Hi everyone. Really sorry, but last week I managed to pull my back out (while cycling, of all things). So anything past copying and pasting is a struggle. So what I have done is share with you the very first thing I ever wrote, for The Guardian of all places! Normal service again next week.

John Whitelegg’s blog considered one of local government’s biggest blindspots: transport.

Transport requires long-term strategic thinking and consideration of how decisions impact the communities they affect. This is a key element of the success of places such as Freiburg – a long-term commitment to tackle issues and create a quality urban environment.

Yet there is a constant frustration at the continued dissonance between long-term planning, essential for creating quality spaces and improve communities, and short-term issues and delivery. Transport is too often seen as a short term problem because that is how it is often experienced by many.

Congestion, safety, buses not turning up – all seen as short term issues that can be fixed quickly. But taking a short-term view to problems and solutions collectively leads to the major transport-related issues we are seeing in our towns and cities today.

There is the funding issue too. As annual budget discussions start, savings for transport inevitably need to be found. Reduce a bus service here, reduce the scope of public realm improvement there, stretch maintenance further. These things keep us within budget, but over time the impacts build up, resulting in lower quality public realm, increased maintenance costs, and declining bus use among residents.

Thinking longer term and much broader than our specific remits is also a professional issue. As we deliver works and policy, we need to ask how what we are doing contributes to better cities and better communities. This means ensuring policy objectives focused on communities are the foundation of our transport plans and schemes, not just transport-related ones. Wider issues, such as public health, climate change, and community impacts need to be considered much more.

Local government has a central role in improving lives and communities through its physical environment and services, and things are getting better. Our strategies are focusing on the relationship between transport and community much more.

Numerous public realm improvements like new road in Brighton are leading to higher quality, desirable public spaces benefitting everyone. What’s more, as this becomes socially desirable, political support and funding follows.

Short term issues won’t go away. But transport planners and engineers are making great strides to improve the communities they serve by taking a longer-term, more holistic view. Progress is slow, but one day our transformation from international laggard to top performer will be complete.