💭 A Head Full of Dreams - MM#590
Good day my good friend.
A little bit of housekeeping to announce today. Next Monday is the Summer Bank Holiday in the UK, so that means no full newsletter next Monday. But I will send out something for those of you not enjoying a deserved break. I’m just not sure what yet.
If the recent announcement by the Prime Minister still has you hot under the collar, we are talking ‘changing the narrative’ on sustainable transport at Mobility Camp on 26th September 2023 in Birmingham. It would be great to see you there. Get your tickets now.
If you like this newsletter, please share it with someone else who you think will love it. I will love you forever if you do. ☺️
James
🎤 Big Event = Big Opportunity
Travel for major events is something of an enigma for many of us. Namely in that as professionals we approach such events as issues to be managed as opposed to opportunities for change to be realised. After reading that this weekend’s Leeds Festival has the most significant effect on the motorway network apart from the British Grand Prix, I can’t help but think that this mindset is a somewhat skewed one.
We know from the academic evidence that behaviour change initiatives associated with major events can have a significant impact on how people travel to and from them. We know that they hold huge potential for behaviour change because public transport is very good at getting lots of people to and from a place in a short space of time. So why do we not achieve its potential?
The first factor is the location of the venue. Clearly it is going to be easier to get lots of people to use public transport to somewhere in a big city like Wembley Stadium compared to somewhere rural like Worthy Farm. The latter requires either the organisers to organise transport (along with other minor things like security, ensuring the performers get there, food, sanitation etc.) or for attendees to sort it themselves.
The second factor is who owns the “transport problem.” There are often numerous people who own different parts of the issue. For instance, for a Premier League match:
The home team has overall responsibility for putting the match on;
The Police (paid for by the home team) for security associated with the match;
The away team for putting on official transport for their fans;
The local council for managing the highways around the stadium, and;
The public transport operators for ensuring they have enough buses, trains, trams, and whatever else needed to transport fans.
There is a lot of engagement and discussion, even collaborative working between agencies. But little ownership of encouraging people to travel to events sustainably. And I mean meaningfully owning it.
But there are signs that this is changing. We certainly know what is possible when an organisation owns the issue. A notable example was the London 2012 Olympics that is considered a big success in terms of behaviour change. Another comes from a very unlikely source: the band Coldplay.
As part of their recent world tour, they made a huge commitment to reducing the tour’s carbon emissions. This involved working with their logistics providers to use biofuels, only flying on commercial flights where they can, make extensive use of batteries, and renewables of course. They have emitted 47% less carbon as a result. The one thorny area for them? Fan’s travel. Even when Coldplay try to Fix You, they find it hard. We should step up.
🎓 From academia
The clever clogs at our universities have published the following excellent research. Where you are unable to access the research, email the author - they may give you a copy of the research paper for free.
Effect of rail transit on travel behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis
TL:DR - Investing in rail means more people use rail.
TL:DR - There is a really complicated relationship between motorcycle ownership, car ownership, and economic performance.
Eco-efficiency assessment of long-life asphalt pavement technologies
TL:DR - An asphalt with enhanced semi-rigid base is better for the environment. Think of it before laying a new pavement or road.
Variation of truck emission by trip purposes: Cases by real-world trajectory data
TL:DR - Variations in particulate emissions from diesel trucks can happen between different trip purposes.
📻 Easy Listening
Thank you to good friend Joe Grainger for pointing me in the direction of this War on Cars Podcast episode with Paul Donald. It perfectly encapsulates how cars destroy the natural world just by using them. And why it is so important for us to create safe havens for wildlife.
What you can do: Insist that as part of any transport project there is a commitment to a biodiversity net gain. Planting trees and other plants to encourage bees and insects is essential, and you must use every means at your disposal to insist on it. Insects attract birds and other animals. Agree an action plan to maintain what you put in.
If it cannot be provided at the site, insist part of the project budget is spent on off-site provision. In the UK, the Woodland Trust allows you to dedicate a tree or an entire woodland - offset everything the natural way. Trees for Cities also works with local communities to plant trees globally.
✊ Awesome people doing awesome things
As, yet again, I blew it on Monday, you are going to get a double-dose of awesome people doing awesome things. You lucky, lucky people.
The first huge shout out is to Ann Rodger of the Lanarkhall and District Volunteer Group. There are some people who just seem to be like a force of nature and they are not outspoken about it. The shift Ann put in during COVID for this community transport group was astounding, and I only recently heard about it. In addition to caring for her own family, she took calls, drove minibuses, took part in lunch clubs - you name it she did it. People like Ann are how communities work - at all.
Another shout out goes to Akii Ngo, who describes themself as Disability, Inclusion and Gender Equity Activist. I became aware of their work in their fight to make public transport accessible in Victoria. Her video on being an ambassador is amazing and you should watch it. Sometimes just raising awareness of an issue is the first steps on the road to doing things better, and Akii is very, very good at helping people take that first step.
📼 On the (You)Tube
My word, if only the US Supreme Court hadn’t ordered the recount in Florida in the 2000 US Presidential Election to be stopped. How much more different would the world be if Al Gore was in charge? Here he is at his brilliant best.
What you can do: Watch the video to find out all of the dirty tactics to be used by those opposing change. But importantly, talk to others about them. Whether as a group of friends or in a team meeting. If, for example, some is discouraging the adoption of Net Zero solutions, ask for evidence and even suggest ways by which the Net Zero solution could be adapted.
🖼️ Graphic Design
This is the Offset Map, a list of over 7000 projects that are verified as offsetting carbon emissions. You will no doubt have your own view on carbon offsets, by doing thinks like planting trees and rewilding are essential to drawing down carbon. Don’t believe me? Tell that to the IPCC.
📚 Random things
These links are meant to make you think about the things that affect our world in transport, and not just think about transport itself. I hope that you enjoy them.
Recycled coffee grounds can be used to make stronger concrete (New Scientist)
Urban heat islands: New research puts London in a hot spot (City Monitor)
Sunrise on MT Climate Ruling: Our Generation Is Taking Over (Common Dreams)
Bigger airports: don't believe the hype (New Economics Foundation)
Last rites for the UK's Online Safety Bill, an idea too stupid to notice it's dead (The Register)
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