), a partnership comprising fi ve local charities. Glasgow City Council initiated and supported the formation of the GCCN with members of the partnership ultimately responsible for developing and implementing the associated work programme. Each GCCN partner offered specialist experience of promoting cycling to different aspects of the Glasgow population, including the target populations for this intervention. They also offered an extensive network of relevant contacts and a variety of ways to engage them. The collaborative approach used by the partners helped to improve how different activities were delivered, including group rides and cycle maintenance training. Working in this way created synergies and effi ciencies and helped the partners learn from each other. At the time of writing, the fi nal project evaluation was incomplete. However, initial indications suggest the GCCN fulfi lled its goals and the Council now intends to support the project again during 2017/18.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
68 6969 Glasgow communities get cycling Glasgow communities get cycling
In 2016/17, Glasgow City Council was awarded The partners involved in the GCCN were: Working together through the GCCN enabled Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding. This helped the participating charities to share expertise and facilitate the creation of the fi rst charity partner group - Glasgow Bike Station is a social enterprise that experience. This involved collaborative delivery of a focusing on the delivery of a varied campaign that recycles abandoned and donated bikes, offers variety of activities, resources and events, including led rides and cycle training and provides Dr Bike One year on and tackled some of these challenges by encouraging key information materials, group rides, cycle training and “ audiences to cycle more often for utility, health and services. cycle maintenance training. Working in this way created I have over 1,000 commuting. - SoulRiders Scotland is a cycle-focused charity synergies and effi ciencies and helped the partners to learn from each other. miles of cycling The funded project provided the ability to expand and that engages with the BME community, including augment the delivery of many of the individual groups’ asylum seekers and disadvantaged people from SCSP funding was largely used to cover the staffi ng under my belt. One core activities and focus on target populations of those communities. costs incurred by the participating charities, including individuals with health problems, disabled and able- - South West Community Cycles is a cycle charity time associated with project management and ‘hands- evening changed bodied persons, young children and families, black that offers South side residents the opportunity to on’ delivery. Funding was also used for a variety of other my life massively. and minority ethnic (BME) communities and people in access led rides, Dr Bike services, cycle hire as purposes, including publicity, equipment hire, purchase long-term unemployment. well as cycle skills and bike repair training. of consumables, catering for hospitality events, as well That kind lady has as printing and design. The project was delivered by the ‘Glasgow Community - Play on Pedals is an offshoot of Cycling UK that become a good Cycling Network’ (GCCN), a consortium comprised of offers drop in balance bike sessions for preschool Evaluation of the GCCN’s work has been documented fi ve local charities. The broad purpose of the GCCN children, thereby encouraging early cycling skills in a report produced by Peter Brett Associates. This friend along with was to design, deliver and evaluate the impacts of development. includes reference to case studies, survey results, as projects to promote and encourage cycling, social well as simple counts, such as the number of people so many others inclusion and diversity. Glasgow City Council initiated - FreeWheel North has a fl eet of cycles to give participating in different activities. In addition, the the formation of the Network and supported the work disabled children and adults an experience of Council expects to use its annual cordon count to I’ve got to know of the GCCN. and confi dence in cycling. monitor any wider changes to levels of cycling across the city. along the way. Each GCCN partner offered specialist experience of Following its inception, the GCCN developed a promoting cycling to different populations in Glasgow, work-plan that aimed to: encourage more people Preliminary feedback suggests Glasgow Community Was so tired including BME communities, the unemployed, to cycle more often in all demographic groups; Cycling Network has succeeded in bringing together after those fi rst families, individuals with health problems and those remove barriers to cycling as a mode of travel; diverse communities, promoting greater social cohesion with accessibility requirements. They also offered a improve physical and mental health of participants; and encouraging an increased demand for cycling 6 miles, but now network of contacts and a variety of tried and tested and raise awareness of the benefi ts and access within the target populations for this intervention. If this is ways to engage them, including one to one, and via to opportunities in cycling. Subsequent meetings the case, the GCCN may well have the capacity to help I’m in training for local press and social media activity. enabled partner organisations to track progress reshape Glasgow communities to the benefi t of all. against the plan, respond to new challenges 100 miles. No one and opportunities and share new insights and experience. is too old or too In numbers unfi t to take up something over over 2,032 over 791 new! ” Lynsey Fojut, Participant, 8,205 16,4K children and 3,174 people engaged Free Wheel North 1,816 adult family by South West Cycling’s Women Only people engaged by People engaged by people engaged by members engaged by Community Bike Ride Free Wheel North Bike Station only SoulRiders Scotland over hrough 251 events, events, including 110 Play on Pedals via during more than 60 events. In Cycles through 231 of which were led group ride participants 115 drop-in events and addition, 12,000 people attended 188 cycling events rides and 88 trained through provided cycle instructor the Glasgow Sky Ride event in 1:1 tuition training for 67 adults September 2016 70 7171 Glasgow communities get cycling Highland Cycling “ In August 2015, I started Project has to attend Free Wheel North at Glasgow Green with the Velocity school I work in. I hadn’t been on a bike for over 20 years. The staff there were amazing Summary helping me overcome my fear
by building my confi dence and Local authority: The Highland Council
believing in me. I started on In partnership with: the 3-wheel trike and ended up on 2 wheels. I then bought a Velocity is a values-driven, Inverness-based social enterprise that aims to inspire more folk to cycle and lead a healthy, happy lifestyle. bike and started cycling when I Velocity’s Cycle To Health project aims to increase women’s mental and was away in my motorhome. physical well-being through supportive, regular group bicycle rides, leading to increased use of bikes for pleasure and transport and a more positive outlook on life. It targets women who are experiencing low self-esteem, feelings I don’t feel I would have had of isolation or anxiety, a lack of confi dence or low levels of motivation. Participants either refer themselves to the project, are referred by the confi dence to do this family and friends, or are identifi ed through referrals from doctors, without the help of Free mental health practitioners or community mental health teams. The project is open to participants with a wide range of abilities; from Wheel North. I really enjoy women who have never learned to ride to competent mountain bikers and tourers. It teaches people to feel confi dent on their bike - from being cycling now and use my bike able to control their speed, direction and balance in a car free space to negotiating busy roundabouts. Velocity’s aim is for participants to feel they often if doing short journeys. are able to safely join a group ride either on or off the road and understand It’s saving me money for the physical, mental, social and environmental benefi ts of cycling. Through cycling, participants experience the physical and emotional petrol and also helping the benefi ts of exercise and the benefi ts of being part of a supportive social group. Results of the Cycle to Health project have been really positive and environment by taking 4 cars demonstrate this can be a virtuous cycle that leads to increased cycling, off the road. ” greater feelings of self-worth and more confi dence both on and off the bike. Lisa Barnwell, Participant, Free Wheel North training This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
72 7373 Highland Cycling Project has Velocity Highland Cycling Project has Velocity
From humble beginnings in 2012 Velocity now offers The project is advertised in supermarkets, community Project results have been extremely a café, bicycle workshop and a variety of outreach centres, resource centres and in Inverness’s “What’s positive. For example, they show that, activities, including delivery of a Bike Academy On” magazine. as a result of involvement in the project, “ The project has been a huge programme to pupils who are struggling with women generally feel more positive both mainstream education and a women’s Cycle to Health Recruiting staff experienced in group facilitation who on and off their bike. The project also success in terms of how the group. have prior experience in working effectively and resulted in a clear increase over time in positively with people who are experiencing poor how often participants ride, their levels participants feel about cycling. In broad terms, the women’s Cycle to Health initiative mental health was an important factor in setting the of confi dence and the number of routes Before involvement the majority offers participants supportive, regular group bike tone for the project. Velocity felt strongly that people they would be prepared to ride. rides and welcomes riders of all abilities. It aims to can learn how to safely lead a group ride over the use cycling and cycle-related skills development to course of a day or two but that the skills to lead a Before engagement 34% of women of women rode their bikes very promote women’s mental and physical well-being. group effectively and positively need years of practice “never” rode their bike, and 34% “hardly infrequently or never at all. They to develop. An enthusiasm and appreciation for rode at all”. This combined “never” The target population is women who are experiencing cycling was needed but not a CV of cycling related or “hardly” score had dropped from had no positive associations anxiety or low self-esteem, low self-belief, have issues accomplishments. 68% pre-engagement to 15% after around motivation or who are feeling socially isolated. engagement. At the point of joining the with cycling- in fact the idea of People do not need an “offi cial” diagnosis. Velocity For participants, the Cycle to Health scheme starts project nobody at all said they rode works with people who feel able to take part in group with a 1:1 meeting with members of the Velocity team, their bikes either “a lot” or “a huge riding on the road was a terrifying activities and are comfortable that the initiative does who introduce the project, answer questions, respond amount”. This rose to 50% of people after not provide a 1:1 service. to any concerns and discuss whether the project is engagement saying they now ride their prospect for many of them. We right for individuals. The Cycle to Health initiative was piloted in an early bikes a lot or a huge amount. changed the way that people format in partnership with Fairfi eld Medical Practice The next step involves four weekly rides in small The 27% of participants who were in Inverness, who were interested in working with supportive groups with women of similar abilities, “terrifi ed” to ride on the road dropped felt about their bikes by making Velocity to explore the benefi ts of Social Prescribing. exploring safe routes in and around Inverness. Each to just 3% and the 15% of women who Velocity then built good links with other services who group consists of four female participants and two said they are “very confi dent” or “fairly the sessions an enjoyable social could refer women onto the project and would be female staff members. Whilst there is a focus on group confi dent” on the road has risen to 51%. supportive of the work Velocity does. process during these rides, individual needs are also experience and by slowly building valued. Group sessions are held on a Monday or Seven women have been bought a bike Women can now be referred through doctors, mental Tuesday morning, depending on the biking ability of since being involved in the project and up skills and cycling confi dence. health practitioners and community mental health those involved. seven women have learned to ride having The project successfully turns teams. They can also self-refer and be referred by never had the opportunity before. friends and family. There is a fairly even split between Following the initial rides, the initiative offers the self-referrals and practitioner referrals. opportunity for participating women to stay part of the Based on this success, Velocity hopes around people’s perception of group with regular Wednesday evening and Saturday to secure additional funding to enable cycling. Through the Cycle to morning rides. There is also a women’s only workshop the project to continue and possibly session on the fi rst Wednesday evening of every even expand to include a men’s Cycle to Health project cycling becomes month. Health project. In numbers something to be proud of and something that is fun, sociable, and enjoyable. They become 79 105 3 15 part of the community of ride sessions staff are people have been Funding was There were 5 women The Cycle Velocity cyclists and want to were engaged 1:1 over granted in late weeks of initial contacted employed to Health delivered several sessions and March 2015. Jobs set up before the the project, by the project; project cost stay there. between have chosen not to were advertised project started and of these, one works 3 £39,914 ” August and days / week take part in the ongoing Ferga Perry, Workshop Coordinator, in April, interviews with 1:1 inductions 68 (87%) to deliver April, including and 2 work groups. Seven of these Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop conducted in May and ride went on to during 11 small group 1 ½ days a have been women and staff appointed assessments be actively 2015/16 sessions week each learning to ride from in June involved scratch 74 7575 Highland Cycling Project has Velocity One year on: Highland Cycle Project “ Finding the project saved my life, I don’t Gains Momentum recognise the person I was when I started, now nothing can stop me. It’s given me lifelong tools, Velocity’s highly successful Cycle to Health Similarly, it appears that men are typically less self-worth, health benefits and given me the gift scheme expanded in 2016/17, with a new men’s willing than women to take time off work because initiative complementing the ongoing women’s of mental ill health. As a result, men are less of a good and happy future through learning a programme and the launch of a new ‘Learn to likely to attend Cycle to Health activities that are growth mind-set that will stay with me long Ride’ initiative. scheduled during the working day. The target audience is women and men These and other factors have shaped how the after the project. Not to mention making lots of who are socially isolated, low in confidence scheme is delivered and have impacted on and motivation and have mild mental health the rate of participation in the men’s scheme. real, true and very supportive friends! I just wish conditions. The scheme offers participants group- Velocity is currently exploring if there are more this project was available to a much wider area based and personalised support to help them effective ways to engage male participants in the gain the confidence and skills needed to cycle programme. For instance, the men’s programme as there are far too many of us who desperately more often. Importantly, evidence suggests may re-focus on offering physical, as well as participation also helps those involved to feel mental health outcomes. need this project! Thank you from the bottom more positive about themselves. Monitoring and evaluation confirm the ongoing of my heart. The scheme has been adapted to respond to success of the Cycle to Health project, but ” some clear attitudinal differences between the perhaps the most telling fact is that this initiative genders. For instance, participating men typically has started to attract interest from other DM, Participant, Cycle to Health Project report they already feel confident cycling in traffic organisations wishing to duplicate its success and tend to rank themselves as feeling more elsewhere. positive about their emotional state and mental wellbeing than participating women.
