MMD#72 - Read about kids, colonialism, and new definitions of urbanism
Mobility Matters Daily #72
Investing in transport improvements for kids is a long term investment
The University of West of England and Sustrans are doing some research to understand the transport barriers of 12-22 year olds in the UK. Interesting, but not as interesting as a report from The Health Foundation that started it all. It’s A Healthy Foundation for the Future Report from 2019 gathered evidence from young people that demonstrated qualitatively that a lack of transport affects their life chances and health outcomes significantly. But even more important is how this impact lasts until later in life.
Transport policies and delivery has a significant impact in terms of practical support, personal connections, skills and qualifications, and to some degree emotional support. All ‘assets’ needed later in life to maximise opportunities. In theory (there is no evidence of this yet) investment in transport that assists in developing these assets pays dividends later in life. Anyone want to estimate the benefits of that?
A Healthy Foundation for the Future | Research being undertaken by Sustrans and University of West of England
Transport extends the long reach of colonialism
Our transport networks today are a consequence of our past decisions, and in places where reform is slow the impact is even more profound. Some interesting research from Ghana gives an example of this, where colonial-era planning laws, combined with market liberalisation in the 1980s, have provided the structural conditions for current transport issues in the country.
Changing structures is hard, but often a necessary pre-condition of enabling radical change. Changes to them may fix the issues of now, but what needs considering how these structures need to be adaptable to future changes. Its amazing how long structural changes can impact on transport.
Ghana’s road traffic problems | An alternative perspective from Cameroon
Urbanism can be applied (almost) anywhere, can’t it?
A bit more of a philosophical article this, where Strong Towns makes the case that urbanism is not just something for big cities, but can also be applied to smaller towns and even to rural areas. The core point being made is that rather than urbanism being just about urban residents and society, it also applies to the built form of a place.
Personally, I half agree with the article. Urban form and feel is important, but what is also important is the culture, experience, and people of a place. Many villages and towns can look urban, but have the life of something fundamentally different to that of a larger town or city.