UK Transport Minister Norman Baker
is takes a positive approach to flexible working.
And he thinks it should form a key plank in the
coalition government's transport policy and policies
for low carbon economic growth.
So the Department for Transport (DfT)
has launched a Call for Evidence as part of an
extensive investigation into the part that new ways
of working can play in it's sustainable transport
strategy.
The Call for Evidence is looking to
gain insights into measures that reduce both
business and commuting travel altogether, or reduce
it during peak travel times. So the travel
alternatives they are seeking to investigate are
summarised as:
-
Home working and remote working
-
Flexible working and staggered
hours (in order to reduce travel during the
peaks)
-
Use of conferencing technologies
-
Any other alternatives to travel
that can reduce work-related travel.
The DfT is looking for responses
from across sectors - business, not-for-profit,
academia and individuals. They are looking to
find evidence of the impacts, and what if anything
is holding up progress.
And they are looking for people's
opinions about what the role of government should be
in encouraging uptake of alternatives to travel.
At a meeting launching the Call for
Evidence, Mr Baker also mentioned that he would have
a role in promoting alternatives to travel across
government.
The Minister for not travelling
This new approach was first flagged
up last year in outlining the government's approach
to sustainable travel. According to Mr Baker:
"This is a new part of the
transport Department so I am the first Minister
to encourage people not to travel. It is counter
intuitive perhaps, but nevertheless it has its
value.
"Why? Because although there is
a role for making sure our transport systems are
green, and we have to do that, there is also a
role in economic and environmental terms from
looking at whether we have to go from A to B at
all.
"If we are going to encourage
home working even if 1 in 10 days are spent at
home, think of the difference they would make in
terms of congestion on the roads for those who
are left on the roads.
"If we can get people video
conferencing for when they are talking to
businesses in America, or wherever it happens,
think of the carbon that can be saved and the
time that can be saved for business by not
having to fly from Heathrow across the pond. So
there are economic and environmental benefits to
be pursued."
