BP Congratulates Car-pooling Council

BP Congratulates Car-pooling Council

BP New Zealand congratulated the North Shore City Council as the winner of the BP Transport Award at this evening’s EnergyWise Awards in Auckland.

The EnergyWise Awards are organised by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and recognise individuals and organisations that are taking a lead in smart and efficient energy use.

The North Shore City Council has operated a priority traffic lane on Onewa Road which takes commuters onto the motorway and into Auckland City since 1982. The priority lane is for cars with three or more people, buses, motorcycles and bikes.

In 2002 the Council undertook policing of the priority lane and, in conjunction with a communications campaign, has achieved the following results:

The transit lane now carries two thirds or more of all people travelling into Auckland City during the morning peak time – twice as many travellers as the general lane; Three fifths of morning peak travellers to the city in the transit lane are now on buses and two fifths are car-pooling; During March 2003, buses in the transit lane during morning peak hours carried 41 per cent of commuters in just three per cent of vehicles; Maximum travel times on the transit lane have decreased by 80 per cent.

BP Media and Sponsorship Manager, Diana Stretch said “we congratulate the North Shore City Council on an initiative which significantly reduces traffic on the roads, allows commuters to get to work much faster and benefits the environment through heavily reduced vehicle emissions.”

Ms Stretch also congratulated runner up, RoadSafe Auckland, which has co-ordinated and expanded walking school buses throughout the Auckland region.

“As a result of RoadSafe Auckland’s co-ordination and promotion there are now 122 walking school buses throughout Auckland, ensuring children get to school safely and reducing traffic at the school gate.”

Ms Stretch said BP was proud to be a sponsor of the EnergyWise Awards.

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