Psychological perspectives on drivers and driving have been with us for since before the advent of mass motoring. The car’s unique potential to afford freedom and compromise safety has been a focus of formal psychological study for almost as long. This has resulted in a canon of excellent research, the shaping of interventions and legislation, and the saving and enhancement of lives. In seeking to prevent collisions, it has had quite an impact!
Cars contribute to local air pollution, traffic danger, congestion and poor physical health due to lack of exercise. If the final goal of sustainable development is to sustain or improve the quality of life for all, now and into the longterm future, the current growth in private car use is clearly unsustainable. Understanding why most people prefer using a car over other modes of transport for their daily travel, and how they can be persuaded to use their cars less or even abandon them altogether, is therefore an important goal for psychology.
Atkins was commissioned as part of a multidisciplinary project team which includes MVA Consultancy, Phil Jones Associates and TRL to carry out evidence based research into the factors which influence the design and operation of segregated and unsegregated pedestrian and cyclist shared use facilities. The research project helped inform the preparation of a new Local Transport Note on shared use routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Shared use routes are designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists. Shared use schemes require careful consideration and this Local Transport Note provides advice on their planning, design and provision. It suggests a scheme development process to help in deciding if shared use is appropriate for any given situation and stresses the importance of high quality inclusive design that addresses the needs of all users. It places particular emphasis on involving users, residents, and other stakeholders in the design process.
This report presents findings from qualitative research undertaken with residents of the Cycling City and Towns, during the programme period. It explores their cycling behaviour and how they responded to the investment in cycling in their local areas. By setting cycling decisions in the context of individual and family lives, and also the wider environment, the research identifies:
It is widely recognized that there is a need to increase levels of active and sustainable travel in British urban areas. The Understanding Walking and Cycling (UWAC) project, funded by the EPSRC, has examined the factors influencing everyday travel decisions and proposes a series of policy measures to increase levels of walking and cycling for short trips in urban areas.
