A lunchtime conversation on placing children at the heart of transport planning.

Children’s independence, health and mobility has been steadily eroded over decades of car dominance. Is it time to shift the balance in favour of children’s needs? What would it mean for them, their communities and the trajectory of the climate crisis?

Children have made many sacrifices to our car-centric lifestyles. Their freedom to move and play independently and safely outside their homes has been eroded over generations. 

They are among the most at risk from the road danger, air pollution and obesity that motor traffic fuels and are the ones who will live with the long-term effects of a climate crisis that they had no part in creating. 

Meanwhile, data on how, where and why children travel is limited and therefore fails to significantly influence transport planning.

This Urban Transport Next conversation will explore how children experience mobility and at what might happen if we were to place their needs at the heart of transport planning. Could such an approach bring better outcomes for both people and planet?

UTG is the UK’s network of city region transport authorities. Together, we work to ensure that transport plays its full part in making our city regions greener, fairer, happier, healthier and more prosperous places.

The event is free but you do need to register to attend.

About the panel

Tim Gill is a global advocate for children’s outdoor play and mobility, and an independent scholar, writer and consultant. He is the author of Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities and No Fear: Growing up in a risk-averse society.

Tim is a Design Council Ambassador and Churchill Fellow, and former director of the Children’s Play Council (now Play England). His client list includes Argent, London Legacy Development Corporation, Mayor of London/GLA and National Trust. He is the founding patron of the Forest School Association. His website is www.rethinkingchildhood.com.

Lucy Marstrand is Technical Lead for Walking and Cycling at Metis Consultants. She provides policy, planning and design advice on walking, cycling, urban design, and road danger reduction to authorities across the UK.

Lucy runs walking and cycling design training sessions and is a guest lecturer on the Transport Planning MSc at the University of Westminster. She is a member of the Department for Transport’s Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Group and was on the Department for Transport's Expert Steering Group for the national cycle design guidance with a focus on designing for all, particularly children.

Rebecca Fuller is Assistant Director at Urban Transport Group and works to make the case for the right policies in urban transport and related areas to support inclusive and sustainable growth.

Rebecca is passionate about the potential of public transport, walking and cycling to promote social inclusion, access to opportunities and health. She is policy lead for UTG on social inclusion, children and young people, public health, new mobility and cross-sector working. Prior to joining Urban Transport Group, Rebecca worked in social policy research for a consultancy company.