Councillors

Smarter Travel

09/09/2009

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Press Release Issued 9th September 2009

Signing of Smarter Travel Workplace Charter and Launch of European Mobility Week in Tallaght.

South Dublin County Council is delighted to announce that Cllr Mick Duff, Mayor and Mr. John Henry, Chief executive of the Dublin Transport Office will sign the Smarter Travel Workplace Charter on Monday 14^th September in County Hall, Tallaght. South Dublin is the first County Council to join the growing list of Irish businesses that are engaging in Smarter Travel and working with employees to address their carbon footprint, general well being, access to their employment site and to reduce their travel costs. The Smarter Travel Workplace Charter is an initiative of the Dublin Transport Office, soon to become the Dublin Transport Authority.

In signing the Charter, the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Mick Duff? stated that ?he was particularly pleased that the focus of the Smarter Travel programmes was on cycling and walking as the benefits of a more active lifestyle could not be underestimated?. On behalf of the Dublin Transport Office, Mr. John Henry, Chief Executive responded by confirming the growing importance of initiatives such as the Smarter Travel Workplace Charter to addressing the mobility needs of the entire workforce and ?issued a general invitation to all firms to join the growing family of Smarter Travel organisations?.

South Dublin County Council has been active in the area of Mobility Management for some years and has developed a range of initiatives to address the challenges of reducing our carbon footprints and introducing more sustainable travel patterns for its workforce. It is renewing its Mobility Management Plan this year and is building on the range of successful initiatives already put in place such as car pooling, improved secure cycling facilities, tax saver commuter tickets while continuing to monitor and assess the benefits of the improvements.

The signing of the Smarter Travel Workplace Charter comes as we approach the beginning of European Mobility Week - 16^th to the 22^nd September 2008. Improving City Climates is the theme chosen for this year?s campaign. The week will finish on 22nd September, which is designated as IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR day - known previously as Car Free Day.