EcoMobility Benefits Business
Besides that fossil fuel-based, urban motorized transport modes and systems are contributing to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the livability of cities and hindering cities’ potential to reach environmental goals, it also has unfavorable consequences for companies. Ranging from high staff costs to expensive and complex delivery systems, existing transport systems in cities negatively influence businesses and their activities[1].
The introduction of new policies, physical, spatial and technological solutions and a change in everyday habits are necessary in order to reduce these numerous impacts of motorized transport. Such a shift implies a commitment from policy-makers, experts, users but most definitely also from businesses[1].
In an ideal city, employees and employers walk, cycle and/or take public transport to work, without struggling to find parking space or wasting time spent on commuting by road transport. In addition, studies have shown that there is a link between commuting stress and job satisfaction [2] and that traveling in a sustainable way can increase the employee’s productivity by 50% as well as cut sick leave in half [3] [4]. But this is not the only part where organizations can seek benefits. A sustainable urban transport model for companies would deliver their goods and services timely, efficiently and economically. On top of this all, consumers’ and (local) governments’ awareness of the sustainability and corporate social responsibility of organizations is increasing, and are taken well into consideration when purchasing goods and services.
EcoMobility is seen as the solution to these pressing issues, promoting the shift in different modes of transport. By integrating EcoMobility, businesses will greatly benefit through increase in customers and sales.
Such an ecomobile environment was set up in 2013 in Suwon, South Korea where ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in collaboration with UN-Habitat are organizing the EcoMobility World Festival 2013. During the entire month of September businesses experienced and shared various ecomobile options and solutions, ranging from unique cycles and cargo transportation modes to light electric vehicles and exclusive prototypes in a neighborhood without fossil-fuel based transport. Furthermore, the change in infrastructure within the Festival area outlined the character of an efficient and people focused ecomobile city. As the residents continued their daily activities, in an ecomobile way, it was a unique opportunity for business to test their products, services and systems to their end-users.
Thus, EcoMobility not only offers a sustainable, social and economical solution to the currently existing transport system and its negative impacts on the world in general, but also provides numerous advantages for companies in the range of finance, urban logistics and efficiency.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Verstraelen, S.I., Benefits for businesses at EcoMobility World Festival 2013, Smart Mobility Management, 12 August 2013 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Ref One" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Wener, Richard, et al, “Commuting Stress: Psychophysiological Effects of a Trip and Spillover in the Workplace,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1924, pp. 112-117.
- ↑ Nieman, David, et al, “Immune Response to a 30-Minute Walk,” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise,Jan. 2005, pp. 57-62.
- ↑ Besser, Lilah, et al, “Walking to Public Transit: Steps to Help Meet Physical Activity Recommendations,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2005, Vol. 29, pp 273-280.
