Overview
Due to growing populations and current patterns of urbanisation, cities are experiencing increasing pressure on their transport infrastructure and services causing congestion and poor air quality. There is therefore a common need for modal shift away from car use and towards cycling and other sustainable modes to allow cities to continue to grow whilst affording quality of life.
The PTP-Cycling projects main objectives are to:
- Achieve measured attitudinal and behavioural change away from the car and towards cycling and other sustainable modes in the Implementation sites and other EU cities;
- Increase PTP capacity and skills in cities across Europe;
- Unlock public and private sector investment into PTPs and raise behavioural change mechanisms up the political agenda.
The PTP-Cycle project uses a robust methodology already developed by Sustrans in the UK, that will be further developed together with the experience of other partners. PTP uses a flexible approach to travel behaviour change, allowing the common methodology to be adapted to suit local needs, sites and demographics.
PTP-Cycle is implementing this approach in sites which have a high propensity to cycle. Such sites are identified by examining a range of indicators including socio-demographic data and existing cycling and public transport infrastructure. We use direct contact with individuals to identify and meet their needs for support, and to motivate people to think about their day-to-day travel choices.
The first step of the PTP project begins with personal contact by telephone, on the doorstep, at work or via events, with the target population. This contact enables the target population to be separated into segments consisting of three main groups: existing regular users of sustainable travel modes; non-regular users who are interested in receiving information on alternatives to the car, and those who are not interested in taking part.
Participants in the 'interested' group receive a PTP order form enabling them to choose from a range of local travel information materials and other services such as intensive 1-on-1 advice sessions, local bike maintenance sessions and led-rides. The requested items are assembled into personalised packages and hand-delivered to the households or individuals who requested them.
A typical PTP project team consists of a project manager and a team of PTP advisers. A local field officer to coordinate PTP delivery and a network of active travel champions within a workplace or university could be required.
Results
The project has entered into its third and final year this April and results of Phase one implementation are now available.
- The project has delivered a pan-EU coordinated Personalised Travel Plan programme across five European cities covering a range of implementation sites.
- A vast range of resources have been produced and are available on the project website. Resources include methodology guides, evaluation guidance and practical guides to implementing in residential areas, universities and workplaces.
- The project has organised and will deliver a training workshop for local and regional authorities, businesses and NGOs on how to set up Personalised Travel Planning (PTP) projects, and engage in direct conversations with citizens to encourage travel behaviour change.
The project has entered into its third and final year this April and results of Phase 1 implementation are now available:
- Antwerp City Council have committed to funding PTP-Cycle after the official close of the project in 2016. PTP-Cycle has been essential in tackling the disruption caused by major infrastructure works in the City. PTP-Cycle has been used to encourage sustainable transport choices for commuting trips to work.
- In the city of Burgos 2,968 households received PTP. Short-term evaluation results have provided promising figures with 19% of residents increasing their number of cycling trips and a 98% reduction in private car use in favour of more sustainable transportation modes.
- In the London Borough of Haringey 3,500 residents were contacted with 71% receiving PTP advice. Responses from the short-term evaluation have produced encouraging results with 15% of respondents increasing their number of cycling trips, 28% increasing their number of walking trips and 19% decreasing their number of car alone trips.
- In the London Borough of Greenwich 3,500 residents were contacted with 62% interested in receiving travel advice, leading to 2,175 PTP information packs delivered. Based on the short-term evaluation results 6% of respondents increased their number of cycling trips 42% increased their number of walking trips and 29% increased their number of trips on public transport.
- Short-term evaluation results in the City of Ljubljana show a 5% increase in walking, 27% increase in cycling and a 6% reduction in car use.
- In the City of Riga a total of 1,512 questionnaires about mobility patterns were completed with 1,117 marketing materials distributed.