“ I’ve had depression and really struggle to get out of bed. With this project I’ve been going to bed on Key achievements Sunday really looking forward to Monday mornings and getting out of bed to come here. I didn’t think I’d ever feel like that again. 43 3 ” July 2016 to March 2017, The Men’s one-to-one organisations meetings in have visited CP, Participant, Cycle to Health Project the Women’s Cycle Cycle to Health to Health project initiative started were delivered the Velocity worked with 61 in September via the women’s project, to learn scheme and how they can start women, 13 of whom 2016 and by March 25 through the were involved in the 2017, 38 men had similar projects in men’s scheme been engaged new cities 76 previous year’s programme 7777 “ I have really affi rming feelings of self- Changing Mode worth when on my bike. It’s been such a positive experience for me. My highlight was being able to get out on the main in Midlothian road and cycle in busy traffi c. I now feel accomplished in road skills having not cycled for years. ” BE Summary
Local authority: Midlothian Council
In 2016/17, Midlothian Council used Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding to deliver its Modal Change Advertising Campaign to residents. The campaign cost a total of £22,000 to deliver. Informed by a range of market research, the intervention targeted local car drivers, and particularly, those accessing local railway stations. The campaign also targeted drivers using some or all the routes taken by the 29, 37 and 40 bus services, which cover a large part of Midlothian. I’m disappointed that the The campaign encouraged rail passengers to access local rail “ stations using active modes of transport, rather than driving. It involved placing large posters in selected stations, to promote the 4 weeks are over so fast! But benefi ts of walking and cycling and using bus-back adverts to promote similar messages to car drivers travelling along certain I want to get out and ride bus routes. my bike now. I feel that I’ve The advertising was accompanied by a series of events, which were designed to encourage greater uptake of active modes. For achieved my goal - I feel more instance, the Gorebridge Community Development Trust ran an confi dent and I’ve managed event in Gorebridge that encouraged more locals to cycle. Such was the success of the 2016/17 campaign that the Council to go further on my bike than plans to use bus advertising in 2017/18 to promote Midlothian’s I thought was possible! Walking and Cycling Festival and it also intends using station ” advertising again to promote active travel. DA
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
78 7979 Changing Mode in Midlothian Changing Mode in Midlothian
Midlothian Council is acutely aware of the wide- which contains information about why people make the travel patterns of people using Eskbank, Newtongrange ranging benefi ts active and sustainable travel can travel decisions and what might infl uence them. and Gorebridge rail stations. The surveys were carried out by deliver to residents, including improved air quality, The resulting Modal Change Advertising campaign Gorebridge Community Development Trust in association with the fewer carbon emissions, health improvements as was delivered in three stages. Council. I think well as less traffi c congestion. “ Commencing in August 2016, the fi rst stage Due to a lack of available advertising space, the third stage did In early 2016, the Council secured Smarter involved placing bespoke posters at Eskbank not start until April 2017. Running for a 4-week period, it involved encouraging Choices, Smarter Places grant funding to deliver Station, to encourage people to get to the station delivering an advertising campaign at Eskbank, Newtongrange people to use a multifaceted campaign that used advertising, on foot or by bike. The campaign ran throughout and Gorebridge stations. Tailored campaign messages were including bus-back and station media, to September and October and was accompanied by delivered via banners, including messages to encourage rail the car less is encourage car users to switch to active and an awareness raising event at the end of October, users to get to the station on foot or by bike. sustainable forms of travel. which promoted cycling. a great idea Midlothian Council’s modal change advertising intervention was The target population included car drivers in The Gorebridge Community Development Trust delivered during some of the warmer months of summer, autumn as the roads Midlothian, and particularly, those accessing local helped to deliver stage one of the project. During and spring, as people are more likely to be willing to use active railway stations. The campaign also targeted October, it funded and delivered a promotional modes at these times. However, the delivery schedule was also are always people driving along the 29, 37 and 40 bus event in Gorebridge, as part of the Trust’s Climate infl uenced by the availability of advertising spaces on buses and congested in routes, which cover a large part of Midlothian. Challenge funded project, ‘Greening Gorebridge’. in stations. Pragmatically, the latter target was identifi ed The event focused on lowering transport emissions the morning because space was available for bus-back and encouraging more cycling. The intervention cost £22,000 to deliver, with spending divided advertising on these routes. reasonably evenly between advertising, staff costs and events. and the car The second stage of the intervention commenced Whilst the Council managed delivery of this project ‘in-house’, The Borders Railway was reopened in 2015, after in March 2017, with active travel advertising on the Gorebridge Community Development Trust provided strong park is always 40 years of closure. Since then, many new houses 30 bus services across Midlothian. The adverts support and the services of an advertising agency were procured. have been and continue to be built along the route. included a link to the Council’s dedicated active full. You can It is generally thought that when people move home travel web-page. A variety of monitoring was carried out, to help assess the impact is a great time to infl uence their travel behaviour, as of the campaign. This included before and after counts at station easily fi nd they are more likely to be considering the options In addition, three different events, entitled ‘March car parks and counts of website ‘hits’. In addition, qualitative data space to available to them at that time, thereby making the on your bike Midlothian’, were run in Dalkeith, was gathered through travel surveys, which were carried out at timing of this intervention ideal. Bonnyrigg and Penicuik, to support the bus-back the stations and at events. advertising campaign. These events offered park your The design of campaign messages was informed free Dr. Bike services, a pump track, bicycle Pleasingly, results suggest the 2016/17 modal change advertising bike when by the ‘Borders Railway Travel Pattern Survey storytelling, free local active travel maps and other campaign successfully encouraged more people to walk or Report’, ‘freebies’, such as pedometers and bike lights. cycle to the rail station, rather than drive. Based on this success, cycling to the Midlothian Council intends using bus advertising in 2017/18 The design of the third stage was informed by to promote Midlothian’s Walking and Cycling Festival and to station, so station surveys, which gathered data about continue using station advertising to promote sustainable travel. In numbers you have one less thing to worry about 250 20-45% on your daily A station The campaign led Eskbank Station people increase in Bus-back commute. saw a 4% ” advertising to a decrease attended website visits advertising took Cycle commuter campaign ran for a in cars parked increase in events that and downloads place over a 4-week at Newtongrange 4-week period in 2016, at Eskbank cycling and an promoted of active travel maps period on 30 buses Station resulted from on different routes with new campaigns Station, from 181 11% increase cycling alongside run in 2017 at different to 177 these campaigns in Midlothian in walking in bus and station stations per day 80 2016/17 advertising 8181 Changing Mode in Midlothian Moray pupils “ Getting your bike fi xed for free track their travel is defi nitely an incentive which encourages people to start Summary using it more. ” Local authority: Moray Council Cyclist using Dr. Bike services “ The station In partnership with: and bus back Moray Council has been working with charity Living Streets since 2015, to deliver a walk to school challenge called advertising Walk Once a Week (WOW) in local primary schools. WOW encourages pupils to walk to school at least once a week, by promoting walking offering information and rewards to participants. Daily journeys and cycling have are recorded in an on-line data-base called Travel Tracker. By the end of the 2015/16 fi nancial year, 18 primary schools proved their were actively participating in WOW, representing 40% of all primary schools in Moray. Encouraged by this success, in effectiveness in 2016/17 the Council applied for new Smarter Choices, Smarter recent survey Places funding to enable the WOW project to be continued. One of the Council’s core aims for the 2016/17 project was results, showing to increase the number of participating schools, and despite some early challenges, this was achieved. By the end of a signifi cant March 2017, a total of 23 schools were actively involved. increase in walking Based on this success the Council plans to keep delivering WOW to primary schools during 2017/18. It also hopes to and cycling and develop and pilot a similar scheme for high school pupils. reduction of driving It is testament to the impact of the project that schools experiencing traffi c problems must implement a travel in particular to and behaviour change intervention like WOW, before the Council from our railway will consider making changes to local transport infrastructure. stations. ” Lindsay Haddow, Policy This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Planning Manager, Midlothian Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland. Council
82 8383 Moray pupils track their travel Moray pupils track their travel
Living Streets is a UK charity that advocates A Living Streets Associate was appointed to deliver For example, several of the participating schools took everyday walking. One of the charity’s portfolio of the programme, which reduced the time input part in regional and national competitions and two The children enjoy projects is Walk Once a Week (WOW), a year-round required by Moray Council offi cers and is a model were involved in the Nadfl y art programme, which “ walk to school challenge, which rewards pupils who that will be continued. promoted active travel. using the TT – they walk to school at least once a week with a monthly badge, thereby encouraging them to develop The 18 schools that were participating in the The Nadfl y programme used art as a medium to prompt me in the healthy habits. Daily journeys are logged by pupils programme at the end of 2015/16 remained promote active travel to pupils. Participation in this morning if it has not using an on-line Travel Tracker data-base, or on engaged in the programme until the start of the SCSP funded scheme led one school to become paper wallcharts. summer holidays, in July 2016. During the holidays, an enthusiastic participant in the WOW programme, Living Streets introduced a new version of the despite its previous reluctance to do so. Without doubt, already been loaded In early 2015, funding from the Smarter Choices, on-line Travel Tracker system, which required all the combined impact of these two programmes was onto the smartboard. Smarter Places (SCSP) programme enabled the schools to re-register their details. Some schools greater than the sum of the parts. Council to offer WOW to local primary schools. The were slow to do so, leading to an initial reduction in They can easily concept for the programme was developed during the number that continued to record journeys when It proved to be crucial to have a fl exible approach to the early part of 2015, with schools being invited to the new school year started. However, over time, delivering the WOW programme. This helped ensure remember the symbol enrol in advance of the summer holidays, so that the most of the schools that were previously registered it was responsive to other school commitments. For programme could commence at the start of the new in the programme re-registered and became instance, the delivery schedule was planned to avoid they have been school year. actively involved again. overloading schools at busy times of the year, such as the run up to Christmas. allocated. It is bright Delivery initially focussed on supporting the schools During 2016/17, Moray Council and Living Streets and interesting. The that had signed up. Over time, more schools also worked hard to sign new schools up to WOW. Monitoring and evaluation of the WOW project has decided to get involved too. By the end of the By the end of March 2017, a total of 23 schools been particularly easy due the daily collection of data children have been 2015/16 fi nancial year, 18 primary schools were were actively participating. Interestingly, the Council through the supplied Travel Tracker software. The actively involved in the walking challenge. successfully promoted WOW to some schools when results have been made available to participating encouraged to talk it received complaints about school traffi c. In fact, it schools, the Council’s Sustainable Travel Offi cer, as In 2016/17, Moray Council was once again has become Council policy not to respond to these well as the Living Streets Associate. about the impact successful in securing SCSP funding, which complaints by making infrastructure changes until enabled it to consolidate and expand its WOW Without doubt, WOW has been a very successful that making active a school has participated in a behaviour change programme in Moray, and the Council will continue programme. The core objective during this period programme, such as WOW. was to increase the number of participating schools to deliver it to primary schools during 2017/18. It also trips to school has and children travelling to school actively. A variety of promotional events and activities were hopes to develop and implement a similar scheme for had on their mood also offered in many schools over this period. high school pupils. and their readiness to learn. The children In numbers say that they feel ‘better’ and more ready to learn when 51% 85% they have had of Moray The £34,000 of pupils at During Living Streets’ Moray’s Travel Moray plans to an active trip to project successfully primary schools using 2016 Walk of Fame, Tracker programme develop a pilot engaged schools Travel Tracker Moray had between featured at a national project for school. 32 schools, recorded use active 4 and 7 schools active travel high school ” representing results daily modes to get to in the top 10 every conference in 2016 pupils during Lynne Jamieson – New Elgin school Primary School – P4 Class 6,060 pupils day and took number 2017/18 1 spot 9 times
