The newsletter provides information on the BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS (BHBI) initiative in Hertfordshire, which aims to promote sustainable transport. It outlines public transport discounts available to member businesses, profiles partner organizations supporting cycling and scooter schemes, and announces preliminary results of the Big Herts Cycle Challenge with awards to be presented in September. It also recaps BHBI's participation in a national conference on sustainable commuting and provides upcoming event dates.

1. BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS (BHBI) is an integrated package of transport measures in
southwest Hertfordshire that is delivering a step-change in sustainable
transport provision, far beyond that which could be achieved through
conventional transport funding. The package enables businesses,
employees and residents to travel more easily around Watford, Hemel
Hempstead and St Albans, and leads the way on supporting economic
growth and reducing carbon emissions.
This is the second edition of our Business newsletter – please continue to send
us ideas and input. All methods of contacting us are shown on the back
page.
In this issue, we outline the growing list of public transport discounts and
offers available to members and profile some of our key partners.
BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS for Business Newsletter
Message from Terry Douris
Terry Douris is Hertfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways
and Waste Management:
“We were delighted to be a partner in the national conference on ‘The
Changing Commute in England’, held at The University of Hertfordshire on 2
July. Over 80 delegates from local and national government attended,
along with private sector organisations and industry experts. I was particularly
pleased that we were able to talk about our activities with large employers
in Hertfordshire as we continue to promote sustainable business travel under
the BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS for Business programme. You can read more about
the event later in this edition”
Inside This Issue
1 Message from Terry Douris
2 Public Transport discounts
2 Partner profiles
2 Big Herts Cycle Challenge
3 BHBI in the News
3 Diary Dates
“BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS for
Business is attracting
national attention –
thanks again for your
support”
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2
August 2013

2. BHBI NEWSLETTERPAGE 2
We recognise that companies and individuals need some incentive to effect
changes in travel behaviour. Businesses in the BHBI scheme can access
special travel/commuting discounts from major local operators including
Arriva, First Capital Connect and Centrebus. These generally take the form of
discounted season tickets within and between St Albans, Watford and
Hemel Hempstead – please visit our website for details.
As well as these specific business discounts, other county-wide bus offers are
available. Examples include the PLUSBUS scheme (adds a low cost bus pass
to train tickets); Explorer group travel tickets; route-specific discounts in
Watford (Arriva route 10) and St Albans (Colney 7 – Uno/Metroline). The
Intalink website shows county-wide bus information, but other operator-
specific offers may exist, so regular checks on operators’ websites are
advised.
Public Transport discounts and offers
We are working with not-for-profit partners who can help us deliver
sustainable transport options for businesses.
Watford Cycle Hub is a community-based bike training and repair centre in
Holywell. They have helped Watford reach the top five participating areas in
the UK for the SkyRide programme of led rides and have started to offer
confidence-training for groups of employees at large companies. During the
BigHerts Cycle Challenge, they delivered on-site Dr Bike servicing/repair for
businesses. Contact us or the Hub direct for cycling advice and services.
Scoots offers an innovative loan-to-own scooter scheme aimed primarily at
young people seeking jobs or apprenticeships where their working hours or
home/work location makes access to public transport difficult. CBT training,
safety wear, insurance and maintenance/repair are all built into the
package for an affordable monthly charge. After a year, the young person
owns the scooter outright.
Partner Profiles
BHBI partner organisations
Business discounts for
bus & train travel
Big Herts Cycle Challenge Results
Preliminary results of the Big Herts Cycle Challenge have been announced.
Businesses in SW Herts registered in the Spring and employees logged leisure
and business rides throughout June. A total of 69 organisations took part,
generating nearly 1200 rides by employees, 200 of whom had rarely or never
cycled in the past. We will be presenting awards to the category winners at
a network event, provisionally on the morning of 17 September – final details
to be confirmed by email and via our LinkedIn group.
Business cycling event at Maylands

3. BHBI NEWSLETTERPAGE 3
Chief Executive John Wood
Speaking at the event
BIGHERTSBIGIDEAS in the News
The University of Hertfordshire, in association with Hertfordshire County
Council, hosted a national event on 2 July, as part of a series of
Department for Transport 'masterclasses’ taking place nationwide.
The Hertfordshire masterclass concentrated on how Local Sustainable
Transport Fund (LSTF) projects are currently helping people to access
sustainable transport to travel to and from work. Hertfordshire County
Council’s Chief Executive John Wood delivered the keynote speech,
outlining the key challenges facing Hertfordshire and discussing the need
for sustainable transport solutions. Stephen Lloyd Jones, Business Network
Coordinator, presented a case study on how we have been encouraging
businesses in the county to consider travel planning.
News of forthcoming events, meetings and announcements for the network
BHBI for Business, network event 17 September am (provisional)
National Cycle to Work Day 12 September
European Mobility Week 16-22 September
Liftshare Week 7-11 October
Diary Dates
Contact us
For further information or to contribute ideas/queries, please email
bigherts@hertfordshire.gov.uk
To view and join our BHBI LinkedIn Group, click here
Follow us on twitter here
Follow us here
View our BHBI website hereWWW