Economies may have declined during the recession, along with consumer confidence, but the impact on transport was hardly dramatic enough to justify a halt in investment.
The transport system is so stuck in its ways that it is easy to be gloomy about the future of the planet. But not all scenarios point to doom and gloom.
Forget about hybrid vehicles and electric cars; if governments really want us to reduce fuel consumption on the roads they should provide incentives for smaller engines.
It has become unthinkable to write a document on transport without mentioning climate change. Now we may have to add globalisation to the mix of planet-warming activities.
Yet another report on information and communications technologies and transport suggests that the world is slowly beginning to catch on to the possibilities.
The more you consider the challenge of climate change, the clearer it becomes that it will take a sustained research effort to devise a resilient transport infrastructure.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon did galvanize world leaders and CEOs towards ‘sealing the deal’ on a climate change treaty in Copenhagen at a summit in New York this week. But many specific and important details are still to be agreed even though there are now just 15 negotiating days left before COP 15 in December.
'Decarbonising' transport is a big component of the UK government's new policy to achieve a greener future. But you have to dig around to find out how it might happen.
As the Hollywood glitterati, and the Mayor of London, get behind the steering wheel, the Tesla electric car could follow Toyota's Prius as a green fashion statement.
Most of us, it seems, are concerned about climate change. We even accept that transport is a major factor. But a new attitudes survey suggest that few feel that they can, or will, do anything about it.
Public transport has paid increasing attention to the needs of the visually disabled and people in wheelchairs but ‘cognitive impairment’ has yet to receive the attention it deserves.
For many people, their most familiar - and stressful - encounters with the transport system are on the journey to work. Michael Kenward looks at a major research paper on the daily grind.
With the price of gasoline wobbling wildly, purveyors of 'snake oil' and other magic potions offer countless miles per gallon, but some ideas really might work.
It may be a nuisance to be a part of the 'always on' society, ready to receive yet more instructions from the office, but the Technology Strategy Board believes that the technology could help to make travelling more efficient and cost effective.
The suggestion that the population of the UK should all move to south-east England caused uproar among politicians who knew that it was a daft idea. The real reasons why it was lunacy lie in the country’s transport system.
Public and political enthusiasm for going green seems to evaporate when people see the price tag, but the best way to get consumers to change their behaviour may well be to hit them in the wallet.
Latest posts
The end of the road 1 September 2010
After five years, and two elections, Michael Kenward runs out of steam but finds problems in the media
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Developing mobility through technology transfer 19 August 2010
Michael Kenward looks at the challenge of achieving low-carbon mobility in developing countries.
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'Slash and burn' is madness 3 August 2010
Michael Kenward wants transport professionals to argue the case for investment
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All of a twitter on train news 21 July 2010
Michael Kenward tries to follow his train journeys on-line
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Plugged into Europe 7 July 2010
Michael Kenward wonders whether a Europlug will charge up the fortunes of electric cars
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Trends in recession 23 June 2010
Economies may have declined during the recession, along with consumer confidence, but the impact on transport was hardly dramatic enough to justify a halt in investment.
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Do try this at home: scenarios for greener transport 1 June 2010
The transport system is so stuck in its ways that it is easy to be gloomy about the future of the planet. But not all scenarios point to doom and gloom.
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Reliability matters 18 May 2010
For years, transport has worried about congestion when it might have been more useful to worry about reliability
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Electric cars plug into telematics 6 May 2010
Telematics could influence the take-up of electric cars.
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Ash Thursday is just a warning 19 April 2010
With many of Europe's flights still grounded, perhaps we should look beyond volcanoes for technological vulnerabilities in transport systems.
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Size matters on the road 7 April 2010
Forget about hybrid vehicles and electric cars; if governments really want us to reduce fuel consumption on the roads they should provide incentives for smaller engines.
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Transport's new climate of fear 23 March 2010
It has become unthinkable to write a document on transport without mentioning climate change. Now we may have to add globalisation to the mix of planet-warming activities.
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The age of the volt head 10 March 2010
Does Ferrari's electric car – unwrapped at the Geneva motor show – spell the end of the petrol head?
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Trains crash into election 24 February 2010
With the global economy something of a train crash, it is strange to see railways becoming an issue in the UK's 'phoney' election campaign'.
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Another convert to intelligent transport 12 February 2010
Yet another report on information and communications technologies and transport suggests that the world is slowly beginning to catch on to the possibilities.
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Infrastructure and the climate challenge 27 January 2010
The more you consider the challenge of climate change, the clearer it becomes that it will take a sustained research effort to devise a resilient transport infrastructure.
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Transport that knows its place 12 January 2010
The rise of GPS is changing transport in unexpected ways. And the process has just begun.
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Flights of fantasy 17 December 2009
Was it just a coincidence that so many reports on air travel and climate appeared while eyes were turned on Copenhagen?
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Not so wonderful Copenhagen 1 December 2009
The forthcoming summit on climate change will do wonders for air travel.
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Retail opportunities above their station 17 November 2009
Can it really be true that no one has ever asked train users what they think about railway stations?
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Railways through the House 3 November 2009
Parliament isn't everyone's favourite place these days, but MPs sometimes think about things other than their expenses
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Time-warp sleeper trains must modernise 21 October 2009
If global warming really is going to force changes on our travel patterns, transport operators will need to rethink their services
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Flights of fancy 6 October 2009
Plane spotters aren't the only people who can enjoy a view over the runway.
