Discover sustainable transportation solutions for your event

Let’s be honest, event organisation is already a logistical puzzle. Adding sustainability to the mix can feel like one more thing on an endless to-do list. But what if focusing on green mobility wasn’t just another box to tick, but a real strategic advantage? When you prioritise how people get to and from your venue, you can elevate your brand, attract a loyal, eco-conscious crowd, and sometimes even find unexpected cost savings. It’s about moving beyond vague promises and tackling the single biggest contributor to your event’s carbon footprint. Travel can account for up to 80% of total emissions, making it the most impactful area for you to drive real change. A well-thought-out mobility plan isn’t a burden; it’s your best tool for crafting a responsible and memorable event from the moment an attendee starts their journey.

Building a stronger brand and loyal following

In an age where people are more aware of their environmental impact than ever, your event’s green credentials really matter. A clear commitment to sustainable transport sends a powerful signal that your brand is forward-thinking and genuinely cares. For many attendees, sponsors, and partners, this can be the deciding factor. This kind of authentic commitment forges a much deeper connection with your audience, building loyalty that lasts long after the final curtain call. By making the green choice the easy choice, you not only shrink your event’s footprint but also improve the entire attendee experience. That creates positive sentiment that resonates for years to come. To understand why this is so crucial, let’s look at how different transport options stack up.

Impact of transport choices on event sustainability

This table breaks down the real-world impact of common transport modes. It quickly becomes clear why shifting attendee behaviour is so important for both the planet and your event’s logistics.

As you can see, encouraging shared and public transport isn’t just an environmental win—it directly addresses logistical headaches like parking and traffic, all while offering attendees a better, more relaxed experience.

Lessons from the Dutch approach to mobility

For real-world inspiration, we only need to look at countries already leading the charge. The Netherlands, for example, is a global benchmark with incredibly ambitious goals for its transport sector. The country is aiming for 100% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2030 and is on track for a massive 50% reduction in transport-related CO₂ emissions. Cities like Utrecht are living proof of this commitment, pioneering car-free zones and even building the world’s largest bicycle parking garage. You can learn more about these pioneering efforts in the Netherlands and see firsthand how a national focus on smart mobility can create incredible, replicable results.

Digging deeper with attendee insights

While your registration data gives you the “where,” you still need to figure out the “how.” For this, a simple, well-timed survey is your best friend. You don’t need to bombard people with dozens of questions; just focus on the essentials to get the job done. Ask your attendees directly about how they plan to travel. A quick multiple-choice question during registration or in a pre-event email can provide incredibly powerful insights. Try asking things like:

• How are you planning to get to our event? (e.g., car, train, bus, bicycle)
• If you’re driving, would you be open to sharing the ride with a fellow attendee?
• What might encourage you to use public transport? (e.g., a discount, a dedicated shuttle bus)

The answers won’t just tell you what people are currently doing, but more importantly, what might convince them to make a different choice. This is exactly the information you need to shape your incentives and communications. A common pitfall is just assuming you know your audience’s travel habits. We’ve seen organisers run a quick survey and get a shock — finding a huge number of attendees who would cycle if secure parking was available, or a big group all coming from one area that’s terribly served by public transport.

Assessing real-world venue accessibility

Next, it’s time to go beyond a simple pin on a map and evaluate your venue’s true accessibility. This means getting a real-world perspective, either by putting boots on the ground or doing a thorough virtual walk-through with online mapping tools. Take a hard look at the quality of the public transport links. Is the nearest train station a pleasant five-minute walk, or is it a treacherous journey across several busy roads? Check out the cycling infrastructure. Are there safe, continuous bike lanes leading right to the venue, or do they just disappear a kilometre out? Finally, consider walkability. A venue might look close to a bus stop on paper, but poor lighting or a lack of footpaths can make it feel completely inaccessible, especially after dark. Understanding these real-world barriers is absolutely essential for creating practical sustainable transportation solutions that people will actually use. This detailed mapping isn’t just about finding problems; it’s also about spotting opportunities. For instance, you might discover that a significant chunk of your guests live along a single train line, making a shuttle bus from a key station a highly effective and popular option. Likewise, promoting carpooling to events becomes much easier when you can clearly see the geographic clusters of your attendees. This is where platforms like Slinger can step in, connecting these individuals and turning a logistical headache into a fantastic community-building moment. Pinpointing these patterns is the first real step toward a smarter, greener event.

Building a sustainable transport plan that actually works

Alright, you’ve crunched the numbers and have a clear map of your event’s transport footprint. Now for the fun part: moving from data to action. The real goal here isn’t just to tick a few ‘green’ boxes. It’s about creating a transport plan so smart and convenient that the sustainable choice becomes the obvious choice for your attendees. Think of this as your strategic blueprint for gently nudging behaviour. You’ll be weaving together different sustainable transportation solutions to create a seamless experience that feels like a natural part of your event, not some tacked-on afterthought.

Encourage carpooling and cycling

Of course, not every venue is blessed with a major transport hub on its doorstep. That’s where shared and active travel options become your best friends. Your plan should actively encourage people to travel together or get there under their own steam. A simple, user-friendly ride-sharing forum is a great place to start. By embedding a tool like the Slinger widget directly on your event website, you can make carpooling easy without creating an administrative headache for your team. It not only slashes the number of cars on the road but also helps build a sense of community before the doors even open. When you pair this with helpful content, like providing fuel efficiency tips for those who still need to drive, you can really chip away at your event’s carbon footprint. We once worked with a festival that was hesitant to promote cycling because of its rural location. After we convinced them to set up a secure ‘bike valet’ service and mapped out a few safe, scenic routes, they were floored. Over 200 attendees showed up on two wheels on the very first day.