84 8585 Moray pupils track their travel North Ayrshire “ Now that the “ More children Workplaces better weather is are actively coming in we are walking to school, Travel Smart seeing more children or choosing to walking to school. ” park and stride. ” Jennifer MacLeod – Findochty Carolyn Mowatt – Portknockie Primary School Primary School Summary
Local authority: North Ayrshire Council
In partnership with:
In 2015/16, North Ayrshire Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding to deliver a Travel Smart Workplaces project. The aim of this initiative was to encourage more commuters to walk and cycle to work. Workplaces in three geographic areas were targeted, due to their proximity to recently completed improvements to active travel infrastructure. This work extended and improved the quality of local routes, thereby creating new opportunities for employees to walk and cycle to work. A Workplace Engagement Offi cer was appointed in 2016/17, to engage with local businesses and their employees. A team of trained volunteers helped the Engagement Offi cer deliver the project and a selection of contractors supported the delivery of certain elements of the project. Children and “ Six workplaces agreed to participate in the project. A variety of activities were successfully delivered in them, including bike maintenance training, staff fi nd using the cycle training, walking challenges, workplace and personal travel planning, system very easy - bike breakfasts, as well as active travel information stalls. The project resulted in fi ve businesses obtaining a Cycle Friendly Employer children have taken award, thereby benefi ting both staff and clients. It also secured a North Ayrshire Achieves Award in the category of “Enhancing Our Environment”. ownership and are Based on this success, the project will be continued during 2017/18. implementing in three classes. ” This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Emma J Milne, Depute Head Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland. Teacher, Cluny Primary School
86 8787 North Ayrshire Workplaces Travel Smart North Ayrshire Workplaces Travel Smart
For many years, North Ayrshire Council has These areas were selected because historically, A network of volunteers provided crucial support to the been working to address a range of transport employees working in these locations were Workplace Engagement Offi cer. Volunteers were offered challenges that historically, have made it more likely to fi nd it challenging to use active modes training - including outdoor fi rst aid, bike maintenance Since Jess took on diffi cult for some employees to walk, cycle or of transport to access work. However, recent and rider leader courses - to help them be more effective “ use public transport to get to work. For instance, investment in active travel infrastructure in these in their roles. Alongside this, a variety of contractors were the role of Workplace in some areas, highly traffi cked roads, a lack areas had extended and improved the quality of engaged to support the delivery of certain elements of of suitable walking and cycling routes and local routes, thereby making it easier and more the project, such as workplace events. Engagement Offi cer, poor quality public transport links have led to effi cient for employees to walk and cycle to work. a high proportion of commuter journeys being Although it was originally envisaged that a lift-share embedded in North undertaken by car. This has contributed towards These infrastructure changes provided a fresh scheme would be promoted to target organisations a myriad of problems, including transport delays, opportunity to engage with employees in the during 2016/17, this was delayed until 2017/18 to Ayrshire, there has pollution, carbon emissions and recruitment and target areas and tell them about their new account for procurement challenges and to enable more been a signifi cant retention problems in some workplaces. and improved travel options. It also offered an meaningful engagement with a wider group of local opportunity to encourage them to use active and businesses. increase in In 2015/16, the Council was awarded Smarter sustainable modes to get to work. Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding that Monitoring and evaluation of the Travel Smart Workplaces employers engaged enabled it to deliver a Travel Smart Workplaces A Workplace Engagement Offi cer was appointed project involved carrying out pre- and post-intervention project. The aim of the project was to encourage in partnership with Sustrans, to engage with surveys. For instance, employee surveys were used with the Cycle more commuters to walk and cycle to work and local businesses and ensure their employees to measure changes to travel behaviour and business help local employers become more supportive had an opportunity to get involved in the project. surveys were used to assess whether employers felt the Friendly Employer of active travel choices. In 2016/17, new SCSP Appointment of the Workplace Engagement interventions had been successful. Offi cer helped the project reach a larger number (CFE) Award. Prior to funding was awarded, which enabled this project At the time of writing the fi nal evaluation report for the to continue and develop further. of businesses and support a wider range of behaviour change activities in 2016/17 than it had project had not been completed. However, interim results Jess’s involvement, In 2016/17, the target audience was employees during the previous year. suggest it has fulfi lled its aim. For instance, during the there had been from workplaces in three geographic areas. The course of 2016/17, the Workplace Engagement Offi cer fi rst area was in Irvine and included businesses Engagement with local employers was facilitated was able to help fi ve businesses to obtain Cycle Friendly no CFE awarded in the i3 Enterprise Area and Irvine Town Centre, by the Council’s Business Development team, Employer status, thereby benefi ting both staff and as well as the Ayrshire Central Hospital. The which plays a central role in helping local clients. In addition, the project secured a North Ayrshire organisations in second area focussed on Fairlie, and particularly, businesses develop and grow. Once workplaces Achieves Award in the category of “Enhancing Our businesses in the Hunterston Peninsula were engaged, their employees were offered Environment”. North Ayrshire. the opportunity to get involved in a variety of employment area. The third area incorporated Based on this success, the Workplace Engagement Testament to her businesses situated within the Garnock Valley. initiatives, including bike maintenance training, cycle training, walking challenges, workplace and Offi cer will continue delivering the project during work, that number personal travel planning, bike breakfasts, as well 2017/18, thereby providing continuity and consistency as active travel information stalls. and helping to generate ongoing buy-in to and support for the project. now sits at fi ve, In numbers with an additional seven registered and working 5 25 10 9 9 towards achieving In 2016/17, A total of 7 companies bike Bike Active Travel the award. the project workplaces received the toolkits maintenance Travel Smart ” Caroline Hammond, Cycle Friendly were provided cost participated in sessions Breakfasts Information Development Offi cer, to employers £126,695 the project Employer were delivered were held Stalls were Cycling Scotland / businesses to deliver Awards organised
88 8989 North Ayrshire Workplaces Travel Smart Walking wows North Lanarkshire “ The project has improved the overall accessibility of the town and Enterprise Area and made it more pupils attractive and marketable. ” Marion Francis, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company Summary
Local authority: North Lanarkshire Council
In partnership with: Living Streets
In 2014/2015, North Lanarkshire Council piloted Living Streets’ Walk Once a Week (WOW) initiative in a selection of local schools. It has been offering WOW to schools in the area ever since. WOW encourages primary school pupils to travel to school using active modes. Participating schools are typically provided with access to Living Streets’ online Travel Tracker system, which enables them to maintain a daily record of how pupils travel. When pupils have used active modes at least once a week, every week for a month, they are rewarded with a collectable badge. In school sessions 2015/16 and 2016/17, the Council secured Scottish Government Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding, which enabled it to continue delivering WOW. However, in 2016/17 unexpected and signifi cant changes to the Travel Tracker system slowed the delivery phase signifi cantly, meaning the Council did not succeed in its goal of implementing WOW in all primary schools in North Lanarkshire. Despite this, participation rates in a signifi cant proportion of schools were strong and there is evidence that pupil travel patterns changed, with higher levels of walking, cycling, scooting, parking and striding recorded in many schools. This gave the Council confi dence to apply for new Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding and to consider delivery of the WOW initiative throughout 2017-2018.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
90 9191 Walking wows North Lanarkshire pupils Walking wows North Lanarkshire pupils
In 2014/15, North Lanarkshire Council started programme to primary schools in North Lanarkshire. These change according to the subject of the badges. working with Living Streets to deliver a project that The core objective of the initiative was to increase the encouraged primary school pupils to travel to school number of children travelling to school actively. Unfortunately, in 2016/17, delivery of WOW in North Lanarkshire was hampered by major changes to the The fantastic on foot, by bike and other sustainable modes. Titled “ Walk Once a Week (WOW), this initiative provides an Primary schools were approached early in the school design and functionality of the Travel Tracker system. results that opportunity for pupils to record their daily journeys year, with most hearing about the WOW initiative In order to use the system, schools that had previously using a Travel Tracker, Living Streets’ online travel during induction days given for Junior Road Safety participated in the WOW programme needed to sign up Gartcosh has seen mode recording application. When pupils have used Offi cers. Amongst other things, all schools were using a different method and learn how to use the new are a testament to active modes at least once a week over a month to offered help in setting-up and learning how to use the interface, which was also beset by a range of system get to school, they are rewarded with a collectable Travel Tracker system. ‘bugs’. This was and continues to be, a signifi cant barrier the effi cacy of WOW badge. for many schools and meant a great deal of offi cer time Participation was also encouraged in other ways. and effort was spent helping schools to sign up and use and of the hard work The project was initially piloted with a small group For instance, efforts were made to engage fully with the updated system, rather than in the delivery of the of primary schools within Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. school communities, including Senior Management, WOW project. of Gartcosh, North Participating schools were introduced to WOW Travel Teams, Junior Road Safety Offi cers, Pupil in the summer term of 2014-15, which provided Councils, as well as Eco/Health committees. In These delays meant that the original project aim, to Lanarkshire Council an opportunity for Council offi cers to familiarise addition, Living Streets and North Lanarkshire deliver WOW in all North Lanarkshire primary schools, and Living Streets themselves with the new initiative in preparation for Council both ran ‘Walk of Fame’ competitions, which was not met. Despite this, participation rates in a its wider roll-out during 2015/16. rewarded high levels of participation in the WOW signifi cant proportion of schools were strong and there is staff. Gartcosh initiative. Strider, the Walk to School mascot, was also some evidence that pupil travel patterns changed, with In 2015/16, North Lanarkshire Council’s Safe and available to attend assemblies and visit classrooms. higher levels of active travel, especially walking, recorded Primary has had Sustainable Travel Team successfully managed and in many instances. delivered the project to a wider group of schools, WOW is designed to be quick and easy to set up engagement at using Living Streets’ Travel Tracker to monitor and should only take a few minutes each morning In retrospect, it is likely that many of the challenges around 90% for activity. The team received around 12 weeks’ support to run. At the start of the term, pupils are allocated arising from the changes to the Travel Tracker system from an embedded Living Streets’ Associate, who a Travel Tracker icon for the year. Every day, pupils may have been avoided or reduced if they had been most of the time visited classrooms, demonstrated the Travel Tracker are asked to log the way they came to school on the piloted and evaluated before full-scale roll-out. Instead, system and educated pupils about the benefi ts of Travel Tracker system, using their allocated icon. In the Council and many North Lanarkshire schools have it has used WOW active and sustainable travel. this way, travel patterns can be tracked throughout experienced frustrating delays and problems with the the year. When pupils have walked at least once a new system and as a result, some schools chose not to and the proportion In early 2016, the Council successfully applied for week, every week for a month, they are rewarded participate at all. of active journeys new Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding, which with a badge. The Travel Tracker system allows enabled it to continue delivering the WOW teachers and pupils to monitor pupil travel habits The Council has not been deterred by this experience have increased over time. Promotional and teaching resources are and it recently secured Smarter Choices, Smarter Places available on the Living Streets website in support of funding that will see consideration of the WOW initiative from around 65% In numbers the Travel Tracker programme. continuing throughout 2017-2018. to 75%. This is equivalent to approximately 20 19 10 5 14 pupils switching to active The WOW schools achieved schools achieved schools achieved schools were in There was a 14% project 80% participation, 80% participation, 80% participation, the top 10 during increase in the modes. cost 12 schools 70-79% 8 schools reached 70- 6 schools 70-79% a series of Scotland- number of sustainable and 9 schools 50- 79% and 14 schools and 17 schools wide Walk of Fame ” £39k per journeys logged in North Living Streets Associate, 69% during the 50-69% during the competitions, held year to hit 50-69% during the Lanarkshire schools from March 2016 deliver Council’s Walk of Council’s Walk of Fame Council’s Walk of Fame between May 2016 Spring 2016 to Spring 2017 Fame competition in competition in competition in and April 2017 (Source: Living Streets) November 2015 May 2016 May 2017
