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Modeshift – The Sustainable Travel Network

Posted: 28 April 2016 | Ross Butcher, National Chair of Modeshift | No comments yet

Ahead of his article in Intelligent Transport Issue 3, Ross Butcher, National Chair of Modeshift, discusses how the not for profit membership organisation is encouraging the switch from car to alternative modes of transport and why sustainable travel is essential for an efficient and coherent transport system…

Ross Butcher Modeshift

Ahead of his article in Intelligent Transport Issue 3, Ross Butcher, National Chair of Modeshift, discusses how the not for profit membership organisation is encouraging the switch from car to alternative modes of transport and why sustainable travel is essential for an efficient and coherent transport system…

I am going to ask you to do something that will take just a few seconds. Think about the last journey you made by car (if you don’t drive then think about in terms of a passenger or simply read on). Now ask yourself if you could have chosen another mode of travel to complete that journey? In most cases you will say ‘no’, and supporting that answer there are no doubt a range of reasons why. So let’s move to my second question. Have you ever been in a car (driver or passenger) and made a journey that could have been done by another mode of transport (and if you say no because there is no way you would ever get in the car, then I’ll change the focus of the question to someone you know). In most cases this time the answer will be yes. Travel by car is easy, convenient and for many a habit. From a sustainable travel practitioner’s perspective, car travel is not always necessary and it is making the switch to other modes that keeps us busy and at times frustrated.

“Car travel is not always necessary and it is making the switch to other modes that keeps us busy and at times frustrated”

Sustainable travel is vital for an efficient and coherent transport system that can support economic growth, improved health, cleaner air, safer streets and improved quality of life in our communities. 55% of all car journeys in the UK are less than five miles and there is scope to increase the uptake of sustainable modes of travel with a focus on active modes like walking and cycling. Carbon emission reduction, improved public health and reduced congestion are all benefits of an increase in sustainable travel. In turn, sustainable travel supports economic growth and improved quality of life.

55% of all car journeys in the UK are less than five miles

This is where Modeshift (the organisation) comes in. Established in 2001 (known then as UKLAST before changing name to Modeshift in 2007) we are a best-practice membership organisation of Local Authorities and partnering companies from the not-for-profit and profit sectors. Our overarching aim is to increase levels of sustainable travel that in turn supports economic growth, better health, cleaner air and less congestion. Our network in the UK includes over 600 members from around 90 Local Authorities and 25 supporting organisations. Modeshift runs the national sustainable travel awards, national school travel awards and later in 2016 we will launch a national awards scheme for places of work. Since 2013 Modeshift has also supported the launch of STARS Europe (a European funded project) in nine European cities.

Modeshift aims to increase levels of sustainable travel that in turn supports economic growth, better health, cleaner air and less congestion

Over the past decade, Modeshift has worked alongside its members and partners in England to support and enhance the field of sustainable travel with a focus on the journey to school. Since 2012, Modeshift has launched several new services for schools including the Modeshift STARS accreditation programme. As a leading organisation in sustainable travel, Modeshift aims to be the centre of excellence for the promotion of sustainable travel choices in education, workplace and community settings by raising standards of industry delivery. This includes establishing a standard and level of implementation for travel plans, sharing best-practice on the provision of travel choices information, and recognising excellence in the delivery of sustainable travel initiatives in schools and workplaces. 

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Following the success of Modeshift STARS, in 2015 we launched a similar online platform called STARSfor, for places of working and Higher Education. Our STARSfor system is a travel plan builder (for Development Control and voluntary) with monitoring functions for Local Authorities. The system is spreading across England as a new way to create travel plans. When our rating scheme is launched later in 2016, STARSfor will help support more sustainable travel journeys and set high standards for travel plans.

Biography

Ross Butcher joined Transport for London (TfL) in 2006 as a graduate transport planner and since 2008 has specialised in sustainable travel planning and behaviour change. He currently manages TfL’s secondary school and higher education programmes. Ross joined Modeshift in 2008 as the London Regional Representative, taking on the role as Vice-Chair in 2009 before taking over as National Chair for Modeshift in 2011. Prior to working in transport Ross has served as a Director at a number of summer camps in the USA.

Read more about Modeshift and its role in increasing levels of sustainable travel in Intelligent Transport Issue 3 2016 (published in June) by clicking here to sign-up and receive your free print or online subscription.