Caring, sharing – and a fleet car named Desire

A new car club is the latest in a range of green transport initiatives on campus.

The WhizzGo scheme offers staff more convenient, cheaper and greener travel. Rather than bringing cars to work to attend meetings off campus, staff will have access to two Citroen C3 Desire models to hire for business use from £3.95 an hour.

WhizzGo takes care of all the fuel, insurance and breakdown cover – and reserved parking bays are provided in the visitors’ car park.

Professor Diane Shorrocks-Taylor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and chair of the University’s environmental committee said: “WhizzGo provides a real choice for staff who do not own a car as well as those who would have otherwise had to use their own cars.”

Car sharing is also being promoted in the University, which has joined up with six major Leeds employers in a scheme giving people the benefits of car travel whilst alleviating the problems of congestion and pollution.

As well as the obvious environmental benefits there are plenty of other sound reasons for joining the scheme. It’s free – members can seek out members and passengers online and share their transport costs. The more sharing, the lower the cost. And staff car sharers can also pool permit application points.

Mike Nevins in estate services and John Draper in purchasing know all about the benefits – having travelled in together from Barnsley for four years, taking turns to drive. “The main advantage is the reduced cost – parking, travel, and less wear and tear on our cars. More car sharing will mean less congestion and less pollution and of course we’re not subject to the vagaries of public transport,” Mike said.

The management of the University’s transport plan is the responsibility of new transport co-ordinator Steffi Hasse, below, whose objectives include improving walking and cycling routes on campus and involving students and staff in making informed, environmentally-based choices. Steffi said co-operation with the city council, as well as promoting initiatives such as Bike2Work Week were vital: “Green mobility must take priority over single-occupied car journeys.”

For more information on WhizzGo see www.WhizzGo.co.uk or call 0870 446 6000.
For more information on environmental policies on campus see the University's environmental website
For more information on pooled permit points for car sharers call Win Kelly on 35491.

Photo 1: Green for go – Steffi Hasse and Professor Shorrocks-Taylor at the launch
Photo 2: The way forward – car sharers Mike Nevins, left, and John Draper
Photo 3: Steffi Hasse