General
Traveline is a website based journey planner for the southeast: http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk
Oxfordshire Travel Advice Line (OxTAIL) is a service which offers information on transport in your area. The service caters for the over 65s and people who are mobility impaired and/or have learning disabilities and difficulties. CALL 01865 323738 for your travel advice
Green Transport
Car Sharing
Community car sharing is a great way to reduce travel costs and be green at the same time. Car sharing schemes can be run informally through parish newsletters and notice boards or more formally using national websites or through designing a local web page. It is suitable for those those who need to use their cars often and are going to similar destinations – most useful for set journeys and times. You can also be a passenger requesting lifts as well. It is up to the car sharers how or if they will work out costs. If you wish to get a car share scheme going in your parish then the key is to publicise and promote it.
There are 3 good national websites that you can register with as a person offering a lift, needing a lift or both:
National organisations (includes promotion posters and FAQs): www.nationalcarshare.co.uk or www.liftshare.com/uk or www.freewheelers.co.uk
As part of the Liftshare website, Oxfordshire County Council have set up a county based car sharing page. Click on the following link to register for free, with no obligations and, start lift-sharing straight away! www.oxfordshirecarshare.com
Community Car Clubs
You need to have committed members for this scheme to work. The users of car clubs often need a car irregularly and are more flexible with their time. Car clubs promote a natural planning focus to how you use transport. You need to plan your journey and book ahead, which makes you green without thinking too much about it. Car clubs can and do work in rural areas, although there are fewer examples of these.
Carplus is a charity promoting responsible car use and is full of very useful information on starting a car club or car share scheme: www.carplus.org.uk
Commonwheels run many community car clubs (inc Oxford’s OxCar): www.commonwheels.org.uk
Whipcar (Oxford) offers an innovative neighbourhood rental model, whereby private car owners lease their cars to short term rental users in the local community: www.whipcar.com
Cycling
Sustrans is a cycling charity responsible for developing the National Cycle Network www.sustrans.org.uk
CTC The national organisation for cycling www.oxonctc.org.uk