Transforming Urban Transport
- Date
-
Wed 15 May 2024
6:45 pm - 9:00 pm
- Venue
- Dorothy Fleming Lecture Theatre
In partnership with South Yorkshire Climate Alliance
Limiting climate change, pollution and congestion are all good reasons for a radical move away from our-car-dominated urban transport system. Solutions are varied, often involving more active travel and public transport or reducing the need to travel.
In recent years, Sheffield has introduced a charging Clean Air Zone and a number of initiatives to limit car usage and promote active travel. Other proposed measures have been scaled back or dropped, due to opposition. This has been driven by the immediate practical impacts on local people’s lives and - to a greatly disputed extent - media misinformation about climate policies. Meanwhile, whilst an improved bus service is generally accepted as vital, it is still declining.
South Yorkshire Climate Alliance has invited a number of speakers with a variety of perspectives on the transport debate. Some will draw attention to the growing evidence about the serious impacts of climate change and air quality, which may not seem as tangible to many people as any practical issues resulting from efforts to address them. We will also hear from those who have feared or experienced difficulties from transport measures. How can these be resolved and can this be done without rowing back on the pace of transformation?
Our mix of expert and local speakers will be:
Greg is a Professor at the University of Leeds. He is an expert in climate and energy policy in the transport sector and has carried out research on decision-making processes within local and national government, issues of governance and acceptability. He has recently challenged the Government on the credibility of its transport decarbonisation strategy.
Rizwana is an NHS clinical public health consultant and a Wellcome Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield. With Medact, a collective of health workers, she campaigns for Health Justice.
Her work has included advising the NHS and wider stakeholders on how active travel and good, affordable public transit can tackle health inequalities.
Nasar is a sub postmaster in Banner Cross. He has been an outspoken critic of highly restrictive "red route" parking proposals. He advocates for a progressive partnership to achieve greener and incentivised options instead.
Leigh Bramall is a Director at consultancy, Counter Context. Leigh served on Sheffield City Council until 2017. He now works to support local authorities across the country to communicate, consult and engage on sustainable transport projects and policies across the north, including in Sheffield. Leigh will describe the challenges of public engagement in shaping sustainable travel in these cities.
Climate
How can we respond to the climate crisis and biosphere collapse?