TravelFootprint

The Travelfootprint tool is a Camden and Clear Zones project that is intended for use by the general public, business users and policy makers to compare the life cycle environmental impacts of the main methods of passenger travel in the United Kingdom. The tool also allows detailed comparison of new and used vehicles (since 2001) that can be searched according to manufacturer, model and fuel/engine type. The intention is that the tool be accessible to all users, including those without expert knowledge or access to the primary data.

Travel Footprint Limited and the Travelfootprint online tool are exclusively owned by the Clear Zones Partnership via the London Borough of Camden and the online tool is funded by Transport for London. The online tool is funded by Transport for London and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The web-based online tool has been developed by Ecolane Transport Consultancy on behalf of the London Borough of Camden and is provided free of charge to users according to the Terms and Conditions of the Travelfootprint website.

The Travelfootprint online tool is based on a previous research project, the Life Cycle Assessment of Vehicle Fuels and Technologies (2006), co-funded by Transport for London through the Clear Zones Partnership and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The original LCA study, also conducted by Ecolane Transport Consultancy on behalf of the Clear Zones Partnership and the London Borough of Camden, focuses on assessing the environmental impacts of passenger cars and light-duty vans in the UK.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study assesses the relative impacts of several fuel and vehicle types including: petrol, diesel, bioethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, battery electric, and hybrid electric vehicles. The environmental impacts of these fuel/vehicle options are assessed on a life cycle basis and include the impacts associated with: fuel production, vehicle operation, and vehicle manufacture. The LCA methodology is based on the European Cleaner Drive Rating system that assesses the impacts of the fuel cycle, and has been extended to include the vehicle cycle using new a new model developed specifically for the study.

The Travelfootprint tool uses the same methodology developed for the original LCA study and extends the application beyond passenger cars to include the main passenger travel modes. Where necessary, the methodology input data has been modified to account for travel modes not considered by the original study (eg emissions from aircraft).

For more information on the methodology used, see the original report entitled Life Cycle Assessment of Vehicle Fuels and Technologies, which can be downloaded in pdf format here: LCA Report 2006 (1MB).

Who is behind Travelfootprint?

The Clear Zones Partnership (CZP) includes Camden Council, the City of Westminster and the City of London. The Clear Zones aim is to use partnership working between Central London Authorities to reduce congestion, air and noise pollution and improve the urban realm; the partnership uses innovative technologies and sustainable transport measures to achieve this aim. The Travelfootprint Website is one of a number of inter-related projects supported by CZP (see list of other projects below).

The Clear Zones initiative was originally set up by the DTI (Department for Trade and Industry) and Camden became one of nine Trailblazer authorities in 2001, which provided a forum for towns and cities to exchange ideas, with conferences, seminars and newsletters. Clear Zones is focussed at a local level and has aimed to make cities, like London more liveable, by: reducing the impact of road transport; managing air quality; promoting integrated transport; and urban renaissance and regeneration.

The Clear Zones Partnership strongly supports the objectives of the Mayor's Transport Strategy to: manage motor traffic; encourage modal shift to walking, cycling, public transport, and other more sustainable vehicles; reduce traffic pollution; and work in partnership. The Clear Zone strategy aims to help make London a destination of choice for the Olympics and one of the most walking friendly cities in the world by 2015.

Since 1999 the London Borough of Camden, the City of London and the City of Westminster have worked in partnership to deliver Clear Zone proposals within a specific area of central London, which covers an area south of Euston Road to the Strand in the three local authorities.

Clear Zones is used as a ‘testing ground' to research, trial, monitor and set best practice for new transport technologies, innovations and measures, to be implemented on a local, or regional scale following successful studies:

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF VEHICLE FUELS AND TECHNOLOGIES

The first research of its kind in the UK to compare the environmental costs of the whole life cycle of different vehicles and fuel types available from cradle to grave. This study together with other ongoing research will be used to inform future transport policy in Camden and the UK;

LPG TAXI CONVERSION

Conversion of taxis from petrol to cleaner liquefied petroluem gas;

D-NOx PAVING & PAINT

Camden Council was the first local authority in the UK to undertake an air quality monitoring study to investigate a photocatalytic paving (D-NOx) laid at Southampton Row WC1. The Council is currently undertaking further research involving of a photocatalytic paint. The photocatalytic products are proposed to reduce road traffic emissions.

Supporting Sustainable Transport

The sustainable transport measures programme aims to improve the urban realm and reduce and remove inappropriate through-traffic to create traffic-free and low emission areas that promote walking, cycling, public transport and greener workplaces/servicing techniques. The Clear Zone aims to connect sustainable transport measures together to form walking, cycling or integrated sustainable transport corridors and so develop best practice.

Since the instigation of the Clear Zone Partnership in 1999, some of the successful projects include: Monmouth Street, Museum St, Malet St , Goodge Street, Bernard Street, Gate Street, and pedestrian signage - finger post signs on walking corridors between Covent Garden tube station, the British Museum, and Holborn tube station.

For the past four years Camden has celebrated Car Free Day by launching a series of Clear Zone pedestrian improvements. The Clear Zone Museum Street improvements were heralded across Europe as an example of best practice. Subsequently, the Car Free Day charter requires participants to enact a permanent measure, whether a physical construction or a new travel awareness programme, as part of the day's celebrations.

Credits

Airport lookup by Geonames.org