Blog

Our blog offers commentary, analysis and insights on the latest urban transport debates from our team of experts, as well as our Director’s regular column for Passenger Transport magazine.

2016 in transport

2016 has been a rollercoaster year in politics, entertainment and sports. We’ve had a referendum, a change of government, and a US election, to name just a few things. For me, this has been my first year at UTG (I joined in May), I’ve learned so much and lots of interesting things have been going on. So, I’m going to try and wrap up the big things that have happened in transport into this post.

Tyne and Wear Metro: urban rail unleashed

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray explains how the Tyne and Wear Metro is the bone structure of that region's identity, economy and daily life - and how it's Britain's innovation railway too. 

Capitalising on emerging data

Consumer technology has radically changed how people live their lives. Take the example of how people navigate the road network: in the space of a few short years, drivers went from purchasing printed maps annually, to replacing them with satnavs that needed to be updated regularly, to replacing satnavs with free apps on their phones that show traffic conditions in real-time and, increasingly, predict what conditions may be later on.

Transport and the pursuit of happiness

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray asks how our sector can play the health card, as public transport makes a huge contribution to the nation's health and wellbeing. 

The place dimension of transport policy

Urban Transport Group is supporting Landor's Better Places conference on 24 November 2016. In an article for Local Transport Today magazine, Jonathan Bray says 'If we are going to make progress on the place dimension of transport policy, we need to work in a much more co-ordinated way across disciplines and across sectors. Transport needs to be considered along with placemaking, the urban realm and the local economy'.

Do not underestimate the potential impact of the bus services bill

If the Bus Services Bill delivers on its promises, then it will give local government the powers to make the best use of existing subsidies to give the public a far better service than they get now, writes Jonathan Bray, director of the Urban Transport Group.

What do we want from our cities: the role of active travel

Active travel, largely cycling and walking, has been rapidly going up the national policy agenda, with the current government committing to developing a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). Central to this is doubling the level of cycling and halting the decline in walking trips by 2025. The CWIS sets out a bold ambition which will focus largely on urban areas if it is to be achieved.

Brexit is reframing the transport debate

In his latest article for Passenger Transport magazine, Jonathan Bray writes the party conference season offered an opportunity to survey the changing political landscape and Brexit looms over everything. 

Conservative Party Conference - What’s your number one priority for improving transport in cities?

This week it was the turn of the Tory Party conference to share their transport priorities with us on our board. And participants took up the challenge, sharing a range of ideas for improving cities. For an overview of our work on the directions for transport policy in cities, check out Policy Futures. Let’s take a look at some of the suggestions, and our work in these areas, in more detail.