Improving end-of-trip facilities to support more sustainable forms of travel

THE SOCIAL IMPACT DIRECTOR’S VIEW
EMMA WILSON,
SOCIAL IMPACT DIRECTOR AT PARETO FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

The concept of improving end-of-trip facilities in workspaces is nothing new. We’ve being doing it for decades. However, the rationale was often focused around employee productivity plus attraction and retention of talent, or before that; the personal preference of the decision makers. Ten years ago, it was pretty progressive to have excellent on-site shower facilities or properly secure bike storage to encourage people to cycle to work.

Other policy led initiatives such as car spaces saved for those ride-sharing to work, shuttle buses from the train station to the business park, employee wellness programmes that reward ‘active’ routes to work and flexible working hours to suit the commute have all been implemented for some time. There have also been government initiatives such as the Cycle to Work Scheme and of course, more recently, electric vehicle charging stations have risen in prominence. The concept of allowing people to guarantee a parking space at work and leave with a full charge is a great benefit to colleagues. That said, those in the industry can likely confirm the difficulties we face in terms of functionality, with users ‘hogging’ the electrical bays beyond their allocated time, people parking there without electric vehicles and also the challenge of who should pay for the ‘fuel’. The benefits of these, although initially focused on talent retention, have inadvertently led to more sustainable travel options which can only be seen as a positive concept.

In the immediate present, we are seeing a continuation on the theme, of new initiatives coming through. At Pareto, we are reasonably progressive in these areas but are always reevaluating and looking for better ways to improve and are looking at a number of ideas and approaches. The key for us is an open and innovative approach and to challenge the status-quo. We are in the process of launching different inclusive sustainable travel initiatives including a tax efficient electric car scheme which will mean those who want to embrace electric vehicles will be able to do so at a reduced cost. We are also focusing on more sustainable providers, in particular COCO+, the UK’s only B Corp certified travel management company, whose sustainable approach to business travel and climate positive fuel card will help us to reduce our carbon footprint, with all unavoidable emissions offset at 101 per cent. It may cost slightly more, but it means your travel emissions can be at minus one per cent annually, which is excellent for the overall carbon neutral achievement. We are also relaunching our cycle to work scheme, this has been really well utilised in the past offering VAT savings of the purchase of a bike as well as interest free loans to spread the cost over 12 months, again focusing on the accessibility.

We always state this, but on this occasion, facilities service providers truly are uniquely positioned to help their clients improve their end-of-trip facilities and encourage more sustainable forms of travel at every stage. From design and planning to infrastructure and installation, to maintenance and upkeep, to security and safety, the operational teams are there throughout the whole journey. Thereafter, there is the ability to engage users and gain feedback, collate data and provide opportunities for greater development of schemes. The service providers are living the client’s operational reality on a daily basis and can provide real-time innovation and feedback through their regular reviews. As well as learnings from other client sites on education and promotion of such initiatives. No one else in the client business would be closer to, or as interested in, these initiatives which is a great opportunity for service providers to lead the way”.

THE ACTIVE TRAVEL CONSULTANT’S VIEW
ANDREW BROWN,
JUST RIDE THE BIKE, ACTIVE TRAVEL CONSULTANCY

It’s very mixed. On the one hand, planning authorities set guidelines for new developments that often demand far more bike parking spaces than are needed. So, there is an expectation amongst policymakers around the concept of people choosing an active route to work – particular in terms of just riding a bike to work.

Then, if you look at developers, then there is a desire to create the most modern, sustainable and low impact spaces that people want to work in – and want to reach easily in whatever manner is appropriate. What’s appropriate is a personal choice, but local authorities and hence planners are adhering to Government policy around health and wellbeing and are advocating an active travel policy. For developers that means cycling – because as anyone on the ReTour run by Remit, knows, bikes sell buildings. Bike parking is the new black for the property sector.

So, what about the people managing the building? This is where there is a catch. Even in award winning workplaces it is not always easy to arrive at your destination by bicycle. If you work at say, Henrietta House, in London’s West End, or The Lincoln in Manchester then you can access the bike parking easily. It is not so straightforward for a visitor. So, whilst going to work on a bike is good – using one to move between workplaces for a meeting works less well. So much so that leading construction directors of major developers use a Brompton folding bike to go between meetings in London because it can be easily stored, quickly and safely and there is no contentious negotiation with security or reception.

Likewise, deliveries by bike are often thwarted due to the mindset of security and building management staff. It is ironic that many users and occupiers of a space make an order, or request a delivery using a courier or a cargo bike logistics operator – because it is zero carbon – and find the arrangement failed due to be refused access to a space. For example, EY in London Bridge cannot use a cargo bike delivery firm to transfer documents and materials to a colleague in Canary Wharf as the bikes are refused access.

Cargo bikes are a new entity. Despite massive acceptance in Europe, a 25 per cent increase in commercial sales in the UK and popularity in the media, the world of workplace does not know what to do with cargo bikes or the potential they represent. Bikes are seen as a risk by security and reception teams alike. Whilst the riders know what they are doing staff manning loading bays refuse entry on safety grounds. Cargo bikes do not comply with operator and maintenance manuals, or any form of schedule. They do not compute. Hence the advantages of someone in an office hiring a cargo bike logistics operator are undermined by the FM systems.

There is huge inconsistency between sites. General misunderstanding. And a massive, missed opportunity. Cargo bikes can do exactly what a van can do – but with zero emissions. So, if you survey exactly what is ordered and despatched in and out of your workplace you can see not just where savings can be obtained, but emissions cut too. Cargo bikes are coming and the FM and CRE professionals, asset managers and property managers, along with the workplace community are well placed as customers to take huge advantage of the costs and environmental gains to be made by allowing access by cargo bikes and their riders.