With the aviation industry coming under constant fire for its lack of green credentials, Luton airport is introducing a car share scheme for its employees which will not only help the environment but also the staff’s pockets, with the rising price of fuel a cause for concern.
Simon Earles, general manager of corporate social responsibility at Luton, told a local newspaper that car usage for commuting to and from work at the airport is relatively high and the new scheme will hopefully reduce usage. 9000 people work at the airport and although there are already schemes in existence to get people out of their cars and on to public transport, be it bus, coach or train, there is recognition that public transport is not always suitable for everyone, hence the car share idea.
Once staff sign up to the scheme they can search the database for a suitable match and the idea is not restricted solely to journeys to and from work. Once you are a member, you can use the scheme for any journey.
Many people may have misgivings over the safety aspect of the scheme but the website is quick to point out that security is an important issue for them and only limited personal details are available to other members. Tips are also given to ensure that members stay safe, such as meeting in a public place for the first time, letting a friend know where you are going and producing some sort of ID the first time you meet.
