29 September 2010
University encourages people to make friends on the daily commute
The University of Dundee is asking staff and other workers from in and around the Dundee area to make new connections, cut their carbon footprint and save themselves money.
With petrol prices hitting a record high this year, and the recession still having a very real impact on people's pockets, the University’s Environment and Sustainability team are encouraging people to try filling their empty car seats for the first ever nationwide car-sharing week.
Liftshare Week takes place from Monday 4th to Friday 8th October, and aims to encourage commuters to discover the benefits of sharing their drive to work. People in and around Dundee are able to search for someone to share their journey on www.dundeeliftshare.com, a website which contains a section dedicated to University staff.
'We're asking everyone in the University community to look at how often they travel alone by car,' said Trudy Cunningham, Liftshare Manager and Environment and Sustainability Officer at the University.
'Because there's nearly always someone going the same way - especially on the daily commute - there’s a lot of opportunity to take a passenger or two. Sharing petrol costs means you will probably save yourself hundreds of pounds a year, as well as easing local pollution and congestion.
'It also means having someone to share the daily commute with, and many strangers have gone on to become great friends after meeting through car-sharing. You don't need your own car to joinDundee Liftshare.
'Many members are happy to give someone a lift in return for a contribution to the fuel costs and a bit of friendly company. There are lots of other rewards for registering as well, so please give liftsharing a go.'
Thousands of people will be giving car-sharing a try during the first ever Liftshare Week, and the University is encouraging as many commuters as possible in the area to be part of this nationwide movement towards greener travel.
To encourage as many people as possible to sign up, the University is making dedicated car parking spaces available to permit holders who have joined the liftshare scheme.
These bays will be available in Heathfield car park until 10am and available in the Comet car park all day. After signing up, the University asks that members form a BUDI group and registered members of the scheme will be issued with a car share logo permit, which must be displayed along with a University parking permit.
A guide to joining liftshare and creating a BUDI group can be found www.dundee.ac.uk/estates/energy&environment/travelinformation/.
As an additional incentive, everyone who signs up and registers a journey to share at www.dundeeliftshare.com will be entered into a prize draw to win a Garmin 1300T sat nav, provided by TACTRAN.
Notes to editors:
TACTRAN is the statutory Regional Transport Partnership covering the Angus, Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and Stirling Council areas. TACTRAN has produced a Regional Transport Strategy which sets out a vision for improving the region’s transport infrastructure, services and facilities over the 15 years to 2023.
Further information on the Partnership and its Regional Transport Strategy can be found at www.tactran.gov.uk or by calling 01738 475775.
More information about all the University’s Liftshare scheme is available by contact Trudy Cunningham, Liftshare Manager and Environment and Sustainability Officer, on t.z.cunningham@dundee.ac.uk or 01382 386996.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
