👊 Not All Bad - MM#593
Good day my good friend.
A short shout out to subscribers north of Hadrian’s Wall. Next Thursday I will be in Edinburgh, and I will have some free time in the morning if anyone wants to go for a cycle around the old city. Coffee and various forms of cakes are also much appreciated. If you want to catch up and talk transport, let me know!
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
🏛️ The East Midlands city that could
We often speak about how badly things are done in transport terms in the UK. Believe it or not, there are places across the UK where the practice is actually pretty good in at least one area of transport. London is often held up as the bastion of good transport practice (kind of helps having a huge budget, an integrated public transport network, and strong political leaders willing to take risks whatever you think of their policies). Places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and such like talk a good game. But one place has been doing it all within tight constraints and without fuss and bother.
That place is Nottingham. Home of Robin Hood, two pubs claiming to be the oldest in England (I highly recommend visiting ‘the Trip’), and the only English football team to win back-to-back European Cups, or Champions Leagues as the kids today call it.
So what makes Nottingham so great? Lets start with its public transport network. It has what is probably the best tram system in the UK, the Nottingham Express Tram. It strikes a good balance of park and ride, connecting local centres, and linking up key suburbs, employment areas, and public services across the city - as well as the city centre and local public transport hubs. As for buses, well they have award-winning operators in Trent Barton and Nottingham City Transport which have a bus user satisfaction of 95% according to Transport Focus.
And if you want integrated ticketing, try the Robin Hood card that is valid on buses, trams, and trains throughout the city. The city is also rolling out zero emissions buses, as well as £11 million in infrastructure and service improvements.
Then, what is often seen as the jewel in the crown - the Workplace Parking Levy. The only city in the UK to do this, and mainly done to build and subsidise the extension of the tram. Its costs £522 per space for any employer with 11 or more spaces. It has raised £90 million over the last 10 years in income, but has leveraged over £1 billion in external funding.
On cycling, progress has not been as significant in comparison to public transport. But I have heard very good things about the cycle route from Beeston into Nottingham (thanks Jo), and there is extensive secure cycle parking across the city through the Nottingham Cycle Park scheme. Not to mention a bike hire scheme (along with not-so-friendly-neighbours Derby), new infrastructure along Beechdale Road and Wigman Road, Hucknall Road, and Carlton Road, and progressing a new cycle and pedestrian footbridge over the River Trent.
Finally, there is the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. Or was. After it got closed and was knocked down (with plans to be replaced by another shopping centre), COVID-19 hit and forced a rethink. Now, the plans are green space, active frontages, and a new bus station, the latter of which is complete.
If it seems like I am fan-boying over the city, there is a good reason for it. As all of this is having an impact. While a lot of the impact is down to the funding provided by the Workplace Parking Levy, the stats don’t lie:
58% reduction in carbon emissions from transport over 10 years;
Reduced growth in congestion of 47%;
More people on buses and using public transport generally (until COVID, that is);
Two-thirds of large employers in the city within 800 metres of a tram stop;
Over 1000 e-scooters deployed across the city.
That, is quite an impact. All from a city that doesn’t shout about its achievements. And while it is far from perfect, it shows what can be done with commitment, funding, and a long-term vision. But what is often not seen is a key ingredient to making this all work.
That is, effective partnership working. The City Council has excellent relationships with community groups, activitists, public transport operators (most of the time), and partnerships within the Council who understand the value of building sustainable transport infrastructure and services.
What you can do: Organise yourself a site visit to Nottingham. Go and experience this all for yourself. That is the only way to understand the impact on the traveller of these changes.
Importantly, bring along partners who you want to work with in order to make your vision of a sustainable future a reality. Discuss your experiences of the day, and ask what is needed in your area to make this kind of experience a reality. You can always ask Nottingham City Council themselves how they have done it.
And if developing such partnerships is new to you, this guide is an excellent primer.
🎓 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.
Exploring Japan’s older adults mobility challenges and the potential role of autonomous vehicles
TL:DR - There is a strong relationship between people’s sense of self and willingness to adopt AVs.
Is switching propulsion technologies the path to sustainable land transport? decarbonizing Bogotá
TL:DR - Yes, partly.
Alternative fuels and energy sources for shipping
TL:DR - A lot more research into the impacts of alternative fuels and how to make them widespread is needed.
TL:DR - Don’t rely on the police alone to improve road safety.
✊ Awesome people doing awesome things
Come on feel the NOYS. And I don’t mean Noddy and his friends.
I cannot believe I have not heard of NOYS before. For a bit of background. NOYS was founded in 1995 as the Traffic Safety Collaboration by the U.S Department of Transportation. Soon after, they became National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS).
Their work is amazing. I love their National Youth Transportation Equity Convening, but they also empower young people to take action to improve infrastructure, as well as running a Fellowship programme. Many more nations need things like this, and need them quickly.
📼 On the (You)Tube
I apologise now for sharing this, as if you are a fan of the ULEZ in London this won’t make for easy viewing. But seeing this kind of thing is needed. Personally, I would call this criminal damage, but that’s me. Extreme positions dominate the debate in media, and its worth knowing what they are even if they can sometimes be depressing.
What you can do: Remind yourself first: this is often an extreme position taken by a few people. Most people are reasonable and while there are supporters, few people do support this kind of damage.
Thankfully, there are lots of tools for tackling disinformation. This Brookings Institute article contains some practical techniques to use on a personal level. This great video by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights gives some really practical advice on dealing with disinformation at an organisational level. Use them.
🖼️ Graphic Design
The UK’s National Travel Survey results for 2022 have been published, and its not all bad news. We are walking more both as a percentage of all trips and of total miles, and we are cycling more miles each year, not to mention car use both in total and as a percentage of all trips is down. But what I find interesting is this graph here. But this graph I find the most interesting. While the COVID recovery bounce is pronounced, the long term trend to fewer trips and miles per person per year is equally as so.
📚 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.
Dirty downside of 'return to office' (Business Insider)
Young climate activist tells Greenpeace to drop ‘old-fashioned’ anti-nuclear stance (The Guardian)
A history of anti-racism in science (Science)
Child safety bills are reshaping the internet for everyone (The Verge)
The most important chart in the world (Financial Times)
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