Active modes are the most sustainable forms of transport and they are good for your heath and finances.

Walking
Walking is the original form of transport and is the mode that glues all other modes such as passenger transport, driving and cycling to their destinations.

Walking meetings
Walking meting are great for getting people out of the office and in to the fresh air for a short while and inspiring new ideas. With a few simple guidelines, they can be an effective part of building teams. 
oriented or confidential meetings.
• Walking metings are for 'big ideas', not detail or confidential meetings.
• Keep the number of participants to 2 or 3
• Set an agenda like any other meeting.
• Ideal meetings are around 20 minutes long
• Pre plan a route that is conducive for walking and reasonably quiet so people can hear.
• Check the weather before you leave.
• Walk at a comfortable pace where all members of the group can speak without being out of breath.

Cycling
Cycling is gaining in popularity as a commuter mode and as a viable way to replace short vehicle journeys.
Being a cycle friendly employer has benefits for your organisation as well as the staff who cycle to work. Cycling is a great way to start the day and cyclists arrive at work fitter and more alert. They are also freed from timetables and delays so are more likely to arrive on time.ÿ

Many employers encourage staff to be healthier and cycling is a great way of fitting exercise into a busy day. Cyclists are less likely to take sick leave. Cycling 7km per day reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and can also reduce the risk of stress and depression.

If workplace facilities are right, staff also appreciate the opportunity to save on petrol, parking or public transport costs. In some centres, commuters can also combine cycling with other modes by taking their bike on a train for part of the journey. Let?s face it, biking to work has to be more fun than sitting in a traffic jam.

With a minimal investment, most workplaces can make cycling an attractive and viable travel mode for employees to choose. It?s possible to spend as much on a bike as many people spend on a car so ensuring there is a secure place for staff to store their bikesÿis essential.ÿ Providing facilities such as showers, lockers and an iron make it easy for staff to make a fast transition from cyclist to dedicated employee.

Cycling in the workplace doesn?t have to stop when you get to work. Many businesses like Opus Consulting in Tauranga (pictured above) provide shared bikes for use by staff to make local journeys by bike. Pool bikes are a cost effective and healthy compliment to pool vehicles. They are cheap to run, can be easily parked at their destination and give staff the chance to get some fresh air on their way to meetings. Provision of equipment such as hi-vis jackets, helmets and training for staff helps make cycling a safe option too.

Creating a cycle friendly workplace helps define the organisation as being committed to sustainability and the health of its staff. Providing a cycle friendly workplace also fits neatly with other sustainability initiatives like reducing energy and waste. For more information on developing a cycle friendly workplace,ÿcheck out the SPARC Cycle Friendly Employer Guide at http://can.org.nz/library/cycle-friendly-employer-guide

How can GreenFleet help?
If you are thinking about encouraging more cycling in your workplace, we have resources to help.
* Workplace cycle use policy
* Walking meeting guidelines
* Safety

GreenFleet Tip
Providing secure, covered bike parking and showers can help make cycling a more attractive and viable travel mode for staff. 

Cycling Resources
The Cycle Friendly Employer Guide provides ideas and resources for making your workplace better for cyclists. You can get a printed copy from GreenFleet or download a PDF from: http://can.org.nz/library/cycle-friendly-employer-guide

Walking meetings
Walking meting are great for getting people out of the office and in to the fresh air for a short while and inspiring new ideas. With a few simple guidelines, they can be an effective part of building teams. 
oriented or confidential meetings.
• Walking metings are for 'big ideas', not detail or confidential meetings.
• Keep the number of participants to 2 or 3
• Set an agenda like any other meeting.
• Ideal meetings are around 20 minutes long
• Pre plan a route that is conducive for walking and reasonably quiet so people can hear.
• Check the weather before you leave.
• Walk at a comfortable pace where all members of the group can speak without being out of breath.

Active transport links
Living Street Aotearoa www.livingstreets.org.nz
Wellington Region Cycling and Walking Journey planner www.journeyplanner.org.nz