Good day my good friend.

This week, I rediscovered a band which I absolutely loved when I was a teenager: Smashing Pumpkins. Writing this newsletter has involved me listening to songs like Disarm and Bullet With Butterfly Wings on repeat. And it has put me in a positive mood.

Mobility Camp is back, and the number one transport unconference is heading to York on Friday 20th September. Book your tickets now! 🎫

I have co-authored a book on Mobility-as-a-Service, which is a comprehensive guide on this important new transport service. It is available from the Institution of Engineering and Technology and now Amazon. 📕

😃 Good stuff going on

Essex have been getting a wiggle on with some of its sustainable travel corridors around the new town of Harlow. One that connects up to Gilstead Garden Town is already on site, and one running from the north into the centre is also progressing through consultation. While they won’t change the world by themselves, its a step in the right direction.

There are hundreds of thousands of empty buildings across the UK. Sitting there, when they could be contributing to the life of our streets. A social enterprise is repurposing them to become the heart of the community, through an unlikely pairing of a squatter and a landlord.

In an era where music stars are making headlines for their private jet flights, one group has been trying to reduce their carbon emissions: Coldplay. This included making the band travel by train. This has reduced the carbon emissions from their tour by 59%. All the while still putting on an amazing show.

While the UK still dithers on HS2, other countries have been getting on with high speed rail. In India, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project has just started construction. Meanwhile, in the USA, a 110mph line is beginning construction between Raleigh and Wake Forest in North Carolina.

In the West Midlands, they have been studying the idea of bus franchising. And they have decided that it is a jolly good idea. Combined with the fact that franchising might become easier, this is rather good news if you like the public sector being in charge of things.

Over in Liverpool, the Mayor has decided that splashing a bit of cash on walking and cycling improvements in Runcorn is a good thing. And at £17.5 million, it is a good idea.

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