Mobility Matters Daily #130 - Planning for lower demand futures, and a pick-me-up
Plus we have an event to plug
Good day friend.
I know from your emails that some of you think that the battle against climate change is futile and impossible. It is easy to be defeated. But today I was reminded* of a favourite quote of mine from the Lord of the Rings:
“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
So true, Gandalf the Grey. To the news.
James
* My apologies, but I cannot remember for the life of me who reminded me of this quote!
Mobility Camp is coming to Glasgow and you should sign up now
I don’t usually promote my projects here. Today I’m making an exception.
Over the last few months I’ve been working with an amazing bunch of people to get Mobility Camp - the UK’s first transport unconference - up and running. We can now confirm it is happening, and I would like you to be there.
The important stuff: Its on 16th October between 9am and 5pm, at Glasgow Caledonian University. Tickets are on sale now at just £5. The theme of the event is 'Achieving Net Zero and more equitable transport systems by 2030.' The content, in common with unconferences, is up to you.
Why should you attend? First, we will we be exploring and taking action on some critical issues facing our world. Second, the unconference format is fun, engaging, informal format that works. It focusses on open debate, idea generation, and action in a format where everyone is an equal.
To get your ticket before they are gone, just click on the button below. Its an event not to be missed.
A big thank you must go to all the organising team. Pam Turton, Amber Kenyon, Molly Hoggard, Marie Godward, Kit Allwinter, Alexis Edwards, Brendan Hill, and Cameron Smith all deserve your appreciation.
Planning for lower demand futures
Last week, Innovate UK published a new vision for transport in the UK looking out to 2050. Proving that transport visions are like buses. This report is interesting not only because it talks about the UK’s capabilities to do things (something our strategies always forget), but also because of this nugget on transport demand:
We expect to see an increase in the use of most travel modes despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a push for travel reduction, and a trend towards alternative forms* of mobility. There will be some shifts in travel use between modes, for example less bus use and more use of shared services and some shift from road and rail freight to short-sea shipping. Walking and cycling is expected to grow as is the use of electric bicycles and scooters. However, it is difficult to predict transport use beyond 2025 because of the large number of variables in future scenarios…The growth in transport is a challenge to plans to reduce carbon emissions.
I don’t doubt the validity of these findings. But I wonder about the validity of planning for futures where there is no or very little growth in total trips. In all my career, I have yet to see a study or work where having a zero growth future is considered. Do such futures pass the test of plausability? With forecast growth in populations and urban development, it seems unlikely. But perhaps in a future where growing travel demand is incompatible with climate goals, our strategy work could consider these more actively?
* The report doesn’t define this. I assume it means non-car and newer forms of transport
Visualisation of the Day
You may recognise the colour of the lines on this map of Central London. But what about the yellow dots? These are the positions of London Underground trains, in real time. Personally, while having a countdown at a station telling me how long it is until the next train, what is cool to me is seeing the actual position of the trains.
Source: traintimes.org.uk
If you do nothing else today, then do this
Sign up to Mobility Camp. Simple.