92 9393 Walking wows North Lanarkshire pupils Orkney Islands
“ WOW has been a huge success in our Heritage Trails school, with most children walking or using designed for active travel ‘greener’ ways to travel to school. ” Berryhill Primary School, 2016 Summary “ We visit every class daily to remind children to complete the Travel Tracker. We encourage Local authority: Orkney Islands Council children to walk to school or to Park and Stride. In partnership with: All the children love collecting the badges. ” Orkney Islands Council recognises the importance of active and sustainable Victoria Primary School, 2017 travel to island communities. Whilst the geography of the archipelago tends to make travel on and between the islands challenging, there still scope to encourage more people to travel on foot, by bike or on public transport. During 2014/15, a series of community engagement workshops was held across the inhabited North Isles, to help identify high-priority community needs. Amongst other things, workshop participants expressed a desire to improve local walking and cycling infrastructure. The children enjoy walking to school in “ In 2016/17, the Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding that enabled it to commission a feasibility study to explore ways all weather, out in the great outdoors. to improve the existing network of trails in the North Isles, with a view to ” encouraging and enabling more people to use them. Sikeside Primary School, 2017 The study considered the cost, design and infrastructure requirements of establishing a trail network and identifi ed a suite of key routes that would benefi t from maintenance and improvement. At least one trail on each of the populated islands was earmarked for improvement. The results of this study will inform an ambitious application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to implement the report’s recommendations. The WOW scheme is a good way of Successful delivery of this work will create a legacy of active travel “ infrastructure for locals and visitors alike. motivating children to travel, but the changes this year have caused many problems. This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, ” Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Ladywell Primary School, 2017 Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
94 9595 Orkney Islands Heritage Trails designed for active travel Orkney Islands Heritage Trails designed for active travel
The Orkney Islands archipelago lies off the north and particularly, to improve access to heritage by enhancements to the interpretation and signage coast of Scotland and is comprised of a mixture of assets and wider attractions. at key locations along each trail. both populated and uninhabited islands, which are conventionally broken into northern and southern In early 2016/17, Orkney Islands Council was The fi ndings of this study will inform the delivery of awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places an ambitious Heritage Trail development project. The Heritage and groupings. “ funding. Coupled with support from Scottish To this end, the NILPS has already received a The geography of the islands makes travel on and Natural Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, Round 1 pass with a provisional grant allocation Active Travel Trails between them challenging for locals and visitors this enabled the Council – via the NILPS - to from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Whilst this puts will enable more and can present barriers to uptake of active and commission a study to identify which heritage the Partnership another step closer to securing sustainable modes. Despite this, there is still trail and active travel routes should be prioritised funding to deliver the project, the grant funding is people to discover potential to increase rates of walking and cycling, for improvement on each of the ten populated still contingent on submitting a successful Round and in doing so, facilitate greater patronage on North Isles of Orkney. 2 application, which will include reference to the the delights of the existing public transport services. outputs and outcomes of the feasibility study. The study considered the pre-construction Success at this stage will enable the recommended Northern Isles, by For instance, whilst the North Isles already have an feasibility of establishing a Heritage Trail scheme to be delivered between 2018-22. extensive and varied network of trails, their current network in the North Isles of Orkney, including providing visitors condition discourages use. This is compounded by cost, design and infrastructure requirements. Once completed, the enhanced trails and active a lack of integration between the trails and public Although it proved to be time-consuming, the travel routes will provide improved access by with mapped and transport, as well as a lack of promotion. Improving study team successfully engaged with local bike and on foot to many of the major facilities waymarked path the trail infrastructure would make the choice to stakeholders, to gather local knowledge and and features on each island. The trails will target cycle, walk and use public transport easier as part expertise, as well as help build ownership and visitors and locals of all ages and capabilities and routes through of the daily life of locals and for visitors choosing car understanding of the fi nal recommendations. will provide more effective integration with public free travel to the islands. transport. For example, visitors may choose to walk spectacular island The study singled out a suite of key trails or cycle on different routes in multiple locations, During 2014/15, a series of consultation workshops and active travel routes for maintenance and using the recently approved Orkney Ferries Islands landscapes to was held across the North Isles, to garner the improvement, with at least one trail on each of Explorer ticket to travel between different isles. aspirations of local communities for projects that the populated North Isles to be improved. On experience a wealth could be delivered via the North Isles Landscape some of the larger isles, it is proposed that Delivering the recommended improvements to the Partnership Scheme (NILPS). A key theme that improvements be made to several trails. path network should help to make it more practical of cultural heritage emerged from these events was the need to and appealing for residents and visitors to travel sites. It has been improve the walking and cycling infrastructure on The identifi ed trails incorporate some of around the North Isles on foot, by bike and using the islands, the key cultural, natural, and built heritage public transport. For this reason, the feasibility a pleasure to in each location. For this reason, the study study should be viewed as a strategic investment recommended trail maintenance and in the future. meet the island improvements activities should be accompanied communities, In numbers explore this unique group of islands and develop the £35K 50 trails. was the cost Developing the It is recommended local The trail ” The study identifi es Jane Dixon, recommended routes are equipped of delivery 7 active travel volunteers development Ironside Farrar Ltd trail network is of the routes totalling with signs will be trained process will see 25 feasibility estimated 45km in length interpretation to carry out routine new cycle racks to cost trail maintenance study for improvement boards and installed at key £270k and repairs, if maps funds are secured sites 96 9797 Orkney Islands Heritage Trails designed for active travel Schools on the Go: School Transition Workshops “ The Heritage Trail and Active Travel Study has enabled the identifi cation of key trail and active Summary travel routes throughout the populated North Isles Local authority: Perth & Kinross which we can incorporate In partnership with: into the North Isles In 2015 Perth and Kinross Council commissioned JMP Consultants to deliver a two-stage Landscape Partnership programme of classroom transition workshops designed to encourage and help Primary 7 (P7) pupils and their families choose practical sustainable travel options for the journeys to Scheme. These routes their new secondary schools. will be enhanced with Part funded through the Paths for All 2015/16 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, the Schools on the Go initiative was offered to selected primary and secondary schools in the a variety of repairs, Perth and Kinross area between May and December 2015. Schools on the Go engaged P7 pupils via structured classroom workshops which encouraged improvements, as well as discussion about the opportunities for travelling independently to school and provided training new signage and and practice in using paper-based and online journey planning resources to understand relevant active and sustainable modes for different journeys. interpretation. We are The new cohort of fi rst year secondary (S1) pupils were then engaged through in-class sessions to discuss different travel choices and their impacts. This enabled the delivery team very grateful to the to re-engage with some pupils who had been involved in the P7 workshops as well as many North Isles communities who had not participated. Stagecoach provided support for this initiative by supplying timetables, leafl ets and fares for actively participating information for use during workshop sessions. in the study and with our Although it was diffi cult to engage some schools at a time when calendars were already full, where workshops were delivered they were well very well received by both staff and consultants. pupils. Secondary schools particularly appreciated the support the project offered the school ” curriculum. Alister Brown, North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
98 9999 Schools on the Go: School Transition Workshops Schools on the Go: School Transition Workshops
It is generally thought that people are more The primary school workshop programme Six secondary schools that served the likely to consider changing their travel behaviour included: catchments of participating primary schools during transitions in their lives such as changing were invited to get involved in the Schools on Perth and Kinross Council jobs or moving house. An introductory discussion to review why the Go initiative. Five of these agreed to take “ pupils were being encouraged to consider part but one was not able to fi nd space in their is really pleased by how well The Schools on the Go initiative is built around active and sustainable travel options; timetable. this principle and targets the time when P7 received the Schools on pupils are at the point of moving from primary to For schools in Perth, a route planning Secondary school workshops typically lasted secondary school. At this time pupils and their exercise using city and bus network maps; between 45 and 50 minutes and were delivered the Go initiative has been. families are likely to be actively considering how A journey planning session using proprietary by either one consultant and a member of staff children will get to their new secondary school. online software; or two consultants. Along the way we’ve The transition from primary to secondary A session on how to read bus timetables The workshop programme included: learned that we need to school is also a time when many families start using online and paper bus timetables, and to consider letting their children travel more A short introductory discussion with pupils give schools more notice independently of their parents. Travel to the new A session in which pupils were advised of the to explain why they were being encouraged school may offer a new opportunity for children likely cost of their journey to their new school to consider active and sustainable travel so they can schedule to experience travelling on their own. and the ticket options available to them. options; workshops in as part of The Schools on the Go initiative targeted feeder Workshops typically lasted between 70 and A more intensive dialogue around how active primary schools where P7 pupils would be 80 minutes and were delivered by either and sustainable travel impacts our lives and pupils’ wider transition shapes the places we live; and unlikely to need to travel to secondary school by one consultant and a member of staff or two activities. Engagement school bus and where a signifi cant proportion of consultants. A task in which pupils write a letter to school travel could potentially be undertaken on Following the commencement of the autumn another person asking that person to make should really start foot, by bike or using scheduled bus services. term in August 2015, the second stage of a journey to the school using only active and within the Education On this basis, 32% of all primary schools in the workshop delivery, with S1 pupils, began. As sustainable travel options. Perth and Kinross Council area were invited with the P7 workshops the objective of this Workshop content was considered to be Department and then to participate in the workshop programme. Of programme was to raise awareness of active suitable for use during the Personal and these, half agreed to get involved with many and sustainable travel issues and encourage a Social Education topic within the senior school move to the schools. of the remainder citing a shortage of timetable change in travel behaviour toward travel choices curriculum, a fact that encouraged secondary slots as the reason for not participating. other than the private car. schools to get involved. We hope to build on Both the primary and secondary school the success of the 2015 transition workshops were very well received by pupils and teaching staff and are believed to programme in future In numbers have been highly effective. years with the ultimate aim being that Schools on the Go becomes 16 33 a key part of the 1-hour workshop Workshop sessions transition programme Main reason were delivered in 5 sessions were 24 primary Delivery of the Schools on the of the 6 secondary for all P7 pupils. primary schools gave for delivered to around schools Go project cost £26,000, with not getting involved schools that were were invited to ” was 400 pupils at 12 50% of funding coming through approached, reaching participate. Tony Maric, Transport Planning an inability to accommodate primary schools the SCSP programme and approximately additional activities into 10 agreed to the remainder from Perth and Offi cer, Perth and Kinross Council during May and June 700 pupils already crowded timetables 2015 participate Kinross Council 100100 101101 Schools on the Go: School Transition Workshops One year on: Secondary pupils plan their journeys
