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Clowns and Suns – twilight zone politics and soaring temperatures
Are you feeling hot? This is 2022. Aren’t you wondering what it might feel like in five years time, in ten years time? On my Twitter feed at the moment are two abiding symbols – the sun and clown icons. Simultaneously soaring temperatures seem everywhere and politics has entered the twilight zone. I confess that Read more
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In 2072 I may very well be dead. Today at the NCE ‘Future of Roads’ conference in London I was asked to look to 2072. I used a foresight interview method called ‘7 Questions’. So what did I have to say when I interviewed myself? Q1 – If you could speak to someone from the Read more
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Restricting the right to protest – is revolution coming?
Yesterday in the UK new legislation came into force that restricts the ability to protest. The background is here; the announcement from yesterday is here. We will find out what this truly means in the weeks, months and years ahead. About a year ago I chaired a panel discussion involving respected professionals around the world Read more
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The innocence of children and a behaviour change pledge
The innocence of children. It is something to cherish. Their wonderment at the world around them is a tonic. Rosie is now 10. She’s like a sponge for knowledge. She’s switched on. She’s aware of climate change and biodiversity loss. But she is not yet aware of the frightening extent of both of these. And Read more
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Why do men still wear this uniform?
Why do men still wear this uniform? I see dictators wearing it, less than trustworthy politicians wearing it, narcissistic ‘leaders’ wearing it. I’m still making sense of why it bugs me so much, but it does. I’m sick of seeing prominent figures in the news and media who I have no respect for, wearing it. Read more
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What A-Level subjects did you take?
What A-level subjects did you take (if you did)? I did Maths, Physics and … French. I recall being asked to go and see the Head of Chemistry at my school, Mr Fox, who sternly advised me that this was a perilous choice for my career ahead. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths being pushed hard Read more
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All models are wrong…especially after a pandemic
Nearly 300 people gathered together for the seventh PTRC Fireside Chat on 3 December 2020. With the system shock of the pandemic further exacerbating a state of flux in trends affecting transport demand, how on earth is the world of transport modelling coping? This was an opportunity to find out, and to look to its future. You Read more
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Transport decarbonisation by 2050 – are you confident?
In this short article I reflect briefly upon views in the transport sector regarding the prospects for decarbonisation by 2050. Polling As members of CIHT will know, each month the CIHT 100 panel is asked a topical question. In this month’s members’ magazine the question was: “Will the transport sector be able to meet the Government’s target Read more
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The new vision for active travel: much more a gear change than a step change (long read)
The UK Department for Transport yesterday published “Gear change: a bold vision for cycling and walking”. After my early morning walk (see highlight pictured below), I sat down with an air of anticipation to read the document from cover to cover. Was this what transport planners have been waiting for and what the wider public might now Read more
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Walking as a Service (WaaS) – Does it have legs?
Download for free my latest paper placing walking at the heart of real innovation when it comes to changing the face of future mobility. Part of Mott MacDonald’s commitment to advancing understanding and practice. There has been a lot of recent hype and attention given to ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS). In January 2019 I posted on LinkedIn: I just Read more
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Graduate Together: Obama’s Commencement Speech speaks to transport professionals around the world
“Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 is an American television special that was simulcasted on the major television networks and online on May 16, 2020” (Wikipedia). As part of this, former President Barack Obama delivered the commencement speech. Its just over 7 minutes long. The transcript and recording are both available online.https://www.linkedin.com/embeds/publishingEmbed.html?articleId=7734907928357220503 I was really Read more
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As we face the greatest fight of our professional lives we need transport planners with super powers
On Tuesday 14 April I spoke with Michelle Wood and Brogan McPherson from PTRC for the first time about an event – a ‘fireside chat’ – they were thinking of running looking at COVID-19 and transport and wanted me to Chair. Nine days later we ran a panel discussion operating on Zoom and live streaming to YouTube. 1,200 people had registered Read more
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“The PM has decided that we need a national transport policy” says the PM’s special advisor, Sir Mark Spencer. “Yes, well, why not?” answers the Minister, Jim Fracker – sorry, Jim Hacker. It’s pointed out to him by Sir Spencer that “We need a policy”. “We did have a policy before” replies Hacker. “Did we?”…
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Anthropomorphism. One of the biggest words in my vocabulary – one I added right near the beginning of my personal journey deeper and deeper into the world of future mobility. I was delighted when Adam Hill, the Editor of ITS International Magazine asked me this summer whether I would share my thoughts on future mobility in a written…
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In the blink of an eye, 20 years have flown by. In 2002 I had just become Chair of the Transport Planning Society. I was encouraged to apply for a newly advertised professorship at the University of the West of England. UWE was looking to establish itself as a centre of excellence in transport. At the…
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Perhaps it was a slow news day on Saturday. The Times ran an article called ‘Big plans will finally ease parking squeeze’. Apparently “Ministers have supported a plan to increase the size of parking bays to keep up with the growing size of cars”. This is what facepalming on social media was made for, isn’t…
What the hell is going on? 