The National TravelWise Association (NTWA) is a network of organisations, including local authorities, health sector, academic sector and passenger transport executives working together to promote healthy and sustainable transport. We have been members of the NTWA since 1996.
Aims
To reduce society's dependence on car use by
- raising awareness of environmental, health, economic and social effects of car use;
- changing attitudes towards car use;
- promoting more sustainable modes of travel, and lifestyles which require less travel;
- encouraging action to change travel behaviour and reduce unnecessary car use.
Changes to TravelWise in 2008
After more than two years of planning, members of ACT (Association for Commuter Transport) and the NTWA (National Travelwise Association) on 8 November 2007 voted overwhelmingly to merge the two organisations.
The merger will create a new, bigger and stronger organisation, whose membership body will advance the interests of the travel planning and smarter choices profession. The new organisation will be called "ACT Travelwise" from 1st January 2008, and a new board will be elected at ACT Travelwise's first AGM in February 2008.
Leeds TravelWise
Working with schools
School Travel Advisers work with schools across the district to develop school travel plans to encourage more sustainable and healthy travel options to school. Other activities include the support of ‘Walk to School Week' in May, and International Walk to School month in October each year. Other initiatives include Safer Routes to School initiatives e.g. access or safety improvements on the journey to school, the ‘Walk on Wednesday’ WoW scheme, and support for Walking Buses in connection with the Road Safety Team. (see link below)
Working with businesses, colleges and universities
The Workplace Travel Adviser works with employers and other organisations across Leeds to promote sustainable forms of travel including the introduction of travel plans to encourage employees to travel to work on foot, by bicycle, on public transport, motorcycle, or by car sharing. Organisations with travel plans can network through membership of the West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network (WYTPN), and take part in annual travel surveys to monitor travel behaviour. The TravelWise Team also evaluates and monitor travel plans submitted as part of the planning process.
Activities and events
To help raise awareness of sustainable travel options in Leeds, TravelWise organise and run campaigns and events and work alongside the media throughout the year. The main events currently supported are;
Walk to School Week (May)
World Environment Day (June)
National Liftshare day (June)
National Bike Week (June)
International Walk to School Month (October)
Responsible car use
TravelWise recognise that for some trips the car is still the most fitting option, so to help people to make their car travel more efficient we have introduced two schemes. Carsharing at www.carshareleeds.com and www.wycarshare.com are free to use car share matching websites for anyone who lives or works around the Leeds district, and Leeds City Car Club (WhizzGo ) provides convenient car hire, by the hour, from locally parked cars in the city centre and residential suburbs. Members often find it possible to sell their private car and instead use more public transport and walk and cycle more, as the car becomes just another transport choice, and not the default method of travel.
For more information about sustainable transport, visit the National TravelWise website.