
On 23rd February 2023, ECF was joined by a stellar line-up of industry experts to discuss the future of active travel, and its role in the fields of transport, planning and engagement. The webinar, chaired by ECF’s Charlotte Jordan, brought together a myriad of experiences as part of an informative discussion that highlighted some lessons learned and some prospects for the future.
Our first speaker Karen Agbabiaka is a Chief Officer at Liverpool City Council with over thirty years’ experience in the industry.
Karen spoke of the importance of identifying and including stakeholders from hard-to-reach communities, and the fundamental role that consultation plays in ensuring active travel infrastructure is brought about meaningfully. Liverpool as a city aspires to be a city ‘for people, not vehicles’, and Karen’s experience of introducing leadership programmes at the local level in Liverpool demonstrates the Council’s commitment to delivering inclusive active travel infrastructure that promotes healthier living and reduces air pollution.
We then heard from Alex Stebbings, the Director of Traffic and Transportation at Norman Rourke Pryme (NRP). Alex has nearly twenty years’ experience in delivering active travel schemes, primarily in London.
Alex stressed the importance of early engagement, particularly with relation to trial schemes for low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), which currently have no statutory obligation for engagement. However, Alex also highlighted the role of data in justifying these schemes, and to have demonstrable benefits during the trial period. Although social media discourse might reflect a largely negative response to LTNs, it’s important that policy makers are not discouraged, as feedback to consultations is often more positive than this would suggest.
Our final speaker was Andrew Pattenden, a Project Manager working in the Gloucestershire County Council Major Projects team. Gloucestershire County Council has been working to encourage more walking and cycling in the Cheltenham area.
Andrew discussed the Council’s work, alongside NRP and ECF, in conducting a feasibility study as part of their application for the Department of Transport’s Mini-Holland schemes. This takes inspiration from Dutch infrastructure through new modal filters that encourage people to engage with local facilities without the use of car. Much like our other speakers, Andrew highlighted the role of engagement, and the importance of early engagement to gauge positive feedback. He also highlighted the importance of level, open communication between local authorities, developers and members of the public in bringing about active travel infrastructure.
The presentations were followed by an enlightening question and answer session. One area for discussion was the role of school streets in active travel, with the importance of beginning the process of behavioural change at a young age cited as a significant factor. Another issue discussed was how long-term positive results can be communicated, when the initial results of active travel schemes may be perceived as negative. Our panellists highlighted engaging with seldom-heard groups, understanding the customer and laying out all the information at an early stage as key ways to overcome this.
We’d like to thank our great speakers again for joining us for our first webinar of the year, and also thank all those that attended the event. All in attendance benefited from a fascinating discussion on this dynamic and ever-evolving topic. We look forward to welcoming our friends, colleagues and clients to our next webinar!
If you would like to learn more about how ECF can help support your active travel schemes, please contact the team at: info@engagecf.co.uk
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