Thoughts, insights and rants about futures, climate change, system change, transport, wicked problems, EDI, and heavy metal

By Professor Glenn Lyons

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  • I’m sick of climate science. And climate activists.

    I’m sick of climate science. And climate activists.

    I’m sick of climate science. And climate activists. Between them they seem to have created a cult that has spread like a virus. Their alarmism is a noise that is disrupting our way of life and seeking to cause concern where it is just not warranted. Let’s be honest, we’ve done very well out of… Read more

  • New introductory video for the Triple Access Planning Handbook (and Copilot’s attempt to distinguish between TAP and traditional transport planning!)

    New introductory video for the Triple Access Planning Handbook (and Copilot’s attempt to distinguish between TAP and traditional transport planning!)

    I wanted to know what AI makes of Triple Access Planning. Having asked Copilot to provide concise definitions of transport planning and of TAP it then suggested I ask it “How is Triple Access Planning different from traditional transport planning?”. Here’s the answer it gave. Triple Access Planning (TAP) diverges from traditional transport planning in… Read more

  • This trial has been going on now some three years. What are Government waiting for?

    This trial has been going on now some three years. What are Government waiting for?

    “This trial has been going on now some three years. What are Government waiting for? Because a trial will result in two things, wont it Glenn. Either (A) they’ll be legal and you can go and buy one from the shop and use it, or (B) they’ll shove them all back in their boxes and… Read more

  • Predict or decide? How ‘triple access planning’ can change placemaking

    Predict or decide? How ‘triple access planning’ can change placemaking

    Hidden in plain sight 👀. Thank you to The Planner RTPI and Simon Wicks 🤘 for allowing me to write The Planner Essay this month on… wait for it … Triple Access Planning. Our new practitioners’ handbook on TAP emphasises three important dimensions of planning that have been hidden in plain sight: 1️⃣ 👀 DIGITAL… Read more

  • Triple Access Planning – a diffusing innovation that reflects our new look world

    Triple Access Planning – a diffusing innovation that reflects our new look world

    What is Triple Access Planning? To mark the launch of ‘Triple Access Planning for Uncertain Futures – A Handbook for Practitioners’, Local Transport Today (TransportXtra) offered me a feature article slot to introduce TAP, explain its origins and give people an overview of the new Handbook. You can find the article below. The article is… Read more

  • I wasn’t very green. I was probably at my worst a decade ago.

    I wasn’t very green. I was probably at my worst a decade ago.

    I wasn’t very green. I was probably at my worst a decade ago. Way over my allowance for a fair, sustainable human existence on planet earth. I was in the Matrix too – consuming mainstream media, viewing the world through my airbrushed education. I support the view that we need to change the system. We… Read more

  • Triple Access Planning: Changing transport planning in a changing world

    Triple Access Planning: Changing transport planning in a changing world

    “Should the Transport Planning Society become the Triple Access Planning Society?” asks Stephen Cragg, Head of Appraisal and Model Development at Transport Scotland. The LATIS service is operated by Transport Scotland with the objective to meet the appraisal and modelling needs of the Scottish Government. LATIS stands for Land-use And Transport Integration in Scotland. Stephen is also putting forward… Read more

  • “See that bloke over there? That’s Lemmy’s dad”

    “See that bloke over there? That’s Lemmy’s dad”

    “See that bloke over there? That’s Lemmy’s dad”. I’ll never forget that, doing my work experience after O-Levels (remember them?) at Salisbury Cattle Market. And there he was, allegedly, the father of one of the metal gods. I didn’t pluck up the courage at the time to speak to him. What a missed opportunity. A… Read more

  • This post could be a waste of time – because the people it is really about wont be able to comment

    This post could be a waste of time – because the people it is really about wont be able to comment

    I’ve discovered over the last few years that the engagement and comments I see on my LinkedIn posts are potentially the tip of the iceberg of people reading the posts. I regularly get private messages with words to the effect that ‘you said what I was thinking but I’m not allowed to say, or daren’t… Read more

  • Breaking news – New Zealand Government unveils time travel – back to 2009

    Breaking news – New Zealand Government unveils time travel – back to 2009

    Breaking news – New Zealand Government unveils time travel – back to 2009. When I went to NZ in 2014 I was told ‘planning’ was a dirty word and that the Roads of National Significance were nicknamed ‘Roads of Significance to the Nationals’. On 6 March (two days ago) the draft NZ Government Policy Statement… Read more

  • Rosie Jones is a national treasure

    Rosie Jones is a national treasure

    Rosie Jones IS a national treasure, and – to quote Annie Macmanus – is a f**king legend. Susie and I had the great privilege and belly-laughing experience to see her ‘Triple Threat’ stand-up show last night. “If you’re not disabled or gay you won’t be leaving here tonight until you are” she joked. What an… Read more

  • Take the risk or lose the chance

    Take the risk or lose the chance

    Take the risk or lose the chance. Just over six years ago I started my current role with Mott MacDonald. I was stepping into the unknown and leaving a role I was well established in at my university. While weighing up this key decision in my life, my eldest daughter Florrie bought me this sign… Read more


  • Predict and Provide just keeps rising from the dead, doesn’t it? Bear with me. The album ‘From Hell I Rise’ has just arrived. A little of what you fancy does you good. Calling all my metalhead connections – this is a BIG hashtag#MetalFriday. I remember going with Robin Lyons to see Slayer for their final…


  • Storytelling, personal journeys, and leaders walking the walk help us to nurture talent, embrace diversity and foster an inclusive working environment. But we have a long way to go. I have been at the annual Construction Industry Council (CIC) conference today on behalf of Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) – a gathering of…


  • I’ve never been to Glastonbury Festival but I’m guessing getting your summer rail journey planned across Europe is on a par with the stress of whether or not you’ll get a Glasto ticket when they become available. Last year for the family holiday in southern spain I went by train (while the others flew). The…


  • Here’s your progressively zoomed-in May 2024 update on decarbonisation: globally as a whole, globally for transport, globally for direct emissions from transport, for direct emissions from transport in the UK and for car driving and flying. The story goes like this in brief: We need to reduce emissions globally by 45% compared to 2010 levels…


  • Our journeys through life and careers are about people at the heart. I am increasingly aware of this as I reflect. It was therefore a most welcome opportunity this weekend to head to The Black Heart in Camden Town, London. Will Pedley will be known to many of you as the current Transport Planner of…