Whilst the aim of the 2015/16 Schools on the In September 2016, the newly developed Go workshops was to help P7 pupils and their secondary school programme was trialled in families choose sustainable travel options for two classes at both Pitlochry High School and the journeys to their new secondary schools, the Perth Grammar School. Feedback from these 2016/17 initiative had a broader remit. workshops helped to improve the way they were subsequently delivered to other classes in these The 2016/17 programme retained the same core schools, and subsequently, in Crieff High School. focus on “transition” for primary school pupils. However, in response to the results of a travel The 50-minute workshops were designed to survey, a new approach was developed for complement the Personal and Social Education secondary schools. curriculum. They gave pupils an opportunity to try planning more sustainable journeys, using Sustrans’ “Hands Up” survey results (2014) several on-line travel-planning tools. Typically, showed that the proportion of pupils who this required use of laptop or desktop computers, travelled to school using active and sustainable although smart-phones were used in one session. modes was already high. Consequently, a new approach was devised that considered a wider By March 2017, delivery of this programme range of trips than just the journey to school. In was still ongoing, with 3 of the target secondary this way, it was hoped secondary school pupils schools and 6 primary schools yet to participate. could become more informed and effective Although charity YoungScot took on the task of advocates of travel behaviour change in their surveying participants in the workshops, results households. are still pending. However, anecdotal feedback about the workshops has been extremely positive.
Key achievements 320 pupils from Whilst most workshops used Key project partners Of the £26,000 3 secondary school computers to access included Perth and available for this schools on-line journey planners, in Kinross Council, transport ongoing project, attended the one, pupils used their consultants SYSTRA, £16,000 had workshops smart-phones instead, Stagecoach East been spent which proved to be very Scotland, Young Scot and by late March 102102 successful Tactran 2017 103103 “ I have had positive feedback Travel planning from staff regarding the travel workshops and Morag is looking forward to seeing you again later gets personal today with her class. Bonita Marchbank, Support for Pupils,” in Renfrewshire Crieff High School Summary “ Excellent life-skills, one of the most Local authority: useful PSE classes Renfrewshire Council we’ve had. ” In 2016/17, Renfrewshire Council was awarded Smarter Choices, Gillian Shenton, PT Guidance, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding to deliver a programme of Perth Grammar School Personalised Travel Planning (PTP) to residents of Glenburn and Linwood and users of the On-X Sports Centre. This involved offering members of the target population a range of tailored travel information, advice and incentives to encourage them to cut their car use and try cycling, walking, buses or trains for a week. Of particular note, the project offered an opportunity to promote the recently extended Paisley South Side Strategic Walking/ Cycling Route. Residential engagement involved either a face-to-face conversation on the door-step, or if no-one was home, posting relevant information. Engagement events for the wider community were held at the On -X Sports Centre and in a hall in Glenburn. ‘Before’ and ‘after’ surveys were used to detect changes in travel behaviour resulting from the PTP intervention, with the fi nal results indicating that the events held at the On-X Sports Centre were particularly effective. Renfrewshire Council will use its SCSP 2017/18 funding allocation to deliver further PTP interventions. It is considering targeting local employees, rather than residents, as engaging with employees may be more cost-effective and productive.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
104104 105105 Travel planning gets personal in Renfrewshire Travel planning gets personal in Renfrewshire
The Renfrewshire Local Transport Strategy included More specifi cally, interviewees were offered a range All households that had expressed an interest in the an ambition to implement and promote the Paisley of tailored travel information, advice and incentives project were approached, with the Travel Advisors South Side Strategic Walking/ Cycling Route. to encourage them to try cycling, walking, buses or either speaking directly to someone in the household Completed in June 2014, the route connects both trains for a week. or, if no one was home, posting an information card The success of Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to the national through the door. In this way, the team achieved a “ cycle network and provides off-road linkages The project team used a range of media to promote high contact rate. the community between schools, homes, shops and work on the their work. For instance, project activities were south side of Paisley. promoted via bespoke Facebook pages and On engagement, householders were offered a range engagement Twitter accounts, posters and advertisements in of bespoke travel information and the opportunity to In 2016/17, Renfrewshire Council secured Smarter the local press. This helped to ensure the target take up a free incentive. These included a week of events was fairly Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding to audiences were aware of and informed about the either free bus travel, train travel or parking at a park implement a project to promote the Paisley South project, thereby making them more likely to engage and ride site. limited in regard Side walking and cycling route to the residents positively when contacted by the project team. to attendance of Glenburn and Linwood and users of the On-X Follow-up surveys were carried out in May 2017. Sports Centre. The core aim of the project was to Users of the On-X Sports Centre were engaged Comparing the before and after surveys provided and participation. facilitate changes in travel behaviour in the target via an information stand, set up in a prominent insights into what impact the PTP had on the target populations, including promotion of public transport location inside the facility. An additional information populations, with the results included in a fi nal We hope to learn and active travel. Importantly, the project provided event was also held in a community hall in monitoring and evaluation report produced in July from this going an opportunity to promote recent improvements to Glenburn. People visiting the stands were offered 2017. the opportunity to discuss and explore their travel the Paisley South Side route. The total funding was Evaluation results suggests the community events forward and try in the vicinity of £160,000. choices and encouraged to consider using active and sustainable modes. Both events were held in at the On-X Sports Centre were particularly positive. to drum up more The core project intervention was Personalised January 2017 and a follow-up event was delivered at This may have been because users of the sports Travel Planning (PTP). In broad terms, this involved the On-X Sports Centre in mid-April 2017. centre were already predisposed to using active interest within approaching 3,800 residential households in forms of transport. The Council is now reviewing the the proposed Glenburn, 3,800 households in Linwood and users Initial household contact involved conducting a brief engagement approach, targeting local employers to of the On-X Sports Centre in Linwood, asking ‘before’ survey, to gather information on existing fi nd the most productive engagement approach in demographic how they currently travel and encouraging them to travel patterns and determine the level of interest the 2017/18 programme of work. consider using active and sustainable modes of from each household in receiving personalised in any future transport when appropriate. travel information. This phase of the project was delivered during November 2016. projects. I feel this PTP interviews with householders were then would contribute undertaken by a team of Travel Advisors in January to better 2017. participation and In numbers therefore a more successful overall project. ” 471 249 1/3 Alastair Scott, Technician, Department of Community 4,704 people within Nearly 90% A total of 471 weekly bus of respondents to the Resources, Renfrewshire households the study agreed of all incentives were tickets and 109 after survey stated that Council were invited to to participate in participants distributed to weekly rail their travel habits complete the the programme; 199 were signed up participants, to tickets were given had changed before survey from Glenburn and via doorstep help motivate changes to participants to since participating in 272 from Linwood engagement to travel behaviour incentivise bus travel the initiative
106106 107107 Travel planning gets personal in Renfrewshire Borders Hub integrates community transport
Summary
Local authority: Scottish Borders Council
In partnership with:
Residents of the Scottish Borders who are unable to use public transport or do not have access to a car can access community transport services. However, historically, accessing community transport services involved booking journeys with one of many service providers as a single booking point was not available. This lack of coordination created ineffi ciencies, such as journey duplication, and made it more diffi cult to arrange shared journeys. In response, the Scottish Borders Strategic Transport Board identifi ed a need to create a one stop approach to community transport, and by September 2015, the Borders Community Transport Hub had been established with funding support from the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme. The Hub is staffed by two part-time operators employed by the British Red Cross. Staff coordinate and make bookings on behalf of the operators. The Scottish Borders Council has given strong support for the project, and six community transport operators (British Red Cross, RVS and four local Wheels organisations) provide the associated transport services. Hub services have proven to be both popular and successful. They have helped to reduce the number of duplicate journeys, facilitate journey sharing, improve service quality and reduce the number of people who fail to attend appointments. Importantly, they have also helped users to participate more fully in their communities.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
108108 109109 Borders Hub integrates community transport Borders Hub integrates community transport
