Building a transport system for a sustainable society

Katja Leyendecker Eur.Ing CEng C.WEM MCIWEMWater engineerNewcastle Cycling Campaign

The Engineering Challenges of Sustainable Transport

Infrastructure…what do engineers do all day?

Utilities (gas, water, electricity) - grids and generation

Communication (broadband, television, radio, mobile phone, landline)

Water and disposal (sewage, landfill, transfer stations)

Flood and water (rivers, streams, canals, dams, reservoirs)

Transport (roads and streets, bridges, rail, ports, airports, freight

distribution centres, bus / light rail / local transport)

Stress on society

Big national projects

Decentralised community solutions

Economic growth Sustainability = living in a finite habitat

Population

Consumption

Transport emissions

Modal shift - proposed

“Sustrans calls on UK governments to invest in doubling the number of journeys under five miles made by foot, bike and public transport to four out of five by 2020.”

What we know

People who currently cycle, cycle regardless of the current conditions

The majority of people don't cycle

And they tell us they don't cycle because cycling • is for kids and not normal for

adults• there is no safe space for

cycling

Political will

Steady funding / investment

Technical expertise, engineering and land use planning

What we know

Do we ‘need’ the car?

What can other countries tell us?

The transitioned countries : Netherlands, Denmark Germany

The transitioners: Spain (Sevilla), Ireland (Dublin), US (New York City)

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

citywide plan is needed, cabinet, policy implications, car parking policy, city centre bus route rationalisation, question traffic flow model, transport transition debate, car restraint

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

clearer space will remove conflict, road classification, all roads over 30mph need cycle-specific infrastructure

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

creating ownership, removing rat-runs, install gateways and necking-down corners, calmer streets, streets for people

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

prioritise walking and cycling, many different concepts, Newcastle should innovate

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

Newcastle's 20mph conversion is incomplete, community speed surveys, speed reduction is not always enough, cycle infrastructure may still be required

The six building blocks for sustainable urban transport

promote cycle routes, talking positively about walking and cycling, discouraging car use

What would it look like?

People of all

ages, abilities

and backgrounds

Young

AndOld

Thank you