Manor Royal BID’s annual Move It Roadshow literally went on the move around the business district in a double-decker bus, bringing travel advice, money-saving offers, health support and sustainable commuting initiatives directly to employees.
The specially branded Metrobus took to the road on Tuesday 22 September, visiting three major Manor Royal employers, Elekta, Viridien and Rentokil Initial giving employees and anyone working on Manor Royal the opportunity to hop on board and discover practical ways to make their journey to and from work cheaper, healthier and more sustainable.
Organised by Manor Royal BID, the annual Move It Roadshow brought together a range of partners to help employees explore alternatives to travelling to work by car and highlighting some of the benefits available to people working in Manor Royal.
Throughout the day, employees were able to receive sustainable travel advice and information about commuter savings from easit, while Metrobus provided guidance on local bus routes, ticketing and the best public transport options for travelling to and from Manor Royal.
Crawley Wellbeing was also on board offering free health checks, while the Collective Action Network (CAN) provided advice and support around corporate social responsibility and opportunities for businesses and employees to make a positive contribution to the local community by through opportunities to volunteer and give back in different ways
For those considering travelling by bike, Balfe’s Bikes provided cycling advice and special offers, with Sussex Police offering free BikeRegister security marking to help protect cycles against theft.
Employees visiting the roadshow could also enter a free raffle, with prizes including a £50 gift voucher, a week of free Metrobus travel, free easitCARDS and a four-week Crawley Parks Tennis membership given to one lucky winner at each stop.
The timing of this year’s roadshow coincided with World Car Free Day, while September also marks Catch the Bus Month, reinforcing the campaign’s message of encouraging people to consider more sustainable ways of travelling.
Steve Sawyer, Executive Director of Manor Royal BID, said: “The Move It Roadshow is about taking useful information, advice and benefits directly to the people who work here. How people travel to and from Manor Royal has an impact on congestion, the environment and the cost of the working day, so providing practical alternatives and incentives is an important part of what the BID does.
“It was great to see employees getting on board, speaking to our partners and finding out about the different options available to them. Even small changes to the way we travel can make a difference when they are multiplied across thousands of people working in Manor Royal.”
Samantha Bertie, Sustainability Manager at Manor Royal BID, said: “Making sustainable travel easier and more attractive is a key priority for Manor Royal BID. The Move It Roadshow gives employees the opportunity to speak directly to the organisations that can help them make a change, whether that means catching the bus, cycling more, sharing journeys or simply understanding what travel savings and support are available.
“Holding the roadshow on World Car Free Day and during Catch the Bus Month was particularly appropriate and helped reinforce the message that there are realistic alternatives to travelling alone by car.”
The Move It Roadshow forms part of Manor Royal BID’s wider programme to support sustainable travel and improve the experience of the thousands of people who travel into the Business District every day.
The Move It programme is delivered by the Manor Royal BID for Manor Royal based companies and employees with funding provided by West Sussex County Council.
Further information about travel, transport and employee benefits in Manor Royal is available from www.manorroyal.org/move
