Aberdeenshire Travel Plan
In 2005 Aberdeenshire council published a council wide travel plan. Currently we are reviewing our main sites and seeking to implement site specific travel plans.
Various initiatives have been delivered to support the aims of travel planning.
Travel plan initiatives
Maintaining a high profile through interesting initiatives is important for any travel plan. You can read below about some examples of initiatives we have delivered to promote sustainable travel to our staff.
Electric Vehicles
We are adding more and more electric vehicle charge points. For more information visit our car parks page.
Pool Cars
Pool cars are available at our offices in: Banff, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Strichen, Turriff and our headquarters Woodhill House in Aberdeen. Pool cars are on average newer than private vehicles so they tend to have lower emissions, and their use tends to mean reduced claims for business mileage travelled in private vehicles. Pool cars therefore provide savings to the council in both financial and environmental terms.
Walk to Work Week
Each year we promote Walk to Work Week. Sometimes this is encouraged through a Pedometer Challenge or other activities, such as lunchtime walks, to raise awareness of the health benefits of a more active lifestyle.
Promoting Cycling
Our Travel Plan identifies the need for improving facilities for cyclists at all major centres of employment. With over 500 places of employment within the council, the Transportation Team encourage staff to suggest new locations in need of cycle parking.
Our staff are able to take advantage of a 'Cycle To Work' scheme through the Employee Benefits package. This allows them to purchase a bicycle and accessories worth up to £2,000 and pay the purchase cost back in instalments via salary sacrifice, free of interest and tax.
We also participate in cycle challenge events, often alongside local employers and neighbouring local authorities. These events help to encourage new cyclists throughout the Aberdeenshire area to make the switch to travelling on two wheels and incentivise those who already cycle to do so more frequently.
Car Share Scheme
We have been running a car share scheme since March 2004. The scheme is promoted through induction, payroll, staff email, intranet, employee newsletters and as part of National Liftshare week, which takes place annually in the first week of October.
Our scheme, along with those of a number of other organisations in the Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City areas, are part of the GetAbout Liftshare scheme. The GetAbout Liftshare scheme is itself part of the wider Liftshare network which operates across the UK.
Anyone can join GetAbout Liftshare for free and start looking for other people to share a lift with. When users sign up they can then choose to be part of the public scheme or join a private scheme for their organisation, such as for example the one for Aberdeenshire Council staff.
Public Transport
Currently employees can access discounts with First Aberdeen as part of their Corporate Travel Club. For advice on accessing this discount please call First on 0844 854 2569.
At present the only discounted bus travel available to Aberdeenshire Council staff is via First Aberdeen.
The Council will consider joining any similar discount scheme made available by Stagecoach Bluebird.
Staff are encouraged to use Traveline Scotland to access information on public transport timetables. You can also phone on 0871 200 22 33.
Mobile and flexible working
As part of the Council's ongoing work to improve services and efficiency a major programme introducing mobile and flexible working is underway. The project is called WorkSmart.
Travel Plan Human Stories
The Travel Plan encourages people to think about their travel choices. Want to find out about people and their sustainable travel choices. Read our human stories.
Contact us
You can contact the Transport Strategy Team by telephone on 01467 536929 or by emailing transportationstrategy@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.