Good day my good friend.
Well. How do you react to the death of someone who has been part of the very fabric of your nation since long before you were born? Truly monumental news, really. I honestly don’t know what to say. Its going to be a very strange couple of weeks in the UK.
If you have any suggestions for interesting news items or bits of research to include in this newsletter, you can email me.
For those of you coming to Mobility Camp in Bristol on 29th September, I will see you there. Tickets are sold out, but if you are still interested you can put your name on a reserve list. Or, sponsorship slots are still available.
James
Its all about location
So say the estate agents that I am currently speaking to (I’m house-hunting). But for active travel, a couple of studies have dropped that show how the physical location and shape of the city matters much more than we think it does. This study of Tokyo confirms something that we instinctively know. Those that live in more densely populated areas tend to cycle more. Especially if they live in the city centre. Though this is somewhat of a simplification of the relationship between cycling and population density.
Additionally, this study of the United States confirms similar data from around the world that shows that cycling is much more common amongst urban residents than it is of those who live in rural areas. But what is more important here is the strength of the relationship between the physical environment and propensity to cycle. Simply, the physical environment is more likely to change cycling levels in urban areas than in rural areas. Does this mean that even a good cycle track in a rural area won’t quite cut it on its own?
Get off the blower
A new study of Finnish drivers has identified that far too many of them use mobile phones while driving. Too many is 1, by the way. But when 35.6% of drivers have reported texting while driving, that is way, way, way too much. Now I have a serious problem with self-reporting surveys on these matters, especially as we have good data that shows that mobile phone use at the wheel is far higher than we think it is. And this has been known for a while. But what do we do about it?
There are no shortage of ideas. The use of mobile apps, ironically, has been considered – though these need to be designed right. A ban on using phones but not hands-free kits simply facilitates a shift towards using hands-free kits. But the reality? We have a very good understanding of the problem, but a very poor understanding of what works in reducing phone use at the wheel. That is a worrying position to be in, in all honesty.
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.
Can Japan feed itself? (Financial Times)
Your attention span is being robbed! (Unstructured.tech)
UN High Seas Treaty Talks End Without Agreement Again (The Maritime Executive)
Something interesting
If a bicycle is fit for a queen, I think its fit for our streets, don’t you? (In case you don’t know, in the picture are a young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret).
If you do nothing else today, then do this
Transport is going to figure heavily over the coming weeks following the news of the death of the Queen. You can start with looking at Operation Unicorn, which details how the Queen’s body will take the Royal Train or fly down to London from her current resting place in Balmoral. The big problem is that London is likely to be filled with mourners, with the Department for Transport seriously concerned about overcrowding on public transport in the capital. Even in times like this, transport is important.
Mobility Matters 