Are you unsure what a Car Club is, and how to use them?  

I joined and went through the stages so I could share my experience with you and hopefully clarify any doubts you may have.

So, what actually are Car Clubs?

Car Clubs are essentially pay-as-you-go community car hire schemes where members can hire vehicles from convenient locations across the UK.  Most clubs have a range of vehicles from vans and cars in different sizes to fit multiple purposes. 

Several companies in the UK offer this service, Enterprise and Zip Car Club are the two biggest clubs; however, the company we use in Norwich is Norfolk Car Club, operated by Co Wheels. 

Joining fees

There’s a small fee of £25 to become a member of the Norfolk Car Club, you then pay for the duration of your booking. Per mile/Hour etc, which obviously varies based on how long you use the car for.

The booking process

I booked a day in advance via the website, which I found is very quick and easy once your account is set up.

You start by typing in your location, the date of your trip, the duration you require and then the fun part… choosing a car.  

Most vehicles are small hatchbacks, there are lots of VW in my area such as Up! or Golfs, with few vans and estate options. You are free to choose what you would like, but we recommend making the decision based on what you’ll need it for. Vans can get booked up quickly, so I’d advise booking at least a week in advance. If you don’t need a particular car type, you shouldn’t have to worry as much. 

I needed the car for a few hours but overestimated on booking times as I was travelling to somewhere new and wasn’t sure exactly how long I needed.

I went for the closest car to the office for convenience, which was just at the bottom of St Mathews Road, Norwich.  The cars all have designated parking spots which is handy if you live close by. The car in the spot was a little red VW UP, a perfect economical city car and very easy to drive. 

No keys? 

Unlocking the car is possibly the strangest obstacle you’ll come across.

After registering with Norfolk Car Club, you will be sent a card to the chosen address; this card will be your key to gain access to all Co Wheel cars across the country. You must tap your card on the pad in the front windscreen, wait for the green light to flash, you will then hear the doors unlock.  

The car is not completely keyless, you will find the keys inside the glove box. Make sure you do your checks, and you will be ready to start your journey. 

My journey was estimated to take an hour from the Smarter Travel office to the development I was visiting in Red Lodge. The journey is mainly on dual carriageways, and my chosen vehicle had no issues.  I arrived, left the keys in the glove box, and locked the car by tapping my card on the windscreen.

Refuelling

Norfolk Car Club ask that you leave the car with at least a quarter of fuel left in the tank. I was nearing that point, so before I set off, I checked the fuel station locator on the All Star Card website. To locate a compatible fuel station, you must first find out which card you have, this is normally slotted into the left-hand corner of the onboard computer (on the inside of the windscreen). With this you will be able to locate all the fuel stations that refill car club cars.

Fill up the car (make sure it’s the correct fuel) and pay by just inserting the card as you normally would, no pin, just give the cars mileage to the sales attendant.

Satisfaction… 

Car Clubs are perfect for those who live in a city, where there is no need for a car as you can reach everything, you need by either walking, cycling or a short bus journey; when you do by chance need to use a car, if it’s just once a week to do the shopping, or to visit family then it’s a handy membership to hold and cheaper than owning a car. 

Even for those not living in a city it can serve a purpose, those that have but do not use their second car as frequently as they thought, or those that are moving house or collecting furniture, you may need to hire a van for a few hours. 

They are also excellent for business use; the Smarter Travel team uses the Norfolk Car Club on most site visits, serving essentially as a company car that you share with others. The ability to share with others allows for fewer cars on the road and therefore less Co2 emissions.

To summarise; it’s great for infrequent journeys, cheaper than running and maintaining a car and ultimately leads to fewer cars on the road. 

#WalkThisMay

In less than three weeks’ time, the annual National Walking Month will begin. The National Walking month is created to encourage people to walk more.

This year, Living Streets is encouraging everyone to #Try20 minutes of walking each day in May. Walking is an easy and accessible way to improve both mental and physical health, and a 20 minute walk can reduce the risk of a number of preventable health conditions such as depression, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. It is a form of exercise that has often been overlooked on its benefits.

Check the NHS guidance for more details on how walking can benefit your health.

Who organized it?

Living Streets is a UK charity organization who is organizing the National Walking Month in May. They aim to revitalise and motivate everyone to walk their journeys instead of driving.

Other than hosting the National Walking Month, they have also introduced Walk To School Week 2022 between the 16^th May to the 20^th May this year, encouraging children to walk to school.

Where is it?

The National Walking Month last for the entire month in May.

You do not have to be in a certain place to do so, simply do it in the area that you live in! After doing a 20 minute walk, you can post it on your social media to engage with the organization and other people who has joined, learning about their journeys.

When posting on social media, be sure to use the hashtags such as #WalkThisMay and #Try20!

