Trustpower

Through a holistic transport scheme focused on engaging and listening to staff’s needs, they have increased the number of people cycling to work from 10 to 50, in the short timeframe since the move. 

They’ve also noticed:

• Greater awareness of commute options, and staff who feel well informed
• Increased general wellness and activity
• Social benefits - A good group feeling in the cycling area, with people bumping into each other who hadn’t spoken previously.

Feedback from staff following an initiative providing free safety gear:

• A great motivator to bike to work, just the push I needed.
• Great idea guys – has motivated me to ride more than I currently am!
• Thank you, this kind of thing definitely enables me to bike into work.

Start small

People will throw up lots of barriers and reasons why they can’t or won’t do something.

‘Leave your car at home Friday’ encouraged people to try something different for one day of the week for a whole month.  We had prizes for those that took part and themed each week differently so we could focus on one particular thing (like cycling).

Once people took these first steps, they were more likely go one step further, eg adding an extra day.

Listen and engage

The main thing is to be patient, actively engage with those groups and provide the information in a balanced manner.

Trustpower surveyed their staff at the start of the process to find out what works for them.

We’ve always tried to provide a balanced view of trying what works for the individual rather than trying to get them to use one form of transport all the time.

The power of peers, and reaching the tipping point

One person posted something on our intranet that they felt they could not cycle in because of distance so couldn’t participate in the leave your car at home initiative.  Without being prompted another staff member responded with a solution – they too drove a long way but parked somewhere closer and then rode in.  You will reach a ‘critical mass’ at some point where you have to do less work - now we have a good group of people actively using the bike area and being advocates for cycling it makes it a lot easier.

Facilitate a communication platform such as setting up a staff cycling Facebook page.

Use your networks

Trustpower suggests seeking advice/involvement from local councils – this can be a good way to find wider schemes to piggy-back onto, as well as advice on common issues.

They have the experts and information; from my experience, they often face similar challenges so are happy to help.

Transport plan

Having a holistic transport planning process proved successful as it recognised that one thing does not work for everybody.

Have a programme and general approach, not just one initiative.

Budget is usually a big [constraint].  You may need to make a business case and get Senior Management support for what you are doing.

You can use the information in this guide to help with this, especially focusing on key benefits and case studies of successful businesses.

There’s lots of help out there in pulling together the benefits.

• They want to keep momentum and make a fully sustainable change in their staff’s perceptions of getting to work
• They want to consider how they can advocate cycling not just internally but to the wider community
• More campaigns, and potentially forming part of a cycling group, along with local councils

I started cycling to work in February 2016 when Trustpower’s head office moved into Tauranga’s city centre.

I had thought my previous commute to work was too long, too hard, too scary. When Trustpower moved, I was gifted the opportunity to give cycling a go. I bought a commuter’s bike and a new bike bag and I hit the road.

When I first started biking to work it was a little bit hard; I could usually only cycle three days a week before I started complaining that my legs were tired. But then something changed. What has made cycling such a success for me is that I slowed my pace down. I took the pressure off myself to be a cycling athlete and to keep up with the other lycra-uniformed cyclists. Once I did that, riding to and from work simply became a fun activity to do.

I now use my bike way more to get to other places around Tauranga. Instead of taking the car, my husband and I will bike to Bayfair and stop for coffee on the way. If we want to quickly pop into The Mount township then we just jump on the bikes and we are there in one minute. The freedom of a bicycle makes it so accessible.

Biking to work is so refreshing and energising and it is exercise without me having to think about it – there is no bigger motivator to keep going and not give up than the fact that you have no other option, otherwise you will remain at a standstill in the middle of Totara Street.

I now hate the days when I have to take the car. I will try and arrange after-work activities to be later so I have time to bike home. It sounds strange I guess, but the fun of biking home is what makes me do it. It’s a chance to blow off steam, to get some easy exercise and to just feel like I am living.