Archived

How would an increasing demand for outdoor space affect transport? How would transport design adapt to changing preferences for outdoor seating?

Background

Build confidence in the transport network as the country
recovers from Covid-19 and improve transport users’
experience, ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, and
inclusive
Context
We must put the needs and expectations of current and potential users at the heart
of the operation of the transport system, especially given the significant impact
Covid-19 has had on both usage and perceptions of public transport. Ensuring that
our infrastructure and the services which use it meet the varied needs of businesses
and the public, are attractive, affordable, sustainable and resilient is a crucial goal for
the department.
Key areas of focus are:
• Building confidence and improving the public transport experience
• Improving the experience for road users
• Building a transport network that works for everyone
• Continually improving the safety, security and resilience of the transport system
The research and evidence needs listed below are integral parts to help deliver our
key areas of focus and address how we make progress against initiatives such as the
National Bus Strategy, William-Shapps Plan for Rail, and the Inclusive Transport
Strategy. This is more important than ever as the risks from COVID-19 reduce,
people build the confidence to return to public transport and new travel patterns
emerge. Social and behavioural science and research is core to the delivery of all our
programmes, including R&D. This is critical to ensure the development and delivery
of policy includes the needs of all groups, especially those often marginalised.

Next steps

Get in touch with BridgetoResearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Areas of research interest 2021

Related UKRI funded projects


  • New seating approach to maximise train passenger capacity

    The challenges facing the UK’s transport infrastructure are significant and include immediate and growing capacity-related issues. For example, between 1997 and 2015, the number of UK passenger rail journeys doubled to 1...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: TRANSCAL ENGINEERING LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project provides solutions for increasing capacity and improving the passenger experience, but does not specifically address the impact of increasing demand for outdoor space on transport.

  • Proteus - Flexible Rail Interior System

    This project responds to the rapidly changing landscape in rail, post COVID-19\. It aims to bring innovation to rail carriage interiors that will offer benefits and reassurances to passengers and bring commercial opportu...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PRIESTMAN GOODE LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to deliver a first-of-a-kind carriage environment and seating layout that address passenger concerns and provide operators with flexibility, but does not specifically address the impact of increasing demand for outdoor space on transport.

  • Save-a-Space for social distancing in transport services

    This project addresses the urgent need for transport operators to be able to efficiently implement social distancing on their tram/rail services amid current COVID-19 restrictions and to optimally manage demand, access a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ACCELOGRESS LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the urgent need for transport operators to implement social distancing and manage demand, but does not specifically address the impact of increasing demand for outdoor space on transport.

  • Sustainable Transport Evidence and modelling Paradigms: Cohort Household Analysis to support New Goals in Engineering design (STEP-CHANGE)

    There is an accepted need to promote step changes towards more sustainable urban environments, notably in transport and travel, which we will focus on. While many model-based desk-studies have aimed to simulate such envi...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

  • DRT for DRT: Developing Relevant Tools for Demand Responsive Transport

    The rise in private car use in the UK has major implications relating to how transport more generally is provided. One problem is that conventional public transport (i.e. bus, light rail and heavy rail) is steadily becom...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: Loughborough University

  • Accessibility & User Needs in Transport for Sustainable Urban Environments - AUNT-SUE

    The proposal integrates the expertise of the research centres and project partners in transport policies and planning, design, operations and evaluation. The UK government, European Commission and other agencies rightly ...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University College London

  • MULTIMODAL urban transport: integrated modelling and simulation towards net-zero, inclusive mobility

    Domestic transport is the UK's highest emission sector, and congestion in cities is costly (e.g. London £5.1bn in 2021). Drastically reducing urban car dominance is imperative to reach the UK's 2050 net-zero target...

    Funded by: FLF

    Lead research organisation: Loughborough University

  • Community Travel Platform

    Shared transit, such as public transport, is key to getting people around and maintaining our economy. It is vital in reducing our impact on the environment. UK cities have well-developed public transport infrastructure,...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: PLEXAL (CITY) LIMITED

  • Future Resilient Transport Networks - FUTURENET

    Much current discussion about transport and climate change focuses on the impact of transport on climate change. Indeed, many mitigation measures are focussed upon the transport change, and many mitigation measures are f...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on the resilience of the UK transport system in the face of climate change, which partially relates to the question about transport design adaptation to changing preferences for outdoor seating.

  • Active Travel Explorer

    Public description Economic, social and environmental benefits are associated with safe active travel, with external benefits in the EU calculated at €0.18/km for cycling and €0.37/km for walking (driving costs €0.11/km)...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: SPACE SYNTAX LIMITED