Getting the word out before the event

Your main job here is to make the green choice the easiest and most obvious one. Before an attendee even considers booking a taxi, your sustainable options should be right there in front of them. This means weaving your message into every digital touchpoint. Start with your event website. Don’t hide your transport plan in some obscure corner of the FAQ page. Give it its own dedicated, easy-to-find “Getting here” section. Fill it with clear guides, simple maps, and direct links to book public transport or sign up for a carpool using a tool like Slinger. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:

• Smart emails: Don’t just send one generic email. Segment your list by where attendees are coming from. You can send folks in the same city a nudge to use the Slinger carpool widget or show those coming from further afield the best train routes.
• Social media buzz: Get creative with your posts. Share a “Pro tip” about the shuttle bus schedule, or post a fun graphic showing how many car journeys were avoided at your last event thanks to carpooling. It’s all about making it visible and shareable.
• Event app integration: Your mobility plan deserves prime real estate on your event app’s home screen. Push notifications are your friend here — a timely reminder like, “The last shuttle from Central Station departs in one hour!” can be incredibly helpful.

The key is to frame everything around what your attendees get out of it. Instead of “Help us reduce our carbon footprint,” try messaging like, “Skip the traffic and save on parking!” or “Enjoy a stress-free trip and meet fellow attendees on the way.” It’s a small shift in language, but it turns a request into a genuine benefit for them.

Nailing it on-site

Once your guests start arriving, your communication needs to switch from digital to physical. This is where clear, consistent, and impossible-to-miss signage comes into play. If your signs are vague or the pickup points are hidden, you’ll see people give up and immediately open a ride-hailing app. Put yourself in the shoes of a first-time visitor who might be feeling a little lost. Where would they naturally look for directions? Make sure your shuttle stops, bike parking, and information desks are marked with large, well-lit signs. Crucially, use the same branding and simple language you used in your pre-event communications to keep things familiar. Finally, make sure your team is in the loop. Your staff and volunteers are your ambassadors on the ground. Give them a simple one-page summary of all the transport options, complete with schedules, locations, and important contacts. When a guest asks how to get back to their hotel, a well-informed team member can confidently point them towards the most convenient and sustainable choice. This reinforces your commitment and makes the entire experience feel seamless and thoughtfully planned. So, you’ve put in the hard work to set up a fantastic green transport plan. But how do you actually know if it moved the needle? Going from good intentions to real, measurable success means you need a smart way to track your impact. This is how you’ll prove your strategy worked, show stakeholders the value, and create a blueprint to make your next event even better. The real goal here is to turn your efforts into solid results. It’s one thing to offer sustainable transport; it’s another thing entirely to measure how many people actually used it. Thankfully, platforms like Slinger make this part easy, putting the most critical data right at your fingertips. You get an immediate, powerful snapshot showing exactly how many kilometres were saved and the precise amount of CO₂ you’ve prevented from entering the atmosphere, all thanks to your carpooling push.

What success looks like: defining your metrics

To get the full story, you need to look beyond just one number. A truly effective measurement strategy brings together several key data points to show the complete picture of your success. Think about every green travel option you promoted and figure out how you’ll track each one. Here’s what I’d recommend keeping an eye on:

• Carpooling impact: This is your bread and butter. Track the number of shared rides, the total kilometres saved by people travelling together, and the resulting CO₂ reduction. It’s the most direct way to show a positive environmental benefit.
• Public transport uptake: If you offered discounts for buses or trains, how many people cashed them in? Measuring the redemption rate tells you if your incentive was compelling enough.
• Shuttle bus headcount: A simple passenger count for your shuttle services is incredibly useful. It helps you gauge demand and makes planning for next year’s capacity a whole lot easier.
• Active travel numbers: How many bikes were parked in your dedicated racks or checked into the bike valet? This simple count is a great indicator of how well you promoted healthy, active travel.

Here’s something I’ve learned from experience: don’t underestimate the cumulative effect. A single person cycling might not seem like a game-changer, but when you track the data and find out hundreds of attendees made that choice, you suddenly have a powerful story about a massive dent in your event’s carbon footprint.

Getting the full story from your attendees

While platform analytics give you the hard numbers, you need to hear from your attendees to get the full picture and add a human element to your report. This is where a quick post-event survey becomes your best friend. The trick is to keep it short and sweet to get as many responses as possible. Ask direct questions like, “How did you get to our event?” and “Did our green transport options influence your choice?” Their answers can reveal fascinating trends and even give you some brilliant testimonials for your next marketing push. When you combine this feedback with your analytics, you can calculate a much more accurate estimate of your total carbon savings. And since transportation is the biggest polluter at most events, this calculation is absolutely essential for your final impact report. To help you organise this process, it’s useful to have a clear framework for what you’re tracking and why.

Tackling your sustainable event transit questions

Let’s be honest, even for the most seasoned event pro, implementing a truly sustainable transportation plan can throw up a few curveballs. So, let’s get into some of the most common questions and roadblocks I see, and break them down with practical advice that actually works on the ground.

Ready to make sustainable carpooling a seamless part of your next event? With Slinger, you can embed a ride-sharing widget on your site in minutes, track your impact, and give attendees a simple way to travel together. Discover how Slinger can help you reach your sustainability goals.