The following Travel Hierarchy has been developed to help people reduce CO2 emissions by carefully thinking about their need to travel, the modes available and any alternatives. Follow the step-by-step guide to help you make informed travel choices:
Highland Council Travel Hierarchy
1. Is the journey necessary?
2. Can I walk or cycle?
- Is the meeting within walking/cycling distance?
- Highland Council business cycling rate is 20 pence per mile.
3. Can I travel by public transport?
- Can I arrange meetings/events around arrival/departure times?
- Do I know the routes and times?
- Use Highland Council's Travel Desk
- Ensure that where possible tickets are booked well in advance.
- Ensure the costs of overnight accommodation are factored in to your decision making.
4. Do I need to use a car?
- Can I Car Share?
- Do I know of other colleagues travelling to the same destination?
- If journey is over 100 miles return, a hire car should be used. Ask for the most emission efficient vehicle available.
- Lease car users – All journeys regardless of length should be made by lease car.
- Drive efficiently to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
The biggest savings in CO2 come from travelling actively or deciding not to travel and opting to phone /email /telephone or video conference instead.
Perhaps due to the large, rural nature of our region, we seem to have a culture of jumping in the car for meetings without always considering the option of holding the meeting in another way or postponing until we have additional business to carry-out.
Work/life balance can be greatly improved by reducing the amount of time travelling for business and duties can still be carried out effectively.