Case Study Summaries - Richard Armitage Transport Consultancy ...

MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WORK CASE STUDY SUMMARIES
An intranet-based database for registering an
interest in car sharing and identifying potential car
share partners. Interestingly, of the three scheme
users interviewed, only one had initially identified his
main car share partner via the database. The other
two had got to know people living near them who
are employed by the Met Office, and approached
them informally to determine whether they would be
interested in car sharing. Undoubtedly, the
wholesale move of office and staff from the southeast
to the south-west facilitated this: a lot of people
were new to the area and organising new
commuting arrangements all at the same time.
However, one of these two eventually also used the
database to identify other potential sharers, and is now in a pool of four, who share on
average three days a week.
4.15 The image right is an extract from the Met Office ‘STEP’ travel plan, which summarises the
incentives offered to car sharers.
4.16 EDF Energy offers similar incentives to encourage staff involvement in the car sharing
scheme:
Car parking is more restricted compared to the Met Office: there are 378 car parking
spaces available for 780 EDF Energy staff, with plans to increase the number of
employees to 1,000, yet provide no additional parking. As parking spaces are sought
after, an allocation system is enforced, with priority for those with caring
responsibilities, disabilities, a significant distance to travel, a lack of reasonable
alternatives, etc. Spaces that become free due to staff on holiday, away on business or
sick are re-allocated on a temporary basis to staff who do not normally qualify for a
space. Those car sharing are guaranteed a parking space and currently 160 spaces
are reserved for car sharers, who are required to share on average three days a week
to warrant a space.
If a car share arrangement fails at short notice as a result of unforeseen circumstances,
and an alternative cannot be found, EDF Energy will cover the cost of a taxi ride home.
EDF Energy uses the same intranet-based software and database as the Met Office to
match car sharers.
Integration with Other Schemes
4.17 The Met Office and EDF Energy have developed this as a joint venture. There is some
evidence of car sharing between employees of both companies, particularly among family
members and friends/neighbours who know each other outside work. However, the vast
majority of car sharing groups are among colleagues working for the same company.
Final V1.1, Dec. 2004 - 27 -