Local firms encourage islanders to leave their cars at home

Two local businesses will be joining forces with Island Coachways to mark Car Free Week.

For a week from Monday (20 September), passengers on the Islands Insurance and Leapfrog branded buses will travel for free in a move to raise awareness of environmental issues and comes just a fortnight after figures were released showing that vehicle ownership in the island currently stands at over 85,000.

Hannah Beacom, managing director of Island Coachways, said, “Public transport is key to reducing car usage in the island so I’m pleased that these two local firms are getting involved in this way”.

Throughout the week Islands Insurance and Leapfrog will be covering the costs of travel on their branded buses.

“We hope that the initiative will encourage islanders who usually drive to leave their cars at home more often, even for just a couple of days a week,” said Chris Gnapp, managing director at Leapfrog.

The two firms are the latest in a series of local businesses which have made moves to encourage greater bus use in recent months.

“Not only is it a superb way to advertise the company but it also draws more attention to the buses as a more environmentally friendly and convenient way to travel around the Island,” said Stuart Wilson, director of Islands Insurance. (from ICfeed)

85,000 vehicles ?? I thought the population was about 65,000.

Something seems odd here.

some folks have 3 or more cars Kingcole .and some for each day of the week this includes cars that have been left to rot in folks garden and old vinerys .there are also many littered around housing estates let to rot while folks try to park their cars they have to use daily ,

The official population is about 65,000, but some would disagree.

These figures include commercial vehicles, tractors, excavators etc. therefore some people need to have more than one vehicle available to them.

We also have a serious car culture here, with an almost pathological hatred of other road users by some drivers. This means that even short journeys are done by car when walking or cycling would be more suitable.

OK but the 65,000 includes children, the infirm, those who can't drive, those who can't afford a car etc. So the actual number of drivers might not be more than, lets say, 40,000.

Still seems a big difference even so.

spirit i cant cycle..too far to walk to town and to work ..the buses at my end of the island are very few about one every hour .that is if they bother to turn up at all.

I agree, Thistle, but plenty of people can, and should, but won't. The ones that get me are those who drive to the gym and spend an hour on an exercise bike.

It's all about the 'image' Spirit....




.

Its all very well local firms encouraging their employees to leave their cars at home but what about anyone who lives in town who doesnt have their own parking space and works out of town. Where are they meant to leave their vehicle all day and if they aren't using it in the evening, all night without running the risk of getting a parking ticket?