One of the council's pool vehicles parked near the Town Hall.
In a bid to support staff, improve efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, Tower Hamlets Council has partnered with car-sharing platform Hiyacar to introduce and manage a dedicated car club for staff business travel.
Starting today, three hybrid vehicles will be available at the Town Hall for council staff use between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Outside of core working hours, the Hiyacar vehicles will be available for hire by the public via their booking system.
This partnership is part of the council’s ongoing efforts to reduce costs, streamline travel arrangements, and support carbon reduction goals by offering a low-emission transport option for its employees.
It aims to lower the costs of operating the council’s fleet, while maximising the utility of council-owned vehicles, through a self-service booking platform and an efficient fleet management system.
Research shows that car clubs provide numerous benefits to communities, including reducing car mileage, freeing up public space, and assisting people who only need occasional access to a private car.
According to Collaborative Mobility UK’s 2023 Annual Report, in 2023 each car club vehicle in the UK replaced between 14 and 32 private cars, and 75% of respondents said they had joined as they didn’t need a car very often. On average, each car club member had also reduced their total car mileage by 153 miles per year.
Tower Hamlets joins other public sector organisations and local authorities including Swale Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, East Lothian Council, and Lancaster City Council who are embracing car-sharing technology.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, said:
“This partnership represents an important step in our mission to create a cleaner, greener Tower Hamlets.
“In providing our staff with a sustainable and cost-effective travel option, we are not only reducing our overall carbon footprint but also making better use of council resources. We’re fully committed to improving efficiency, supporting our employees, and promoting environmentally responsible practices across the borough.
“I’m particularly pleased that these vehicles will also be available to the public outside working hours, further benefiting our local community and encouraging the use of low-emission transport options.”
Andy Barnes, Head of Customer Success at Hiyacar, said:
“We’re so excited to be working with Tower Hamlets Council. This forward-thinking organisation is taking a bold approach, not only utilising Hiyacar’s technology to reduce emissions, optimise vehicle use, lower grey-mileage costs and streamline fleet management, but also offering shared vehicle access to the public during evenings, weekends and public holidays.
This makes it easier than ever for Tower Hamlets residents and visitors alike to access affordable car club options in the area.”
Find more about the partnership on Hiyacar’s website.
Posted on Monday 2nd December 2024