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Climate change summit triggers positive momentum 23 September 2009
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon did galvanize world leaders and CEOs towards ‘sealing the deal’ on a climate change treaty in Copenhagen at a summit in New York this week. But many specific and important details are still to be agreed even though there are now just 15 negotiating days left before COP 15 in December.
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Charge of the heavy brigade 22 September 2009
Electric vehicles are everywhere, except on the streets
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Engineering on track 8 September 2009
As train mania sweeps the UK, important engineering projects seem to miss the deadlines.
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Flights of fantasy 25 August 2009
If you put together the ideas emerging from research labs, transport could finally begin to resemble the dreams of science fiction
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The bus pass to carbon credits 12 August 2009
Transport policy has to be much more imaginative if it wants to encourage carbon-saving habits
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Carbon to get lost in transition 22 July 2009
'Decarbonising' transport is a big component of the UK government's new policy to achieve a greener future. But you have to dig around to find out how it might happen.
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Road policy needs joined-up thinking 7 July 2009
Covering the country with more tarmac and concrete may not be the best way to improve transport. You need to look more closely at the bigger picture.
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Biofuels awash with confusion 22 June 2009
A new document tries to clear away some of the complex arguments about biofuels
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How green is your transport? 8 June 2009
You have to look beyond the tailpipe to assess the environmental impact of different modes of transport.
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The race to innovate 26 May 2009
It may seem strange that some people like to watch fast cars going round in endless circles, but is there really a point to motor racing?
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Risk on the move 11 May 2009
Transport systems are especially vulnerable to terrorist disruption, but security systems have to reflect the real risks.
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Bad PR derails train giants 27 April 2009
Britons love David versus Goliath struggles, which is why there was much media mirth when Virgin Trains dropped plans to expand its network.
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Blond bombshell goes electric 17 April 2009
As the Hollywood glitterati, and the Mayor of London, get behind the steering wheel, the Tesla electric car could follow Toyota's Prius as a green fashion statement.
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The government wants to hear from you 1 April 2009
Consultation is the name of the game in policy making these days. But how many people bother to make their views known?
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A focus on the future 19 March 2009
What will transport look like 40 years from now? The EU has been assembling experts to consider scenarios for the future.
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Climate of opinion 4 March 2009
Most of us, it seems, are concerned about climate change. We even accept that transport is a major factor. But a new attitudes survey suggest that few feel that they can, or will, do anything about it.
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Forgotten travellers 16 February 2009
Public transport has paid increasing attention to the needs of the visually disabled and people in wheelchairs but ‘cognitive impairment’ has yet to receive the attention it deserves.
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Europe on the road to green transport 4 February 2009
A flurry of material from the EU shows an impressive array of R&D projects in different modes of transport.
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Can technology save Detroit? 22 January 2009
The world's car-makers are queuing up for public money to keep them in business. Maybe technology should be a part of the bargain.
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The wrong medicine to clear congestion 7 January 2009
Drivers will not voluntarily pay more for using the roads, even when they stand to benefit greatly.
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Trucks don green skirts 16 December 2008
A pair of Dutch researchers have brought their aerospace training down to earth to improve the fuel efficiency of long-distance trucking.
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Dealing with climate change takes energy 25 November 2008
The cost of petrol is falling. Economic activity is stuttering. Is this the end of climate concern?
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Air today, gone tomorrow 13 November 2008
Air travel may be the number one target for green activists, but it remains one of life's essential for many. We just need to reinvent the airliner.
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The commute to hell and back 29 October 2008
For many people, their most familiar - and stressful - encounters with the transport system are on the journey to work. Michael Kenward looks at a major research paper on the daily grind.
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Water on troubled oil prices 15 October 2008
With the price of gasoline wobbling wildly, purveyors of 'snake oil' and other magic potions offer countless miles per gallon, but some ideas really might work.
Be the first to comment
European standard signals rail exports 1 October 2008
After 10 years in the making, a new European standard for railway signalling is controlling trains in some surprising places.
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A better environment for rail travel 18 September 2008
The fire in the Channel Tunnel shouldn't obscure the environmental benefits that come from rail travel.
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Clever travel 4 September 2008
It may be a nuisance to be a part of the 'always on' society, ready to receive yet more instructions from the office, but the Technology Strategy Board believes that the technology could help to make travelling more efficient and cost effective.
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Go north, young man 20 August 2008
The suggestion that the population of the UK should all move to south-east England caused uproar among politicians who knew that it was a daft idea. The real reasons why it was lunacy lie in the country’s transport system.
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Highly charged blog 12 August 2008
It may not be the only car with a blog, but the Chevy Volt could well be the most active.
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Keep on trucking 24 July 2008
It is only when lorry drivers take to the roads in anger that we pay much attention of this important part of the transport system.
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What price the environment? 9 July 2008
Public and political enthusiasm for going green seems to evaporate when people see the price tag, but the best way to get consumers to change their behaviour may well be to hit them in the wallet.
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George Bush backs the FreedomCAR 26 May 2008
Not for the first time, newspaper headlines are proclaiming the end of the automobile as we know it, says Michael Kenward
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Planning to be sustainable 10 June 2008
Urban planning is a tool to put transport - and just about everything else we get up to - on the road to sustainability, says Michael Kenward.
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