Yesterday I spoke to an audience of MPs, Councillors, leaders and innovators in transport in Kent, and listening to a host of other brilliant speakers.The day was spent exploring how digital and vehicle tech and innovation can support ambitious targets to persuade more people to choose public transport, to improve the experience and local environment, and connect marginalised people & communities. All the speakers shared many great points and ideas, but here’s a few that have stuck with me today…
Passenger confidence
Much of what stops many people from using public transport is as much emotional and psychological, as much as it is about “practical” considerations.
Many feel a lack of confidence and control over their journey, that they feel when they choose the car. But better information and digital services can greatly increase the sense of confidence and control. Features like an Uber-style map in the planned Hoppit app that we’re branding and marketing, to track vehicles and see how far away they are, through to greater choice of route criteria (like least crowded services, or setting the amount of walking you want to do for example), all give people more control and make public transport more appealing.
Inclusivity
Much of Kent’s infrastructure is at the cutting edge – from electric buses with pantograph charging, to innovative new app trials. But this mustn’t distract from the fact that marginalised citizens have simple needs: to be able to reach services, amenities and job opportunities easily and affordably.
Fortunately, it was great to hear how everyone’s fully focused on these needs, whilst also pushing forward with advanced services and innovative technologies for the region as a whole in parallel. I had a great conversation with Dr Lauren Sullivan MP on just this subject.
The environment
There’s a lot of political disagreement on environmental priorities in the region at the moment, which I won’t wade in on, but what’s encouraging (and perhaps surprising) is that transport can actually be a unifying force in the debate.
Although the council voted yesterday to rescind the authority’s Climate Emergency Declaration, the innovations happening in transport continue to have broad support from across the political spectrum because, even putting environmental considerations to one side, the technologies are simply more modern and efficient, creating more pleasant passenger experiences and reducing localised smoke and emissions.
I hopped on a Fastrack bus whilst there and they’re just lovely, lovely machines – regardless of what’s fuelling them! And the help the app will give, to choose routes that allow me to build in a bit of time using some of the area’s lovely pathways or cycle routes also make the day healthier and more pleasant.
So, whether individual’s political priorities are ecological, health-focused or simply concerned with making people’s lives more pleasant, the strategy ticks everyone’s boxes. In a time of some political disharmony, it’s nice to be a part of something that finds some unity and common ground.
All in all, a positive and inspiring day hearing from tech and transport leaders about the future of travel in the region and all the benefits that it will bring to the prosperity, health and quality of life in the region.
