The Conservation Council ACT Region and the Canberra Environment Centre have teamed up to lead Canberra businesses and commuters into the future of sustainable transport through an innovative project called ‘Make the Move’.
This new project will help commuters discover the benefits of active travel, overcome barriers, and encourage new, more sustainable transport habits. Three workplaces will be offered the opportunity to participate in the project, receiving tailored workshops for their workplace, and the use of e-bikes and e-scooters for employees to trial over a six-week period.
For Canberra families that currently run two vehicles, there is the opportunity to save running costs on a second vehicle by switching to active travel while also helping the environment by reducing transport emissions.
“Canberrans travel around the city daily for social, recreational, household and employment activities, clocking up a staggering 11 million kilometres a day. Of that, over 9 million kilometres is travelled in private vehicles.* All that driving has significant impacts on our health, our climate and the city’s landscape and amenity,” said Helen Oakey, Executive Director, Conservation Council ACT Region.
“Now that the ACT is running on 100% renewable electricity, 62% of the remaining greenhouse gas emissions come from transport, of which nearly 70% comes from private vehicles.
“The good news is that there are many other ways for people to move around the city that can improve their physical and mental health, save money, reduce pollution and contribute to a more liveable city for everyone.
“Make the Move is a new project designed to help Canberrans make better choices about daily travel. Every time we leave the car at home and choose public transport or active travel on foot, push bikes or electric bikes or scooters, we contribute to a cleaner, more socially-connected city,” said Ms Oakey.
“Businesses can register their interest now to participate in a tailored workplace program designed to help employees change the way they get to and from work and around the city. The workplace program will include an introductory workshop, regular check-ins, and a loan of e-bikes, e-scooters and accessories for participants to trial over a six-week period, ” said Ryan Lungu, Director, Canberra Environment Centre.
“It can be difficult for commuters and households to know what the best option is for making the move to active travel, and this program will allow commuters to “try before they buy” to see what will work best for them. There are many reasons why people find it difficult to integrate active travel into their weekly plans – we will work with people to help them overcome these obstacles.
“If you are a Canberra business or organisation interested in improving the sustainability of your workplace, then register your interest to participate in this fabulous workplace travel challenge via the Canberra Environment Centre website by 21st March.
“We can’t wait to see how workplaces across Canberra will tackle the challenge of zero-emissions travel to and from work over the next few months,” said Mr Lungu.
What employers need to know:
Registered workplaces will be contacted to discuss the program in more detail.
Three workplaces will be selected to participate in the program.
The program includes workshops and supporting resources, as well as the loan of two e-bikes and four e-scooters.
The program is open to workplaces from across the city. The selection process will be based on location and number of employees.
The Make the Move project is supported by an ACT Government Community Zero Emissions Grant.
*ACT Transport Strategy 2020