Why does Mobility Matter?
Because life matters.
Whatever we wish to do involves some sort of movement of people or things. We do not travel just to travel, but to make our lives better, make our places better, and even to survive. Mobility is not just about walking, bicycles, cars, buses, trains, trams, planes, ships, helicopters, taxis, scooters, rickshaws, matatus, lorries, vans and any other mode of transport. It is about life, and the world we want to create.
Transport planners have a huge responsibility.
We help to move nearly 8 billion people, plus billions of tonnes of cargo.
Transport is the third highest source of carbon dioxide emissions by sector.
Transport investment decisions can widen social inequality, or it can reduce them.
Transport can save lives and it can take them.
Transport can stimulate the economy, and it can harm it.
Despite our best efforts to bring order to networks, transport is a highly contested space. It is even a fundamental human right. The world around mobility is changing fast and its full complexity is now being revealed to decision makers.
What Mobility Matters is about
The time for talk is over. If transport is serious about tackling the climate emergency, becoming more just, and becoming safer, it needs to do it.
If you are professional who wants to make a difference, this newsletter will give you the ideas and inspiration to do it. If you are an activist frustrated with the lack of change, this newsletter will give you advice on what to do. If you are a transport nerd, this newsletter will scratch your nerdy itch.
This newsletter is about getting stuff done. No more excuses.
It has a primarily UK focus to it, as the main author is based in the UK. But any contributions that will help our largely global audience are much appreciated.
Stay up-to-date with a free subscription
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you will get a newsletter directly to your inbox at 12:30pm (London time). The only exception is between Christmas Eve and New Years Day (inclusive) as well as UK public holidays - I do need some time off!
Join the crew
Mobility Matters Daily is open to writing contributions! If you want to write a 1000 word article on a transport matter you care about, contact me and it will be shared with everyone. I am particularly interested in contributions from young professionals, women working in transport, persons from ethnic minority backgrounds, and people not in the UK.
What’s more, I am willing to offer you a fee for writing that article of £200. So, if there is something you want to say, share it with the readers!
While you are free to write what you want, there are only two editorial rules:
No advertorials or sales pitches. If you are trying to sell something, talk to your marketing team. The one exception I will make is researchers, especially PhD students, promoting their research.
My word is final. You have free reign to write what you like and in your own voice, and I will do my best to avoid changing what you have written. But if I fundamentally object to something, its not going in the newsletter.
If you have a great idea for an article you want to write and share with readers, email me about it and we can see if its a go-er.