The Scottish Borders Strategic Transport Board and by September 2015, it had set up and staffed identifi ed opportunities for passengers to share journeys (STB) was established by the Scottish Borders the Borders Community Transport Services (BCTS) and in so doing they have also noted how we should to Community Planning Partnership in 2014, to Hub. adapt and improve the booking software. As a result the “ For older and provide a regular forum for considering transport Hub is in the process of upgrading the package and these issues, exploring potential partnership solutions Two national community transport operators and improvements will make it easier to monitor the expanding more vulnerable and oversee improvement activities. Membership four local Wheels projects agreed to support the numbers of shared journeys undertaken. includes the Scottish Borders Council, NHS Hub project by providing community transport people in the Borders, Borders College, Scottish Ambulance services to people making bookings via the Hub. The Hub operators have also built successful working relationships with some hospital departments and health Borders, the Service, housing associations and voluntary sector The Hub operates from 9am - 4pm Monday to organisations. centres that have led to a more coordinated approach Friday, including Bank Holidays, thereby offering a between patient appointments and transport provision. Community Hub Historically, elderly and disabled residents in the single contact point, and one with longer opening This has reduced the number of elderly and disabled has become an Borders requiring transport were provided with hours than most individual operators can provide. people who fail to attend their appointments. contact numbers for a number of local community Hub users call a single, free phone number to invaluable service transport providers. This led to ineffi ciencies, such Many of the participating community transport providers book community transport and trip-share journeys. are starting to see the benefi t of their involvement in as journey duplication and may have deterred Hub staff use a web-based booking system, we could not do potential users from booking journeys. In response, the BCTS scheme. For instance, in 2016, one provider which enables participating community transport recognised that the extended Hub operating hours the STB identifi ed a need to develop a new, providers to either schedule or decline booking without. People partnership-based, demand-responsive approach enabled them to provide a better customer service. As a requests that are entered by staff. They also use a result, from October 2016, all existing clients were required who use the to community transport provision to help reduce web service to book trip-share journeys for users the number of vehicles used, increase the number to book their transport requirements via the Hub. This who are unable to do so because they do not have saves staff time and provides clients with a better contact service tell me of shared journeys and increase the number of internet access. service users. This coordinated approach aimed experience. having one number to improve overall effi ciency while maintaining the Hub services are promoted to potential users Demand for Hub services has grown to a point where it distinctiveness and personal connections of the via leafl ets and posters targeting clients of sometimes outstrips supply. On this basis, funding has to phone to reach participating provider organisations. health centres, community centres and hospitals been sourced to enable one of the partner operators throughout the Borders. Statutory service providers all the providers In 2015/16 the Scottish Borders Council was to provide another vehicle and driver, to help meet the such as the Scottish Ambulance Service and some additional demand. awarded Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) local NHS services also refer people to the Hub. is so much easier. funding to establish a ‘one-stop’ approach to Despite this, awareness and use of Hub services For the future, the Red Cross will produce an options community transport provision. A second tranche of has taken time to develop and ongoing work is paper that considers the development of Hub services. For the providers, SCSP funding was secured for 2016/17. The British required to maintain and build support. Amongst other things, it is expected the paper will review Red Cross led the delivery of this initiative, future staffi ng requirements, the scope and limitations of they know we Whilst Hub staff have identifi ed many opportunities future service provision as well as future funding options. are maximising for passengers to share journeys, the booking Whilst the long-term future of the Hub is not yet secure, the software they use does not enable these journeys services it provides are clearly valuable to users, operators the use of all to be counted. The Hub team have increasingly and health facilities. In numbers our transport and that means we are more 2 effi cient. national community The BCTS Hub Monthly Cumulatively, Against stiff competition, The Hub ” transport operators is over 1,500 BCTS was awarded the project received staffed bookings Helen Forsyth Chair, and 4 local Wheels by two via the Hub bookings were Transport Times £56,580 Scottish Borders Strategic projects worked in part-time grew from 4 in facilitated by Scottish Accessibility of SCSP Transport Board partnership with the Council operators October 2015 to the Hub over the Project of the Year funding in and the Red Cross to deliver employed by the 186 in April 2017 period to April 2017 2016 2016/17 the BCTS initiative Red Cross 110110 111111 Borders Hub integrates community transport Travel HUB gets Ayr active
“ I needed to get to BGH for 11am. Even leaving home with the earliest bus services Summary would not get me there till
11.20. Finding out about you was Local authority: South Ayrshire Council good. Hope I can book with you again as the trip took an hour In partnership with: and I had time to spare before In 2015/16, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding my appointment. enabled an Active Travel HUB to be established in South Ayrshire. ” The HUB set out to infl uence travel behaviour and particularly, to Service User encourage more people to walk and cycle. The HUB was designed to be both a service, delivering a variety of behaviour change interventions to target groups, as well as a physical location, from which to manage and deliver these services. A small team of staff and volunteers deliver HUB services. In 2016/17, new SCSP funding was secured which enabled the HUB project to continue. Much of this work involved securing and developing a physical space for the HUB, and in February 2017, the HUB was launched at Ayr Railway Station. Alongside this, the HUB team delivered targeted behaviour change interventions, such as media campaigns, travel planning and led rides. Securing a physical location for the HUB and delivering the associated services has not been without its challenges. The HUB Having a transport service that operates via a single delivery team learnt a great deal during the fi rst two years, including “ the incredible value offered by volunteers and strong partnerships. telephone number is a real step forward. It makes the Further SCSP funding was awarded in early 2017/18, which will enable the Active Travel HUB, Ayr, to continue its mission to process of arranging and accessing transport much simpler infl uence local travel behaviour. for the service user. The Hub is a good example of collaboration between several different agencies. ” This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Timothy Stephenson, Passenger Transport Manager, Scottish Borders Council Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
112112 113113 Travel HUB gets Ayr active Travel HUB gets Ayr active
In 2015/16, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Operating as a staffed facility, the HUB benefi ts For instance, although it was expected that a (SCSP) funding enabled South Ayrshire Council from the experience of staff from the associated cycle loan scheme would be delivered during and its partners to plan the implementation of Kilmarnock Active Travel Hub, as well as the 2016/17, this has proven more diffi cult than its ‘Active Travel HUB’, develop the associated support of a group of trained volunteers. Sustrans expected, with issues like insurance and risk branding and form key partnerships to facilitate has also provided invaluable support for the management slowing down the process. Despite I would like to the HUB’s success. The HUB was set up to initiative, including advice, staff training and in these delays, work has continued and it is “ promote and support changes to travel behaviour, January 2017, provision of a second member of expected the cycle loan scheme will launch in the commend South and particularly, an increase in the proportion of staff. middle of 2017. journeys undertaken on foot and by bike in South Ayrshire Council Ayrshire. During 2016/17, the HUB team focussed on Delivery of the HUB project has involved promoting active and sustainable travel and overcoming many challenges. Through this for opening the Market research conducted during 2015/16 encouraging a reduction in use of private and fl eet process, the HUB team has come to appreciate identifi ed several clear opportunities for greater cars. The target audience for this work included both the backing of key partners and the active travel uptake of active modes in South Ayrshire. For commuters, students and young adults, although importance of rigorous project planning for a HUB at Ayr Rail example, many local car journeys are short, and other people were also reached. project of this type. This approach has enabled could potentially be made by foot or cycle. In the Active Travel HUB to make signifi cant Station. As a addition, many people do not consider that they Whist the main priority in 2016/17 was to get the progress during 2016/17, despite the challenges. have the skills, resources or fi tness required to HUB facility operational, many other activities government, walk or cycle and are put off because they are not were also delivered. For example, the HUB team Based on this success, SCSP funding was once aware of the different routes that are available. delivered: active travel awareness and media again awarded for 2017/18, to support further we want to campaigns; workplace and health premises travel development of the Active Travel HUB concept In 2016/17, new funding for the project was planning; led rides and walks; cycle training and and delivery of the associated programme encourage secured through the SCSP programme. This support; active travel maps and leafl ets; as well of behaviour change interventions. Over the walking and enabled the project partners to continue to develop as a series of events. Several other initiatives course of the year, the HUB’s core objectives and refi ne the HUB concept and deliver HUB underwent development during the year, including are expected to evolve, to become more closely cycling for short services. However, much of the work carried out a cycle hire scheme with partners Bike & Go, which aligned with both the Local Transport and Active during the year revolved around securing and will be operational from June 2017. Travel Strategies for East and South Ayrshire, journeys and developing a physical space to host the HUB. which are being prepared by the Ayrshire Roads Despite having successfully delivered a range Alliance. This illustrates how much Ayr’s Active the HUB will Situated at Ayr Railway Station, the Active Travel of behaviour change interventions during the Travel HUB is being recognised for the key role help local people HUB was formally launched in February 2017. year, several initiatives were either delayed or not it plays in delivering crucial health, transport and implemented. For this reason, it was not possible environmental outcomes in South Ayrshire. for all of the original £206,000 budget for 2016/17 and visitors to be spent by year end. by providing information on In numbers local routes and also with 105 613 cycling skills. ” Humza Yousaf, Minister people The HUB By early May people were There were 850 From January for Transport and The Islands visited the had 368 2017, there engaged at web sessions – April 2017, HUB in the fi rst Facebook were 352 events in the fi rst on the HUB 31 bikes 5 months 4 months of followers at Twitter website between received of 2017 2017 the end of April followers January and April Dr Bike 2017 2017 checks
114114 115115 Travel HUB gets Ayr active Make Your Way in South Lanarkshire
Summary We are helping “ Local authority: South Lanarkshire Council to lead the way in Scotland when In partnership with:
it comes to In 2016/17, the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), along with its partners and suppliers, delivered an ambitious programme promoting active of Smarter Choices, Smarter Places interventions in South Lanarkshire. travel. The station Developed in response to high levels of car dependency in South Lanarkshire, the ‘Make Your Way’ project encouraged residents of is a great location Carluke, Larkhall, Lanark, Stonehouse and Glassford to explore their for commuters, local areas on foot and by bike. A series of events helped to engage local communities in the planning students and process. This was essential as this helped to build community awareness, understanding and ownership of the project and to ensure visitors to fi nd out the planning process benefi ted from local knowledge. more about this A variety of measures were implemented, to encourage residents to explore the local architectural and social history, as well as the initiative as we surrounding landscapes and geology, on foot and by bike. These included school and heritage events, artist residencies, maps, an active encourage people to travel campaign, as well as installation of way-fi nding. incorporate active Although project evaluation is still ongoing, a rigorous process of monitoring was put in place from the outset. Interim results indicate the travel into their daily project was very successful, and these have helped CAVLP secure new funding to deliver an even stronger Make Your Way project during lives. ” 2017/18. Former Councillor John McDowall, South Ayrshire Council This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
116116 117117 Make Your Way in South Lanarkshire Make Your Way in South Lanarkshire
