Council supports district-wide car share scheme
AN
innovative car-sharing scheme being developed by the Little Red Bus is being launched on 30 November with the full support of Harrogate Borough Council.
New signs promoting the Harrogate district car share scheme are being financed and provided by the council and will be located on all main routes into the district as well as in car parks in Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Ripon.
Car sharing is becoming increasingly important in the overall provision of transport mix and the Harrogate district scheme is one of a growing number of regional schemes operating in the UK today.
But it isn't just all about getting cars off the roads, this free online scheme will also help those living in rural areas, without transport either personal or public, to access employment,
education, health and other services.
Councillor Julian Sturdy, Cabinet Member for Transport, will be speaking at the launch event on 30 November telling other employers and organisations of the reasons the council is supporting the scheme.
He said:
"Our district has one of the largest car ownerships in the country.
And we all know the difficulties we face with congested and overburden roads.
"Without the possibility of any major short-term solutions, we think the car sharing scheme can have an impact.
There are far too many cars travelling on our roads with empty seats.
The idea behind the scheme is to fill up those seats.
This will take cars off the road, save the driver money because they can share costs and also help with getting more people into employment where lack of transport is a block."
The scheme is a website and call centre that allows people to register journeys and contact other drivers or passengers.
Individuals make arrangements together according to their own travel patterns and requirements.
The scheme is free for the public who can access it via the website
www.harrogatecarshare.com There is a telephone registration service for those not on the web on 08700 11 11 99.
Major employers like Harrogate Borough Council are being invited to purchase a licence so that their staff can talk to each other via the website to arrange car sharing among their colleagues.
Councillor Sturdy added, "The council is one of the first major employers in the district to take out a licence and we will be actively promoting the scheme to our employees both current and potential."
ENDS
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
10.00 am Wednesday, 30 November 2005, on Harrogate's Wetherby Road traffic lights/Sainsbury's junction.
Councillor Julian Sturdy, Lyn Costelloe and Angela Cleary from the Little Red Bus will unveil the first road sign Got spare seats in your car?
Beat the queues, travel in twos!
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The public, organisations and employers are invited to the launch event taking place at 11.00 am Wednesday, 30 November at the Harrogate International Centre.
The event will be opened by the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate (Councillor Caroline Bayliss) and as well as Councillor Sturdy, delegates will hear from Lyn Costelloe, Chief Executive of Harrogate District Community Transport and Councillor Stuart Martin, Mayor of the City of Ripon.
The scheme has received funding from Harrogate Borough Council, the Harrogate Local Strategic Partnership, the Countryside Agency, North Yorkshire County Council and the Travelwise campaign.