Building a transport system for a sustainable society Katja Leyendecker Eur.Ing CEng C.WEM MCIWEM Water engineer Newcastle Cycling Campaign
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