BSI PAS 500:2008

This Publicly Available Specification (PAS) defines requirements for developing and implementing a workplace travel plan (WTP), including public availability, resources and claims of conformity.

It is intended for use by any organisation planning or developing WTPs and applies to all WTPs and all the situations in which WTPs are initiated, developed and implemented. This includes (but is not limited to) WTPs:

• initiated as part of an organisational policy to manage transport impacts for the benefit of staff, the environment, corporate social responsibility, the reduction of congestion, the better management of parking and to foster good relationships with neighbours;
• submitted with planning applications and/or transport assessments as part of the development control process;
• designed to reduce pollution from motor vehicles as part of an air quality strategy.

PAS 500 is applicable in all situations where the term “travel plan” is likely to be used and is deemed relevant to all those involved in the travel plan process including but not limited to:

• managers charged with transport and parking responsibilities;
• planners in local authorities;
• consultants;
• transport, traffic, planning, architectural and engineering consultants advising on transport impacts and plans designed to reduce the need to travel;
• transport demand management staff in central and local government;
• developers bringing forward plans for new developments or changes to existing developments likely to result in traffic generation and impacts;
• public transport operators interested in attracting customers presently using cars;
• cycle planners and pedestrian planners interested in increasing the use of these modes of transport;
• campaign groups;
• urban designers and architects seeking to create attractive environments with less traffic and a greater reliance on walking and cycling and public transport.

This PAS applies to all the main components of transport generated by a particular site. These include:

• commuter trips made by staff;
• trips made by staff in undertaking their duties or otherwise in relation to their work;
• visitors to the site e.g. patients and visitors to hospitals, clinics and other NHS facilities, local residents visiting council offices, suppliers or customers making trips to businesses;
• contractors involved in carrying out projects at a particular site e.g. building and construction, catering and cleaning;
• students travelling to university and college campuses and sites;
• trips made by all those carrying out work related tasks at premises covered by the travel plan (e.g. servicing plant and equipment, delivering supplies);
• trips made by delivery vehicles of all types where the delivery is directly the result of demands made by the site to which the travel plan applies.

This PAS provides valuable requirements for organisations of all sizes but would be of particular use to workplaces or groups of organisations with more than 100 employees.

This PAS does not cover:

• the design of attractive walking and cycling facilities;
• public or private bus, coach and train operations;
• the design and operation of public transport services;
• the detailed design and operation of car share and car club schemes.

It does not specify detailed measures or interventions that are likely to succeed in reducing car trips.

This PAS does not establish specific targets, objectives or outcomes.