Public Transport is Not 'Fit for Business Travel'
A joint RAC Foundation and British Chamber of Commerce survey has discovered that most business travellers rely on the car for work as public transport is not 'fit for purpose', according to a new study launched today.
The report 'Business Travel: Choice or Necessity', is the first to focus on business, not commuting, journeys. Informed by surveys of Chamber of Commerce members and research in Greater Manchester, Hereford and Worcester, the study found that the problems associated with business travel need to be addressed urgently because:
1. 86% of businesses find that road congestion affects their business locally, regionally and nationally.
2. The average business traveller wastes eleven days a year stuck in congestion.
3. Business people in Britain are travelling 20% further for business than 13 years ago.
The report calls for actions to tackle congestion because the car remains the dominant means for business travel, offering privacy, flexibility, and a door-to-door service:
1. 94 % of Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) use the road for their business travel.
2. 82% say the car is central to their business operations.
3. 70 % say that public transport, in its present form, is not fit for purpose.
The study also finds that over half of SMEs are already using technology to reduce their travel. For example, 50% use telephone conferencing and 30% use internet tools such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and instant messaging.
One in five businesses have taken steps to increase their use of public transport but unfortunately unreliability and unpredictable travel times are the main barriers to increased business use of buses and trains. Trains were considered a viable business travel option for certain journeys, but improvements, especially to the whole journey experience are required.
The study proposes a package of measures to tackle unnecessary business travel, and calls on national and local government to show more flexibility in supporting green business travel pioneers, instead of taking the rigid view that public transport is the solution for all travel needs. The report also calls for public transport improvements to tackle the barriers which are restricting business use of these modes by those business who would choose this mode if it better met their needs.
The RAC Foundation and the British Chambers of Commerce recommend the following framework for more sustainable business travel:
1. Individuals should consider how best to minimise the environmental and safety impacts of their journey's. This might involve not travelling at all, using video-conferencing systems, making use of the train, choosing a car for with low emissions, route planning or practicing eco-driving.
2. Businesses should develop business travel policies, including incentives to switch to less-congesting modes such as walking, cycling and motorcycling.
3. Rail transport operators should improve their services by providing door-to-door rather than station-to-station services.
4. Bus operators should develop services more appropriate to business needs.
5. Local government should take the needs of business into account and ensure that the business travel plan process is inclusive of Small and Medium Enterprises.
A Holdcroft Group spokesman suggested that the reports findings with regard to public transport business friendliness were 'unsurprising but disappointing given the promises made in this area by Governements of all political persuasion'. He went on 'The car is still the best option for many business people and Holdcroft Group is pleased to have business savvy company car sales advisors in each of its Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Saab and Subaru Dealerships'.
So whether you are looking for a new, nearly new or used company car contact Holdcroft now and get the advice need.
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www.whatcar.com
