CARPLUS
NEWS
Autumn
2007
Engaging
with stakeholders
Carplus is a
membership organisation. The organisation exists to promote a rethink of car
use by supporting the development of car clubs and car sharing. Carplus
engages with stakeholders to ensure the benefits of responsible car use are
understood and accessible to all. Carplus achieves these objectives
specifically by:
- Development
work to create a network of car clubs
- Research
projects and data collection
- Compiling
and disseminating best practice in the form of written guidance, web
pages, events, and newsletters
- Managing
a car club accreditation scheme
- Running
advisory groups for car clubs, car sharing and the Forum for London
practitioners
- Seeking
new opportunities to develop the sector and new strategic partners
- Consultancy
services
Carplus
offers all services equally to members and non members so there is no barrier
to stimulating activity in this sector. However, Carplus urges local
authorities and stakeholders to become members to support Carplus' work and
help Carplus to represent its stakeholders and be an independent democratic
charity.
The
Carplus AGM on 8th Nov is a chance to:
- Hear
Matthew Ledbury, Environmental Policy Advisor, speak about the
contribution of car clubs to cutting emissions
- Hear
key findings from Carplus’ projects concluding this year
- See
the final version of new logo and potential road sign for car clubs
- Feed
into future plans for Carplus
Click
here
to join Carplus or here
to attend the AGM.
Saving tonnes
It’s
a shocking fact that road transport is currently responsible for 25% of the
UK
’s total CO2
output. Car club members have been shown to reduce their mileage by an average
of 50% upon joining. This reduction occurs as a result of members switching to
more sustainable modes such as public transport, walking and cycling and
results in an average reduction from 2.25 tonnes CO2 per year to
just 0.87 tonnes. Recent
car club developments have seen the adoption by operators of more efficient
vehicles such as the Toyota Yaris and the Citroen C3 which already meet the EU
target of less than 120g/km of CO2. This results in a saving per
kilometre of 37.6g compared with the average British car. One further factor
is that members tend to tie trips together, with an average journey length of
30-50 miles (compared with 6.8 miles for a private car).
Car clubs are just one of
the ideas mentioned on the www.saveatonne.com
website, with tips on how to reduce your carbon emissions.
Raising awareness of car clubs
A new logo for car clubs has just been finalised
under a project funded by TfL. The new generic brand will form the basis for a
capital wide marketing and PR launch next Spring co-ordinated by Carplus. The
logo and example marketing materials will be unveiled at the Carplus AGM (see
above). A revised parking sign for car club bays is now being submitted to the
DfT sign team, including the logo, with the aim of reducing illegal parking.
London Boroughs wishing to be involved in this work should contact Antonia@carplus.org.uk. Local authorities from the rest of the country
will also be able to share the artwork from the project.
Interchange
project
Carplus
is also working with TfL and the London Borough of Newham on a pilot project
to research the potential of placing car club bays at rail stations. The pilot
at three sites will complement work in the
Yorkshire
and Humber Cars Cutting Carbon programme and by other operators. The results
will inform and form the basis of a national roll out once funding is secured.
Low
car housing seminar 7th November
The
second in a series of four free car club seminars, hosted by the Royal Borough
of Kensington and Chelsea and sponsored by Transport for
London
is to be held on Wednesday 7th November at
Kensington
Town Hall
. The topic will be low car housing, with future seminars discussing car club
parking and marketing. Click here
to book your place. Please pass this invitation on to any planners or
developers that you are in contact with.
Lets
get quizzical!
Carplus
is staging a Pub Quiz on 7th November as a prelude to the AGM. Hosted at The
Lamb in Bloomsbury, the quiz is an ideal opportunity to relax and meet new
people while giving your brain a gentle workout! Details are on the Carplus
website here.
Car
club news
Beyond the capital
Streetcar has had a busy start to the autumn, with
launches in
Cambridge
and
Guildford
. The club has also joined forces with VW to offer members the use of the new
low emission Polo BlueMotion. Streetcar’s big news is that they have secured
£10m in car funding which will secure growth into 2009.
www.streetcar.co.uk
Another Wombat in Essex
Wombat Car Club is a small, family run business based in
Kesgrave in
Essex
. The club launched earlier in 2007, and has enjoyed enough success already to
be able to instal a second car, this time in
Colchester
. The new vehicle will be launched at Colchester Green Fair on 27th October.
www.wombatcarclub.co.uk
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