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Travel Plans Newsletter - Issue 14
Hello and welcome to the fourteenth and penultimate newsletter from the SWELTRAC Travel Plan Team. As some of you may already be aware, it is with sadness that I report that SWELTRAC will shortly be coming to an end. Due to inevitable funding cuts, coupled with a restructuring of London's transport partnership system, from 1st April 2011 the support and services provided by SWELTRAC will no longer be available. Although this will certainly have a significant effect on travel plan work in the area, it is also an opportunity for organisations to take more control over the future direction of their sustainable transport work. In the next few weeks, all organisations will receive a pack of useful information including advice on future surveys, a list of useful contacts and hints on how to build upon the momentum that has been built up over the past few years. In the meantime, please make use of the remaining support available to you by getting in touch with Nick with any questions.
* SCROLL DOWN FOR A VERY SPECIAL OFFER FROM STREETCAR! *
Free survey tool from Google
Once the hands-on survey support from SWELTRAC (using Survey Monkey software) is no longer available post-March, it may be worth looking to Google for a quality (and FREE) alternative. Google Docs' Forms offers an easy-to-use system; simply set up a free account on Google, go to Google Docs, Create a New Form and start inputting your questions. As an example, a 15 minute experiment resulted in this simple staff travel survey.
There are some advantages to purchasing a Survey Monkey license, particularly if you are producing a more detailed survey, or would like more control over the specific settings, but for a simple annual review of your travel plan, it doesn't look like you can go wrong with Google Docs. The SWELTRAC website will shortly be updated with advice on future surveying and a link to this will be included in the final newsletter next month. The SWELTRAC website will remain live until October 2011.
Keep running during the Olympics
As you may have heard(!), the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to London in July next year. Are you worried about how your organisation might function during this period? Well, the Olympic Delivery Authority has provided a wealth of useful information online here. The site includes a downloadable handbook of travel advice, an action plan template, maps of "travel hotspots" and many ideas to ensure minimal impact to business and staff productivity.
Cycle to Work Schemes - important clarification from HMRC
Last year, the HMRC clarified the guidance on the "fair market value" of bicycles and equipment at the end of Cycle to Work Scheme agreements. This ultimately impacts the overall savings through the scheme as the cost for employees to purchase the bike after 1 year has effectively increased from around 5% to 18-25%. The change will affect all employees currently on the scheme. Please see this guidance from HMRC, which also states that after 3 or 4 years the value of the bicycle will be closer to the preferred 5% mark. Cycle Scheme has interpreted this guidance and is offering its own solution to extend the agreement for an additional 36 month period for 3-7% of the value of the bike, click here for more information. Alternative Cycle to Work Scheme providers have also provided some advice; visit the Halfords site here, or Evans here.
Quote SWELTRAC to get your half price Streetcar business account plus two free drivers!
Streetcar is the UK’s largest car club with a fleet of over 1,500 cars and vans across London and 9 other UK cities. Over 2,600 businesses now use Streetcar as a green, cost effective alternative to traditional car rental, taxis, private mileage, and company and pool cars.
Once you have a business account with us, your employees can book any car or van in the Streetcar fleet for just 30 minutes, 6 months, or anything in between. They even have the added freedom of picking them up from work, from home or outside the train station. Once booked, they just use their Streetcard to pick up and return the vehicle at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year.
Whether you need to use a van for an afternoon to move files into storage, a BMW for two hours to take a client out to lunch, or a Touran for a week of site visits, Streetcar has the answer, giving you all the flexibility of a diverse company fleet, with none of the hassles or expense.
If you would like to find out how Streetcar could work for your business, call them on 020 3004 7816 or register your details online. Open an account before 31st March 2011, and quote ‘SWELTRAC’ to get your half price business account and two drivers added for free.
For further information see www.streetcarforbusiness.com.