Making Car Sharing and Car Clubs Work - Case ... - The Civil Service

MAKING CAR SHARING AND CAR CLUBS WORKCASE STUDY SUMMARIESAn intranet-based database for registering aninterest in car sharing and identifying potential carshare partners. Interestingly, of the three schemeusers interviewed, only one had initially identified hismain car share partner via the database. The othertwo had got to know people living near them whoare employed by the Met Office, and approachedthem informally to determine whether they would beinterested in car sharing. Undoubtedly, thewholesale move of office and staff from the southeastto the south-west facilitated this: a lot of peoplewere new to the area and organising newcommuting arrangements all at the same time.However, one of these two eventually also used thedatabase to identify other potential sharers, and is now in a pool of four, who share onaverage three days a week.4.15 The image right is an extract from the Met Office ‘STEP’ travel plan, which summarises theincentives offered to car sharers.4.16 EDF Energy offers similar incentives to encourage staff involvement in the car sharingscheme:Car parking is more restricted compared to the Met Office: there are 378 car parkingspaces available for 780 EDF Energy staff, with plans to increase the number ofemployees to 1,000, yet provide no additional parking. As parking spaces are soughtafter, an allocation system is enforced, with priority for those with caringresponsibilities, disabilities, a significant distance to travel, a lack of reasonablealternatives, etc. Spaces that become free due to staff on holiday, away on business orsick are re-allocated on a temporary basis to staff who do not normally qualify for aspace. Those car sharing are guaranteed a parking space and currently 160 spacesare reserved for car sharers, who are required to share on average three days a weekto 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 tomatch car sharers.Integration with Other Schemes4.17 The Met Office and EDF Energy have developed this as a joint venture. There is someevidence of car sharing between employees of both companies, particularly among familymembers and friends/neighbours who know each other outside work. However, the vastmajority of car sharing groups are among colleagues working for the same company.Final V1.1, Dec. 2004 - 27 -