Active travel getting people on board with the concept of Park Active. While discounted parking and health are two major incentives for people to get out of their cars and onto the pavements or cycle paths, there are hard-hitting and longterm goals at the heart of Park Active. Were in the middle of a climate emergency, and we have to get people travelling actively and sustainably, says Brighton and Hoves Davis. Part of this is making changes to our infrastructure, with measures such as walking and cycling improvements, but we also need to incentivise people to make more sustainable journeys. We have set a target of being a carbon-neutral city by 2030, and encouraging active and sustainable travel will be a key part of reaching that goal. We also want to improve air quality in Brighton and Hove, and cut congestion. Staff parking benefits There are currently eight potential pilot schemes in cities and towns in the UK, Wade says, with Brighton the second to go live, after Colchester. There has also been a lot of interest from NHS hospital trusts, he adds. Park Active potential is being investigated for 18 sites where it might help provide additional staff parking and ease the pressure on parking for staff and visitors on site. Wade says the pilot schemes have demonstrated that Park Active is a simple way of combining effective parking management with options for active travel. Get involved The BPA is here to help guide you on your Park Active journey. There is an easy sign-up form with which to register your interest at park-active.co.uk/signup and an online Park Active toolkit, which includes operational guidance and a communications and brand manual, at park-active.co.uk/Toolkit You can also contact Chris Wade for further information, at chris.w@britishparking.co.uk It needs to join up all the dots to work well, he says. The Brighton and Hove Park Active scheme is a great example, because the BPA was able to work with the councils parking managers, active travel team, and place leaders, as well as boost external promotion by linking to the BetterPoints motivational app, BTN BikeShare, PayByPhone parking app, and the Brilliant Brighton Business Improvement District. We have set a target of being a carbon neutral city by 2030, and encouraging active and sustainable travel will be a key part of reaching that goal. We also want to improve air quality Changing perceptions Wade and Smith agree that the slow uptake of the Park Active scheme to date is largely down to mis-perception. There is an impression that there are ongoing costs, says Smith. But apart from modest start-up costs to get Park Active branding and signage printed and positioned, there is no joining fee or annual fee. The BPA has made it really simple to get started and, if the right infrastructure exists in your area, then Park Active can support and enhance this. Wade adds: One of the barriers to establishing more Park Active schemes is the perception that it is a luxury, rather than a necessity, at a time when there are so many other issues for parking managers and others to respond to. The pair pose two questions to parking managers to see if Park Active is suitable for their area: Is there excess capacity at more peripheral car parks?; and Are you aware of existing or planned investment in cycling and walking routes that connect these car parks to town centres, hospitals or other key destinations? With the government investing in walking and cycling schemes, and Park Active eligible for funding, Wade says local authorities have everything to gain by implementing the scheme but they need to act now if they want to take full advantage of the available funding. Parking managers and, as we have learned, NHS facility managers need to be part of this planning urgently. *bit.ly/PNMay22SR 16 britishparking.co.uk PN May 2022 pp14-16 Lead Feature.indd 16 21/04/2022 11:17