How can you participate National Walking Month?

Living Streets has produced a #Try20 checklist that shows you different activities you could do on your 20 minute walk a day challenge. Download and print it out so you could tick it as you go.

To make your 20 minute of walking more interesting, they have also put out 20 tips to help fit to your 20 minutes of walking a day. It is a great way to start your 20 minute walk challenge.

Why should you get involved?

The #Try20 minute walk a day challenge is a great cause that encourages you to swap a short drive for a short walk. Other than getting health benefits, you are also helping to reduce air pollution, congestion, and road danger, whilst saving money and getting active in the process!

Other than to encourage more people get active, this challenge is a great way for everyone to rebuild their daily habits. We are already immobile at our office desks most of the day and most of the time we get home, so why not try to walk to work, or to your local grocery shop for a change?

Starting from today you will be able to save up to 50% on over a million rail tickets as the government and rail industry launch the first and hopefully not the last, Great British Rail Sale.

The public have been encouraged to take advantage of this unprecedented sale, which sees multiple rail operators coming together for the first time to offer nationwide savings; perfect for weekend escapes or outings with the family.

An example of some of the savings you can take of advantage of:

• York to Leeds: was £5.60, now £2.80
• London to Edinburgh: was £44, now £22
• Manchester to Newcastle: was £20.60, now £10.30
• Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads: was £25.30, now £12.60

The aim is to cutting the cost of rail travel to help ease the pressures on family finances at a time when inflation is rising around the world.

It will also encourage people to visit different places, connect with friends and loved ones, get out and about all whilst using a more sustainable mode of transport and leaving those cars at home!

Tickets can be purchased online from participating retailers such as Trainline or direct from the train operators, with the up to half-price rate applying to a huge range of off-peak tickets spreading the length and breadth of the country.

Tickets go on sale from 19 April with discounted tickets available on journeys from 25th April to 27th May.

Take advantage of this first-of-its-kind deal and see what the UK has to offer!

Who, What, Where, How & Why

WHO are Sustrans?

No… Sustrans isn’t a person, it stands for sustainable transport. Sustrans is a charity encouraging people to walk and cycle; connecting people and places, creating liveable neighbourhoods, transforming the school run and delivering a happier, healthier commute.

Founded in 1977, by John Grimshaw amid the oil crisis; environment issues were a big factor along with the desire to reduce the reliance on the private car. The organisation started the first national cycle route in Bristol and Bath, which has now expanded all over the country. This passion for sustainable transport has continued to develop over the years, which has led to the creation of the charitable organisation that is: Sustrans.

WHAT is Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel?

Previously known as Sustrans Big Pedal, the campaign aims to inspire pupils to take active journeys to school.

On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can get the highest percentage of their pupils walking, using a wheelchair, scooting, or cycling to school. The best five days from each school will determine their overall finish place.

WHERE is it?

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel runs for 10 days; from the 21^st of March to the 1^st of April 2022 and is open to all primary and secondary schools across the UK.

HOW it works

Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is all about inspiring a new generation to travel sustainably and make conscious greener decisions.

Children are the focus, but they have a few steps to follow to take part, with a little help and some enthusiasm from their school.

Sustrans provide a participation letter to download and fill out which can be found here. This will be used to make your school aware that this movement is taking place and that you want to take part. Hopefully, influencing participation in this great cause to get kids active this spring.

Don’t be disheartened your school isn’t taking part this year, you can still take part! Take advantage of the nicer weather and get active. An active daily routine into school has so many positives, including the increase of mental alertness, energy, positive mood and your helping the environment by cutting out the use of fossil fuels.

WHY you should get involved

New name, same aim.

It’s a great cause that has the best interests of our future. The charity wants to encourage more families to travel to school actively, to help create healthier and happier communities.

Free daily resources will be provided to encourage pupils to see their local area from a new perspective, learn about the benefits of getting to school actively and discover amazing journeys to school from around the world.

Daily prize draws

Other than getting active, students could also be in with a chance of winning fabulous prizes every day. Schools will be entered into a daily prize draw for rewards including equipment and accessories if over 15% of the pupils walk, use a wheelchair, scoot or cycle on that day of the challenge.

For more information visit:

https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/projects/uk-wide/schools/sustrans-big-walk-and-wheel/

Season’s greetings from all of us at Smarter Travel, we trust you will all enjoy the festive celebrations in your local area!

Our office will close 1pm Tuesday 24th December and re-open 9am Thursday 2nd January.

Please remember, if you would like assistance in changing your travel habits in the new year, then you can contact us directly for any advice on walking, cycling or using public transport more often.

Please keep an eye out on Facebook and Twitter for upcoming events, prize draws and surveys in 2020!