Lift sharing needn’t be something that’s done everyday. Even two or three times a week to work would bring significant benefits. Online websites allow for one-off journeys and there are even specialist sharing facilities for the likes of travel to football matches and other events.
Below are some of the typical benefits of lift sharing to individuals and organisations as well as some suggestions on how to encourage use of a lift sharing scheme.
Benefits to Individuals
The first benefit an individual driver that starts lift sharing usually notices is the cost saving they make. Passengers can contribute to the cost of a journey and so long as the driver doesn’t make a profit, the driver's insurance shouldn't be invalidated.
Lift sharing provides the opportunity to swap drivers and vehicles from day to day which means that wear and tear on vehicles and the stress of driving can also be minimised.
Organisations who encourage people to lift share often
offer incentives such as preferential car parking spaces. Where parking is at a premium, guaranteed lift share spaces can make looking for a space much easier thereby attracting more lift sharers.
For staff working shift patterns, some organisations ensure that employees living close to one another work similar shifts to maintain continuity in lift sharing.
Lift sharing can also increase the number of travel options open to non-drivers or those with limited car access whether they live in rural areas, urban areas with limited public transport or where public transport options would take too long to get to the destination.
Lift sharing also means that the environment benefits through reduced CO2 emissions and pollution.
It is also a sociable way to commute and can assist in developing communication between staff members who may not have previously known one another. Aside from being a more sociable form of travel, it can also increase personal safety, in particular when travelling in the hours of darkness.
Benefits to Organisations
Lift sharing leads to less parking pressure. Freeing up parking spaces could mean that the organisation could use the space for more productive uses such as additional buildings, cycle storage etc.
Organisations can also save money by reducing car parking and the associated costs of leasing, repairing and maintaining spaces. In 1999, the Department for Transport identified that the average annualised cost of providing and then maintaining a car parking space was £400.
Organisations can also use lift sharing as a means to evidence their corporate social responsibility, in particular in demonstrating a willingness to tackle environmental issues.
The promotion of lift share schemes encourages colleagues to travel together and improve working relationships which may not have been there previously.
Here are some suggestions on how to encourage lift sharing:
- Designated spaces in the car park for lift sharers only.
- Flexible working hours can increase the possibility of participation in lift sharing.
- Resolve any issues that are raised quickly and efficiently. Offer a variety of ways people can contact the scheme coordinator (via telephone, SMS or email).
- Provide information about lift sharing as part of a welcome pack including guidelines, etiquette, FAQs and important contacts.
- Provide information about other modes of transport and your ‘guaranteed ride home’ scheme, just in case someone is stranded or is struggling for a lift on a certain day.
- If you have lunchtime and other facilities on-site or within easy walking distance (such as shops or a gym..etc) encourage people to use those facilities instead of ones further away. This way they should feel less inclined to bring a car just to get out at lunchtime.
- If there's a lot of business travel by car from your site, look at the feasibility of pool cars and other ways to reduce the need for people to bring their car to work. Even if people do drive on business, can they be encouraged to lift share to and from work at least some of the time?
Some employers actively encourage lift sharing by providing benefits to those who take part. It's important that lift sharing doesn't undermine the use of more sustainable options including trains, buses, bikes and walking, however, for many journeys, especially in areas of poor access to public transport services, lift sharing can be a crucial part of the Travel Plan Coordinator’s toolkit..jpg)
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