Levels of car ownership and use are high in It did so by delivering a project called ‘Make selection and heritage features for the maps. Not only South Lanarkshire. Seven out of every ten Your Way’, which encouraged residents to did this process help inform key audiences about the households have at least one car available for walk and cycle more often, thereby helping project, it also encouraged community ownership, private use and two in every three adult residents them to connect to the rich local heritage and understanding and participation. The artist hold a full drivers’ licence. More than half of all greenspaces as well as the wider countryside “ adult residents use a car at least three times a network on their doorsteps. The main implementation phase of the project was residencies week, meaning cars continue to be the main initially scheduled to take place from January to April mode of choice. The core aim of the project was to boost the 2017. However, delivery ran on until June 2017, partly have been very number of people using the functional walking to account for improving weather conditions, increasing This dominance of car-based mobility and cycling routes within and around Carluke levels of light and delivering some Big Bike Revival effective at contributes towards a wide range of problems, and Larkhall, as well as the conservation events that help to incentivise active travel. including declining levels of physical inactivity, communities of Stonehouse, Lanark and developing great poor air-quality, traffi c congestion, a lack of easy Glassford. It documented, shared and The delivery phase included promotion of physical access to essential goods and services and celebrated the architectural and social history and digital trails, school and heritage events, artist relationships community severance. of these settlements and the surrounding residencies, map production, an active travel campaign, with local people. landscapes and geology, using this as a means school and community workshops and events, as South Lanarkshire Council and an array of local of encouraging people to explore their local well as installation of way-fi nding. Delivery of these The community partners have – for many years - been delivering areas on foot and by bike. activities continued to encourage local ownership of and policy interventions to tackle these problems. participation in the initiative. workshops and A project steering group had oversight of the For example, in 2015/16, the Council and the delivery of the CAVLP-led project, with the At the time of writing, project evaluation and fi nal meetings with Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership CAVLP providing staff for project management reporting had not been fi nalised, however, project (CAVLP) delivered a walking campaign in and communication. Two consultants were monitoring processes have been rigorous throughout. local groups have Lanark, Carluke and Larkhall, to help normalise also engaged, with one helping deliver arts For instance, each community and school event was and encourage cycling and walking in deprived and heritage elements of the intervention and evaluated in terms of numbers engaged and event led to great areas of South Lanarkshire. The CAVLP is a the other supporting the delivery of active feedback against the aims of the project. In addition, the collaboration on programme that aims to conserve, enhance and travel measures. In addition, volunteers from a media campaign was evaluated in terms of the number celebrate the unique landscape and cultural separate CAVLP programme helped maintain of press releases issued and published and the reach of making the trails heritage of the Clyde and Avon Valleys. and improve some of the routes promoted social media activity. In 2016/17, South Lanarkshire Council secured through the Make Your Way project. Having been granted new Smarter Choices, Smarter in collaboration Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding that Community and stakeholder engagement took Places funding for 2017/18, delivery of the Make Your with the public. enabled CAVLP to build on the success of its place between August and December 2016, Way project will continue, thereby building on the legacy 2015/16 work. and was integral to the success of the project. and success of the previous year. Importantly, CAVLP Our fl exibility of A series of imaginative local community events has identifi ed several key learning points that will enable engaged local people with the project and it to run an even more effi cient and effective programme approach has enabled them to provide early input into route during 2017/18. also been key In numbers to engaging successfully 6 12 5 with schools. ” Sarah Frood, artist Project primary new active An active- New active travel icecream architecture residencies in delivery schools travel travel roadshow roadshows and 5 communities cost engaged, maps and engaged 418 school visits are helped engage 130 £220K including 18 classes digital trails children and planned local people and 498 pupils were created 80 adults
118118 119119 Make Your Way in South Lanarkshire Stirling Schools “ The Make Your Way project Cycle Safely has engaged people with the idea of getting out more and using their local walking and cycling routes. Through this engagement, potential practical improvements Summary
which would make this easier Local authority: Stirling Council and more appealing have been identifi ed, and volunteering In partnership with: opportunities have been created Local charity Recyke-a-Bike has been delivering its Cycle Safe which have made a real difference School project to primary school pupils in Stirling since 2015/16. Designed to encourage more children to cycle to school, the Cycle to some communities. The Safe School initiative builds on the core skills and knowledge delivered through the introductory Bikeability training scheme, which project activities have actively is available to all primary school pupils in Stirling. encouraged both adults and The Cycle Safe School initiative is backed by Stirling Council, which successfully secured Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) children to get outside, and funding to support its delivery in 2015/16 and 2016/17. connected people directly with In 2016/17, a total of 10 schools took part in the initiative. Schools were offered the opportunity to take up bike maintenance sessions their environment by providing and led cycle rides, although a fl exible approach was taken to account for the differing needs of both schools and individual creative and fun things to do, classes. which they can continue to do Participation rates in these activities were excellent, although it has proven challenging to design an effi cient, cost-effective approach to themselves. The project has also monitoring and evaluation to help Recyke-a-Bike understand if and allowed the Landscape Partnership how much its interventions have infl uenced travel behaviour. With an annual budget of just £2,900, the Cycle Safe School initiative to reach new audiences, helping has been an extremely cost-effective project that has generated good buy-in from schools and strong engagement with pupils. It is hoped to connect people with their local that the project can continue to be delivered into the future. heritage in active and engaging
ways. This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, ” Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland. Donna Marshall, Programme Manager, Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership 120120 121121 Stirling Schools Cycle Safely Stirling Schools Cycle Safely
Sustrans’ fi gures show that, between 2008 and In 2016/17, the Council received new funding from Instead, they were taken on a ride around local forest 2014, the proportion of pupils in Stirling travelling SCSP that allowed it to fund the Cycle Safe Schools trails, which helped them to identify opportunities for to school in a car hovered around 20% and the initiative once again. Stirling Council also provided recreational cycling. The children proportion who cycled was around 5%. Whilst support to the project in other ways. For example, “ a higher proportion of pupils typically walked to it encouraged the schools to get involved, and Although participation in the led rides tended to require really enjoy the school over this period, there is likely to still be provided cycle maps, information and maintenance a signifi cant time commitment from the schools, potential to switch more car journeys to active and equipment for use during Cycle Safe Schools Recyke-a-Bike still managed to deliver them to 127 maintenance training sustainable modes, thereby helping the Council sessions. pupils. A further 161 pupils participated in the cycle deliver a wide range of important health, transport maintenance sessions, suggesting the Cycle Safe sessions and so and environmental outcomes. The second year differed from the fi rst in that the Schools initiative was great value for money. new programme did not include a journey planning do I. They seem to A common barrier to cycling is a lack of related element. Whilst this activity is thought to have value, With a budget of just £2,900, this was an extremely low- skills, such as the ability to select less hazardous many primary schools are already supporting journey cost project. Most of the project budget was allocated particularly enjoy routes, as well as ride assertively and confi dently. planning through delivery of their travel plans. to staff time, with smaller amounts dedicated to In recognition of this, Stirling Council has been purchasing stock for maintenance sessions and travel using the track pump implementing a variety of measures, including On commencement of the 2016/17 programme, to and from the schools in Recyke-a-Bike’s mobile to fi ll the inner tubes infrastructure improvements, training and travel Recyke-a-Bike invited all primary schools in Stirling to workshop van. participate in the Cycle Safe Schools initiative. A total planning to encourage residents, including In the future, Recyke-a-Bike hopes to identify new, more to bursting point. children, to cycle more often. of 15 schools expressed interest, but some were not able to fi nd time in their already busy calendars to effective ways of evaluating the behavioural outcomes I’m always impressed In 2015/16, Stirling Council received Smarter get involved. Recyke-a-Bike ultimately engaged with delivered by the Cycle Safe Schools initiative. For Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) funding to deliver 10 schools during course of the year. instance, consideration is being given to how changes by the level of skill a portfolio of interventions designed to infl uence to participant travel behaviour can be monitored over travel behaviour. One of these was the Cycle Safe The core objective of the Cycle Safe Schools initiative time. and knowledge the Schools initiative, which built on the core skills and was to encourage participating pupils to cycle to school. This typically involved engaging them in a Funding has once again been secured to deliver the children have, they’re knowledge offered to all local primary school pupils Cycle Safe Schools programme during through the Bikeability training scheme. fun and interactive programme of activities, including genuinely interested bike maintenance sessions and led cycle rides. 2017/18. Recyke-a-Bike will use this as an opportunity Delivered by charity Recyke-a-Bike, the Cycle A fl exible approach was taken so that local to apply several lessons from the 2016/17 programme, in learning how to Safe Schools initiative engaged with pupils from including the need to engage with primary schools selected schools to help them gain confi dence, conditions and needs could be taken into consideration. For instance, unlike others, pupils from early and ensure the cycling activities on offer are keep their bikes improve their riding skills, learn how to plan a scheduled well in advance of delivery. In addition, journey and understand basic bike maintenance. Aberfoyle Primary School did not have a led ride to working and usable. their nearest high school because it is too far away. Recyke-a-Bike is now better able to identify and manage the costs associated with delivering the It’s very practical programme, which will make it more sustainable over In numbers the longer-term. and hands on, and there’s a lot of fun and chat involved. 10 43 I’m glad we’re 30 50 23 doing them again At £2,900, schools pupils from pupils at Strathblane pupils from this was an took part Aberfoyle Doune Primary Thornhill this year. in the extremely cost- Primary School Primary School pupils Primary School ” initiative Neil Howden, Outreach effective project participated in School attended took part in one of participated in a Mechanic, Recyke-a-bike to deliver bike maintenance bike maintenance several led rides cycle maintenance sessions sessions session
122122 123123 Stirling Schools Cycle Safely Cutting Car Use at Queens Quay “ The Schools, Learning and Education Department recognise the value of this initiative delivered by Summary Recyke-a-Bike, in an aim
to improve cycle skills, Local authority: West Dunbartonshire Council
knowledge and confi dence. In partnership with: This compliments the Bikeability programme, as In early 2015, West Dunbartonshire Council was awarded funds from the Scottish Government’s 2015/16 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme to deliver a well as the wider Stirling social marketing campaign to staff based at, or moving to, the Queens Quay area in Clydebank. Council Active Travel Plan At the time of the intervention, 265 staff had recently relocated to Aurora House in and aim of encouraging the Queens Quay area and 44 leisure centre staff were scheduled to relocate from Clydebank’s ‘Playdrome’ facility to Queens Quay from spring 2017. active and sustainable Known as the Queens Quay Project, the campaign aimed to infl uence how these staff travelled to and for work and it was felt the recent or pending relocations would be an travel to/from school. The opportune time to encourage them to review their travel choices. initiative has been very well The campaign included distribution of printed and digital travel literature via information displays, events, emails and intranet publications. Other activities included received by pupils, teachers fuel-effi cient driver training, Dr Bike sessions, a cycle to work day and personalised and parents alike and we travel planning. The campaign successfully reached most staff based at Aurora House and the are delighted to be working Playdrome. Evidence suggests the campaign was very well received and that in partnership with Recyke- participation rates were high. It is hoped lessons learned from the Queens Quay campaign will inform the a-bike again this year to development of any future campaigns designed to infl uence the travel behaviour of staff, and particularly, those involved in offi ce relocations or other signifi cant change deliver such a positive and processes. successful initiative in our schools. ” Smarter Choices, This project received funding through the Sarah Bird, School Travel Planning Co- Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Ordinator, Stirling Council Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
124124 125125 Cutting Car Use at Queens Quay Cutting Car Use at Queens Quay
