How the LSTF is providing innovative online tools for changing travel behaviour

Over the last couple of years the UK has seen a distinct change in the delivery of web-based and online transport information tools.

The main drivers for this change have been the proliferation of smart phones, the explosion of open data and the availability of sustainable transport funding to local authorities. More importantly, the public is hungry for online, on the go, travel information tools that respond to their changing requirements during any given journey.

Steer Davies Gleave has been working with a number of our clients to make the best use of LSTF budgets, by adding value to existing transport datasets, developing crowd-sourced mapping products and building on public engagement programmes such as Personal Travel Planning (PTP) through the use of technology.

Swindon Borough Council has broken considerable ground with the adoption of Open Street Map (OSM) data for creating printed and online mapping, as well as powering web-based tools that allow people to make informed travel choices.

We worked with the Swindon Travel Choices team to develop a new website, an interactive and printed cycle map and a multimodal journey planner. In parallel, we also ran a cycle challenge that used an online interface for recording trips and publishing leader boards. The goal was to create a ‘legacy product’ that could be maintained after LSTF funding finishes in 2015, and the twin approach we suggested included the use of Open Street Map data and encouraging the public to get involved in creating and publishing new mapping data. So far, we’ve run three OSM workshops with the client and community groups, and Swindon Borough Council is about to run its own mapping party with local residents. Power to the people! All this work will mean that Swindon has an up-to-date, locally-focused mapping system and journey-planning network while both residents and visitors now have access to a wealth of useful information.

Other local authorities are also now starting to realise the power of online tools, especially smart phone enabled journey planners. SDG has been working with City of York Council, Warwickshire Council and Travel for South Hampshire to create ‘responsive’ smart phone and tablet tools that allow people to plan their trip on the move. This has mainly been in reaction to the rise in the number of people accessing the web (especially travel information) via mobile devices – our Dundee Travel Info website, for example, now has more mobile visitors than desktop visitors (55% at the last count!). Setting up ‘responsive’ journey planners is cost-effective and they have the ability to reach the widest possible audience, meaning that local authorities don’t have to worry about creating multiple apps.

Importantly, local authorities will be able to use these tools for a wide range of purposes. Alongside rolling out technology-focused projects, local authorities are also engaging with the public on a huge scale. These travel planning projects provide focused travel information that is personalised to the user. Informative and engaging websites, with their associated journey planning tools, are streamlining the process and providing truly user-focused information – both online and in printed format.