Minister urges more car-sharing
11/04/2008

Northern Ireland Roads Minister Conor Murphy has urged employers to set up car-sharing schemes in order to ease traffic congestion across Northern Ireland.

Brian Moreland, DRDNI Minister Conor Murphy and John Roger, President of the QUB Students Union
Brian Moreland, DRDNI Minister Conor Murphy and John Roger, President of the QUB Students Union

Launching Car-Share Day 2008 at Queen's University in Belfast, he praised the organisation for joining forces with Travelwise NI to encourage more commuters to car-share.

"Since Queen's set up its Car-Share Club, it already has 144 registered members and has saved 62,546 miles of travel equating to £6,255 and 19 tonnes of carbon dioxide," said Mr Murphy. "Not only is the support of Queen’s University, as a major local employer, extremely important but it will also help to alert more young people, in particular, to the growing importance of sustainable transport in today’s society."

Queen's University president and vice-chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said he hoped the project would see good participation from students and staff.

"Queen's is committed to the principle of sustainable travel," he said. "Since the university's travel plan was approved in 2005, the numbers of staff and students using sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling and walking, have increased significantly."

Queen's Students' Union president John Roger said that the case for car-sharing was very convincing: "Increased tuition fees, rent and bills have forced more students to remain at home with parents and increased their need for a reliable form of transport to get to lectures on time."

Financial pressures and a lack of parking, meant the university was increasingly keen to encourage more students to share cars.

For further information on the Travelwise Car-Share Scheme call 0845 378 0908 or register your details at www.carshareni.com

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