In early 2015, West Dunbartonshire Council For clarity, JMP was appointed after staff had been greater if it had been delivered staff based at Rosebery Place in Clydebank moved to Aurora House. immediately before staff relocated to Whilst West Dunbartonshire began making the relocation to Aurora House in Queens Quay when they were most likely “ the Queens Quay development in Clydebank. The campaign benefi ted from support from to be considering how to get to the new Council staff had only fairly The relocation in Clydebank is the fi rst of a a variety of partners, including First Greater site. larger offi ce improvement and consolidation Glasgow, SPT and West Dunbartonshire recently moved into Queens programme planned by the Council that Council’s Healthy Working Lives team. Input to West Dunbartonshire Council recognises includes the 2017 relocation of 44 leisure campaign delivery was provided by a number that infl uencing people’s travel behaviour Quay, they had already settled centre staff from the Playdrome to a new leisure of Council staff, including the Sustainability is an on-going process. For this reason, there by the time the campaign centre in the Queens Quay development. Offi cer, as well as members of the Estates, the Council plans to continue engaging Facilities Management and Corporate with staff about their travel choices as was commissioned, meaning The 2015/16 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Communications teams. part of longer-term, corporate travel programme presented West Dunbartonshire planning activities that will include that travel habits to the Council with an opportunity to fund a pilot The campaign was delivered between August support for the relocation of staff to a campaign designed to infl uence the travel and October 2015 and engaged staff based at range of sites over the coming years. new site had already become behaviour of staff involved in the Aurora House both the Aurora House and Playdrome sites. and Playdrome relocations at a time when they West College Scotland (around 6,000 established. Had engagement JMP’s experience and that of others delivering students) is already based in Queens were expected to be re-evaluating their travel similar interventions elsewhere suggested around travel choices taken options. Quay. Other proposed developments staff would be most receptive to messages on the site include a care home, The aim of the campaign was to reduce focussing on potential cost savings that staff health centre and large residential place before the move to single-occupancy car travel and increase who drive to work could make by switching development. It is the Council’s intention Aurora House (alongside other use of active and sustainable modes for both to other modes. As a result, this message to share the fi ndings of this pilot commuter and work-related travel. It was also featured in a range of published information campaign and work with the College and communications), then there hoped the lessons learned from the initiative and during face to face discussions between future site occupants to encourage more would inform the delivery of similar interventions campaign staff and participants. sustainable travel patterns. would have been greater in the future. Around 300 staff across both sites were opportunity to infl uence Following award of Smarter Choices, Smarter exposed to the campaign, with good levels of Places funding, West Dunbartonshire Council face to face engagement taking place with a behaviour before choices had appointed JMP Consultants Ltd to help signifi cant proportion of them; many welcoming design and deliver the pilot social marketing the opportunity to discuss their travel choices become embedded. For any campaign. and receive information on alternatives. forthcoming offi ce moves, we A number of key lessons emerged during the pilot campaign. Importantly, it is likely recommend that much of the In numbers that the impact of the campaign would have information, promotion and engagement activities with staff take place in advance Approx. Over Around of the move, with follow- 64 18 16 12 £32K up/ reminder activities and 300 150 100 personalised people people bikes was the budget took staff staff employees travel part in a 30 participated in were for the entire offi ce events taking place once members participated visited an challenges minute led fuel effi cient serviced relation project, with just under half they are in their new offi ce were targeted across the information were issued cycle ride, driver training or of this used to by the activities and which was sessions run premises.” stall, with most to encourage staff adjusted deliver the social campaign events delivered delivered by a by the Energy people taking to change their during 2 Dr marketing ” on-site travel behaviour local cycle shop Saving Trust Caley McDowall, Principal Transport Planner, printed resources Bike campaign JMP Consultants Ltd sessions 126126X 127127 Cutting Car Use at Queens Quay One year on: Commuters Encouraged “ It’s easy to access alternative modes of to Reflect on Relocation transport – you just need the will to do it! During 2016/17, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Similarly, Liftshare services were promoted, ” Office Rationalisation Programme continued, although staff did not seem interested in car with over 1,000 staff preparing to relocate sharing, so the Council decided against the Participant, Summer 2015 Sustainable offices. development of a guaranteed ride home Travel Campaign scheme or priority parking spaces. The Council used its 2015/16 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding to pilot a programme of Over time, the Council aims to rationalise its social marketing initiatives to raise awareness office estate by 50%, thereby helping to save about the sustainable travel choices available money and foster operational efficiencies. to staff, at a time when many were likely to However, it remains acutely aware of the wider be thinking about how to commute to a new impacts this process could have on staff and workplace. is committed to (amongst other things) helping staff get to and from their new office locations The pilot provided a framework for wider roll-out as sustainably as possible. This is particularly during 16/17. Capitalising on better provision important as on-site parking at the new sites for cyclists planned at the new sites, the 16/17 is typically constrained, thereby creating programme focussed heavily on promoting challenges for car commuters. cycling for leisure. The new sites will also typically be better served by public transport, so On this basis, the Council expects to continue commuters were encouraged to consider public delivering and refining its social marketing transport services. For instance, 30% of staff programme into the future. This will, for instance, moving to one site took up an offer of a free, include designing a staff rewards scheme, and one-month public transport zone card. preparing new Travel Plans for key sites.
Key achievements
Pool-bike use Membership of More than The development of a programme increased the Council’s 40 bikes Liftshare scheme substantially were serviced logo, name to around 30 uses more than during 8 Dr and templates during 2016/17, from doubled, to a Bike sessions for promotion of all 0 in the previous year total of 190 activities going 128128 forward 129129 “ Last year I went along to weekly West Lothian guided cycling trips from Garshake, Loves to Ride making use of the pool bicycles, and enjoyed it so much that I surprised myself Summary and cycled in from home in Helensburgh Local authority: West Lothian Council on National Cycle to Work Day. This year, In 2016/17, West Lothian Council used part of its Smarter I have enrolled on a Choices, Smarter Places funding to participate in The National Workplace Social Ride Cycle Challenge, run by Love to Ride. Designed to encourage employees across Britain to get on their bikes, this fun, free Cycle Leader Training competition ran throughout September 2016. Individuals, teams and workplaces were invited to register course, funded by for the Challenge and log journeys via a dedicated online platform for West Lothian. Points were awarded when people Cycling Scotland. This logged a ride of 10 minutes or more, thereby allowing will allow me and other individual, team and organisational performance to be recognised, rewarded and incentivised. For example, prizes trained colleagues helped incentivise participation and the motivational design of the website helped recognise and reward activity. to give something Workplaces across West Lothian were invited to participate in the Challenge and the Council showed leadership by back and lead planned signing up as one of the 16 registered organisations. The weekly social rides. event enticed a wide range of employees to get on their bikes, ” including new cyclists, as well as a mix of genders and age groups. Stuart Miller, Client Business Partner, Capital Investment Team, West Through its support for the National Cycle Challenge, West Dunbartonshire Council Lothian Council has demonstrated how an event-based intervention can successfully engage people in active travel. Its participation in the event has also helped illustrate the power of leading by example.
This project received funding through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
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Like many areas in Scotland’s central belt, travel thereby allowing individual, team and organisational In advance of their participation, registrants patterns in West Lothian are dominated by journeys performance to be recognised, rewarded and reported that the main benefi ts they wanted to Encouraging Active by car or van. West Lothian Council is aware that incentivised. gain by riding a bike were improved fi tness (91%), “ increasing the proportion of journeys undertaken to enjoy the outdoors (72%) and improved health Travel is important to by active and sustainable modes could generate The Challenge website features a leader-board, (40%). The 3 main barriers to taking part in the signifi cant social, environmental and economic activity lists, key statistics, an announcement Challenge were poor weather (28%), not knowing reduce travel by car benefi ts. For this reason, the Council continues section, a photo gallery as well as a social media safe routes (28%) and not feeling confi dent to invest in a wide range of measures designed feed. The website is supported by a bespoke (10%). These details provided important insights especially for shorter to make walking, cycling and public transport smart-phone app, which automatically detects into how to engage employees and encourage more attractive to travellers and reduce single- when users ride their bike and saves the details to participation. commuter journeys. occupancy car travel. their Love to Ride profi le. The Council’s support for the National Cycle The Love to Ride Cycle In 2016/17, West Lothian Council was awarded The Council promoted the National Cycle Challenge provided it with an opportunity to funding via the Smarter Choices Smarter Places Challenge to workplaces across West Lothian and promote a wider portfolio of active and sustainable Challenge in West (SCSP) programme, which enabled it to continue showed leadership by signing up as one of the travel measures to workplaces across West and build on a number of work streams initiated in 16 registered organisations. The competition had Lothian. For instance, The Council was able to Lothian last year 2015/16. The broad purpose of this work was to a great response within the Council, with strong share its walking and cycling maps, promote local did this with a high infl uence the travel behaviour of local residents, engagement amongst offi cers at a number of cycle training, inform employees about updates to pupils and employees by promoting active and sites. Much of this success was underpinned by key routes and signage, offer personalised travel level of engagement sustainable transport. managers coming on board and encouraging their planning and promote West Lothian Tripshare. staff to get involved. However, the competitive particularly within the One of the initiatives supported by the Council’s element of the Challenge and the associated points West Lothian Council’s support for the National 2016/17 SCSP funding allocation was The National and prizes also helped to motivate participation. Cycle Challenge provides a great example of council. West Lothian Cycle Challenge, run by Love to Ride. Designed to how an event-based intervention can successfully encourage employees across Britain to experience Of the 16 registered organisations in West Lothian, engage people in active travel. The motivational Council is looking the joys and benefi ts of riding a bike, this fun, free 12 actively participated in the Challenge. A total design of the website and the competitive competition ran throughout September 2016. of 183 employees participated, with 25% of these elements associated with the Challenge forward to being being new riders, 29% being occasional riders and undoubtedly helped to encourage participation. The National Cycle Challenge is hosted on an 46% being regular riders. Over 70% of registrants However, the level of support shown by managers involved in the broader on-line platform that enables individuals, teams were aged 35-54 years old, with 39% being female. had a positive impact on rates of participation and workplaces to register and log journeys and regional project for Cumulatively, West Lothian participants rode by Council offi cers, thereby helping the Council compete with one another. Points are awarded to perform well in the Challenge and lead by when people log a ride of 10 minutes or more, 23,214 miles during 2,206 recorded trips, meaning Central Scotland the average trip distance was over 10 miles. By example. cycling these journeys, participants saved an in partnership with estimated 3,003 kg / CO2 and burnt around 2,53 million kJ of energy. Clackmannanshire In numbers and Falkirk Councils which will encourage new and existing 16 93 1,162 637 riders to become West Lothian The Council Council trips were trips were Offi cer more active. organisations offi cers recorded made by participation in ” fi nished 1st the Challenge and 183 in its category registered by offi cers, Council Jim Stewart, Development participants in West Lothian a cycling trip, representing commuters, saved an Management & Transportation registered for the and 11th overall including 33 10,446 miles who cycled 4,871 estimated Planning Manager, West Lothian in the UK new riders Council Challenge miles 1,797 kg / CO2
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“ We had a great first Cycle Challenge in West Lothian last year, with high levels of engagement at lots of organisations, particularly the Council. We’re currently developing a broader Central Scotland project in partnership with West Lothian, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk to get more people cycling across the whole region. Cycling helps people become happier, healthier and wealthier at the same time as reducing congestion, pollution and demands on our Health Service - we’re looking forward to helping more people enjoy the benefits of biking! ” Jack Windle, Senior Projects Manager, Love to Ride
134134 135 The Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme is administered by Paths for All and funded by Transport Scotland.
FOR A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER SCOTLAND
© 2017. Paths for All, Office 8, Forrester Lodge, Tullibody Road, Alloa FK10 2HU. Research and text by Ansons Consulting Ltd. Design by Transform Creative.
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