Sustainable Transport: Mapping Accessibility in UK Cities

Sustainable urban planning aims to maximise the economic, social and health benefits of transportation while reducing what is currently the UK’s largest sector of carbon emissions. This approach requires improving public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure in the UK, alongside the electrification of road transport. Yet, despite some recent progress, transport opportunities are highly inconsistent across urban areas.

This research presents spatial analysis of public transport, walking and cycling networks in Great Britain using accessibility analysis and a new web mapping platform, enabling sustainable transport indicators to be easily viewed and city outcomes compared. The results show a mix of continued car dependence for many cities (and even declining accessibility in some areas), alongside public transport improvements in larger urban areas and several leading active travel cities.

This presentation will conclude by discussing the challenges of proposed major housing development and urban sustainability. New development to a large extent ‘locks-in’ energy and transport outcomes, and careful planning is needed to ensure successful and sustainable urban development.