EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Travel Survey 2006 and follow up discussion groups were conducted by the Office of Chief Researcher on behalf of the SE Travel Plan working group. The aim of the research was to inform the new revision of the SE Travel Plan.
The survey contained many of the same questions as previous SE Travel to Work Surveys (2001, 2002 & 2003) but included new questions on business travel and awareness/uptake of SE Travel initiatives/facilities. The main findings are summarised below.
Travel to Work
- Car is the most common mode of transport to work, with 43% travelling mainly or solely by car.
- Car use is highest at Saughton House (75%) and Pentland House (64%), and lowest at St Andrew's House (34%).
- Train use is the main mode of transport for around half of Glasgow respondents.
- Work location strongly influences transport choice, mainly due to public transport accessibility and car parking availability.
- Overall, commuting patterns are similar in both 2003 and 2006, although car use has risen slightly for Saughton House (8%) and St Andrew's House (7%).
- Nearly three quarters (74%) of those who travel to work mainly by car, travel alone and the majority feel that car sharing is not really compatible with their flexible working pattern.
- Offering an incentive ( i.e. guaranteed parking space) would be an important part of any car sharing scheme.
- Although many respondents are 'environmentally active' in their personal lives, travel to work choices are mainly motivated by time, convenience and flexibility. This applies to respondents travelling by car, public transport and bicycle.
Business Travel
- Half of respondents (48%) travelled by bus for their last business trip to another SE building, while one in five travelled part or all of their journey by taxi (22%), private car (19%) or train (19%).
- Victoria Quay is the most common destination for travel between the six main SE buildings (including travel from Glasgow) and is most commonly reached by public transport.
- One in five (21%) travelled by taxi for their last business trip to another SE building, and their reasons were that 'public transport takes too long' (53%) or that they were 'taxi sharing' (51%).
- Although only 7% of respondents state they 'always use a taxi', findings suggest that some perceive taxi use as a normal and acceptable practice.
Booking Tickets
- Ordering tickets through administrative support is the most common method of booking tickets of all types.
- There are concerns that the SE pays a 'premium' price for 'Flexi tickets' and travel booked through Carlson Wagonlit.
- The majority of respondents (77%) who have travelled to London on business in the last 12 months, travelled by air for their last trip.
- Although respondents' reasons for choosing air or rail are wide ranging, time and 'value for money' are main concerns, with environmental impact being a consideration for a minority.
SE Travel Initiatives and Facilities
- Less than one third of respondents (29%) are aware of the SE Travel Plan.
- Discussion group respondents feel the Travel Plan should focus on business travel and reducing costs and they emphasise the need for better communication and promotion of the plan.
- The majority are aware of SE travel initiatives/facilities, but uptake varies considerably. The Edinburgh 'City Singles' are the most used initiative (57%), while the salary advance for bicycles/equipment is least used (5%).
- Suggested improvements to current initiatives included upgrading and extending the video/telephone conferencing facilities, providing a season ticket scheme for public transport which is cheaper than direct debit and greater incentives to cycle.
Travel Plan Opportunities
- There is a clear need to clarify and communicate SE policy on taxi use, air/rail travel, ticket types and costs for London trips.
- Provision of travel route information would increase awareness of travel choices and could encourage greater use of public transport between SE buildings.
- Discussion group respondents are generally in favour of home/remote working and are willing to use video/telephone conferencing facilities.
- Cyclists suggest improving cycle rack provision, building access and signage, and publicising off-road cycle routes in order to encourage cycling to work.