SEStran Celebrates Liftshare day
Date : 6th June 2008
6 June 2008
For Immediate Release
SEStran celebrates Liftshare day with an appeal for more motorists to share journeys
Car sharing can play a vital role in reducing traffic congestion and pollution
SEStran is celebrating National Liftshare day (June 9th) with an appeal for more motorists to consider car sharing as a travel option.
Already over 4000 people across South East Scotland have signed up with TripshareSestran.com to share some of their car journeys.
Car sharing offers real financial savings on fuel, parking charges and wear and tear on vehicles, as well as helping to tackle congestion and reduce pollution.
Typically, TripshareSestran.com members can expect to save an average of over £1000 a year through participation in the scheme.
NHS Lothian are the latest employer to launch a car sharing scheme for their 30,000 employees. People signing up will be entered into a prize draw to win Kwik Fit Servicing, including a “Green Service” for their car, which will improve fuel efficiency and include a carbon offset donation.
SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:
“Thousands of people in South East Scotland have already discovered the benefits of car sharing through signing up with TripshareSEStran.com. They are saving money, saving wear and tear on their cars – and wear and tear on themselves, by reducing the stress of commuting. Recent increases in fuel prices make car sharing even more of a common sense option.”
“NHS Lothian’s new car sharing initiative is a very exciting development. With nearly 30,000 staff, the NHS is one of the region’s biggest employers. A car sharing scheme on this scale has the potential to take thousands of cars off the region’s roads each day. It can make a major contribution towards cutting traffic congestion and reducing the region’s carbon footprint”.
“South East Scotland is facing a 10% rise in population over the next 15 years. That’s a lot more people and a lot more cars on the roads. Car sharing is a practical way of helping to protect our environment and keep the region moving. It’s acting locally and thinking globally”.
ENDS
SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer
T: 0131-524-5161
M: 07889-010-291
E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk
Notes
· SEStran promotes TripshareSestran.com, the free car sharing scheme across South East Scotland.
· The region is projected to be facing a 10% increase in population and a 50% increase in congestion over the next 15 years. Car sharing will help reduce this congestion.
· Over 4,000 people are members of TripshareSestran.com, now one of the five biggest public car liftsharing schemes in the UK.
· On average, Tripshare members can save over £1000 a year on fuel, parking and vehicle maintenance costs through car sharing, while helping reduce congestion and pollution, by taking cars off the road each day.
· Since its launch in October 2006, Tripshare members have saved an estimated 1,592,048 vehicle-miles, equivalent to 487 tonnes of Co2 and saving members a total of £159,205
· Lothian Health Board are launching their car share scheme for all staff- Doctors, nurses, clerical staff- on June 9th. People signing up will be entered into a prize draw to win Kwik fit servicing, including Britian’s first ‘Green service’ which improves the fuel efficiency of the car and includes a carbon offset donation. (This raffle prize will also be open to people joining Fife Health Board, Fife Council, Edinburgh University and Falkirk Council car sharing schemes).
· Since June 2007, the cost of diesel has increased 29% and petrol 17% - it is now £15 more to fill a diesel car and £9 more to fill a petrol car (Source: AA).
· Since June last year, car sharing schemes have been launched at Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh University and Edinburgh Park. More and more businesses are seeing the opportunity to cut parking problems, save money and increase employee travel options by promoting car sharing.
· A May 2008 survey by Spokes showed 75% of cars in Edinburgh in the morning rush hour have just one occupant. If everyone shared a car just once a week, we’d cut congestion by 20%.
