Good day my good friend.

Apparently “de-influencing” is a trend. Not that I know what being trendy is. The last time I was that was probably in 1998. But perhaps they can turn their attention to driving cars? There is only so much r/f**kcars can achieve after all.

If you have any suggestions for interesting news items or bits of research to include in this newsletter, you can email me.

James

The blind leading the not blind

The RNIB just published a fantastic, and depressing, report on what needs to be done to help people with sight issues to use public transport. Half of this stuff is obvious and easy. Because those with sight issues face significant barriers, their travel options are more limited, and they need support on thos trips that they do make. The participant case studies and the story of Gemma you must check out. But the question pops up again. Why. Aren’t. We. Doing. This?

This report prompted me to research. And whilst an afternoon’s Googling does not an expert make, some interesting insight can be gleaned. The rights of those with disabilities has been empowered through various laws to a degree that those without disability do not understand. This is complicated by some calls to move from a medical model of disability to a social model. The big challenge is that this is a systemic issue requiring systemic, co-ordinated solutions. That should be delivered, but are not. Think in systems, folks.

We’re going to need more subsidy

Sorry, investment in public transport. Regardless of your views on electric cars, the need to shift many vehicles into electric propulsion is overwhelming, including that of buses. But, especially in a deregulated market like we have in the UK, how do you do that effectively for buses? Surely the innovative bus market can use its nimbleness and dynamism from being free of the creeping hand of the state to invest in such technology, right?

Wrong. In the example of Zaragoza in Spain, this was explored. It was found that simply relying on the private sector to invest was unsufficient in accelerating take-up. Simply put, the technology doesn’t scale yet. But this research gave an interesting finding. The costs of electricity were not a pull to change, but the price of fuel was a push to. So it seems that pain in the pocket is a huge motivator, rather than making the other thing cheaper.

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.

• The four pillars of Uber’s $500M ad business (Marketecture)

• The unlikely center of America’s EV battery revolution (Yahoo News)

• A long-dormant lake has reappeared in California, bringing havoc along with it (ABC News)

• Does Directed Innovation Mitigate Climate Damage? Evidence from U.S. Agriculture (Quarterly Journal of Economics)

• Change in Personal Culture over the Life Course (American Sociological Review)

Something interesting

Auckland is about to get New Zealand’s first subway. And this video is an excellent introduction to the project.

If you do nothing else today, then do this

Transport for London have published an excellent report on Inequalities in Road Danger in London. If you remotely care about social justice, you need to read it.