Local Authorities are encouraged to set up car-sharing schemes
09/12/2004

The Department for Transport has today issued the final version of the Local Transport Planning Guidance, which gives direction to Local Authorities in England (and outside of London ) in developing their Local Transport Plans over the coming year.

Included in the final version is a paragraph entitled ‘ Achieving value for money by managing car use'. The paragraph clearly states the view that car-sharing and other forms of responsible car-use have a key role to play in achieving local transport targets:

“Re-thinking car use can help to promote essential mobility, whilst simultaneously reducing dependence upon the private car as the default journey option.  As part of an integrated package of complementary measures, car management strategies can help to considerably reduce the environmental, financial, and health costs of private motoring.  Car management schemes such as car clubs and organised car share schemes can be designed into related policy and planning and facilitated by local authorities.  They can be integrated into broader sustainable transport planning, as well as complementing other policies such as workplace travel planning, creating home zones and granting permissions on new residential developments.” (Local Transport Planning Guidance, Part 4, Para 56)

Staff at Liftshare.com, the UK 's largest car-sharing scheme, are relieved that car-sharing has been included in this key policy document.

“Car-sharing wasn't mentioned in the earlier draft” said Imogen Martineau, Development Manager, “so we're overjoyed to see in that the consultation process was effective and that the Department for Transport has listened to us and our clients.  There's no doubt in our mind that car-sharing has a key role to play in achieving the Department's objectives over the coming years and we look forward to seeing even more Local Authorities promote more efficient use of the car.”

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