BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Local Action
Chapter:	Planning Projects
Section:	Travelling to work
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Unless the site is near at hand all project leaders have to face up to simple logistics - the matter of getting a group of people, tools and equipment to the same place at the same time. You may be able to rely on volunteers to make their own way to a site, but you might still need to get tools and equipment there. Getting the transport sorted out well in advance is an essential part of project planning.

Transport and safety

It is a good idea to have at least one vehicle nearby in case there is an accident. Many groups who work in a town or village may not need to worry too much about this, but if your site is in the countryside it is more important. It helps if it is parked in an accessible place, able to get out immediately to a phone or accident and emergency department. Mobile phones can be a great help but check there is a signal where you are working and remember they don't work if the battery is flat or they've just been in the bottom of a pond. If you have a serious accident you would call an ambulance of course, but if someone has a minor accident it is much more reassuring to be able to take them off site without a long wait. Make sure that it is known who has the keys to the vehicle.

If you are carrying the group's tools in your car be careful not to overload your vehicle. Check your manual for the vehicle's load limit and remember passengers with their own bags can weigh a fair bit too! Make sure you know the weight of the vehicle before loading tools or volunteers into it. If you are unsure of the weight of the empty vehicle, take it to a public weighbridge for confirmation. (See Tools and equipment weights the approximate weights of different tools.)

Whatever form of transport you use, ensure that all tools are safely wrapped and stored, so that they will not fly around and hurt people if you are involved in a road accident.

Public Transport

As car use causes more pollution each year, it is up to all of us to try and minimise that pollution. Find out where the nearest bus routes and stops are for your site or sites and give this information on your programme. Check that buses run on the days when you are working and at the appropriate times. If buses are infrequent and there is an obvious one to catch to get to the site on time, encourage people to meet at the bus stop and take the bus together.

If there is a bus stop, but not very near at hand, you could set up a shuttle service for the last mile. However, it is not a good idea to take heavy tools on public transport and it is far better to arrange someone with their own vehicle to bring these.

Not a good idea.

Cycling

If the site is less than five miles or so away, encourage people to cycle out together, but make sure they have a map and a clear meeting point. If it's only a couple of miles they could even walk.

Car sharing

Cars may be the only way to get to a site, but try to minimise their use.

Encourage volunteers to develop car sharing. Car sharing needs to be planned well in advance and it can help if one person takes on responsibility for this. It is worth keeping a register of who's got what space and where they live (with their permission of course). Then, when you know who's coming, it's possible to link volunteers as efficiently as possible.

If anyone has an estate car or van then this is valuable for tool transport. If vehicles owned by volunteers are used on group business, ask the insurers for written confirmation that such use is covered by their policy. Some insurers consider voluntary work to fit in with 'social, domestic and pleasure uses', while some insist that business use insurance is arranged.

Hiring minibuses and vans

This is a very expensive option, not generally worth it unless you plan to work somewhere difficult to get to where you can't park members' cars. It's not easy to get a vehicle you can transport tools and people in together, and volunteers will need to have the relevant driving qualifications, and normally need to pass a minibus drivers' test too if you plan to hire from a local school or community transport organisation.