Mobius part two - The practice

A Mobius workshop held in Rotterdam on Thursday 26 June, saw a lively discussion about mobility management. A review of the workshop gives an idea of the practice of mobility management.

Taskforce MobilityManagement
Mr. Willem de Jager of the large Dutch bank Rabobank is a member of the national Taskforce MobilityManagement. The taskforce has instated six pilot regions in which local authorities and business co-operate in regional conventions. The taskforce will be promoting Mobius amongst its participants. De Jager hopes there will be an automatic connection between participation in these regional conventions and being a Mobius member, and vice versa.

According to De Jager, larger parties like Rabobank have only recently become aware of the important part that demand plays in traffic congestion. They are slowly learning they can be part of the solution, instead of expecting Government to solve the problem. Personal mobility budgets for employees - who get to keep what remains of their budget - could be one solution.

Being a mortgage and insurance lender, Rabobank has a direct interest in fighting climate change: a rise in sea level means an increased risk of flooded land, which is difficult to insure.

First Mobius certificate
The workshop takes a festive turn when Mr. Jan van Delft of Terberg Leasing receives the first Mobius certificate on the spot.

Mr. Van Delft talks about the company’s experience with the Mobius programme. The company’s sustainability taskforce has acquired a permanent seat at the table during the weekly innovation meetings and Terberg Leasing has invested in a green car wash and a more sustainable car trailer. Van Delft is primarily pleased with the increased awareness amongst the staff.

Panel discussion
A panel discussion follows, during which De Jager emphasizes both change and conservatism. "You used to be a loser when using public transportation, but nowadays people are even showing off their environmentally conscious behaviour," says De Jager. "Margaret Thatcher once said, 'A man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself as a failure.' Times are changing!

"But still, ninety per cent of all employers are unwilling to refund train tickets to employees who have lease cars. And there is only so much flexibility in flexible working hours."

Don Spierenburg of the Climate Neutral Group thinks that more knowledge, amongst individuals and companies alike, will increase awareness. "We should know both how much we emit and compared to whom we're performing well or badly."

Competitive
It is a good idea to bring a competitive element into the sustainable mobility ambition. It should spur companies on. After all, business is competition.

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