Smart Futures
Resources
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
The future of e-scooters
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Delivering a greener future - Urban freight and the decarbonisation of the city regions
Our city regions rely on the smooth movement of goods to keep supermarket shelves stocked, hospitals supplied with medicine and other equipment, to deliver construction materials and support thriving economies.
However, the current dominance of road freight, produces many negative impacts for our cities.
This report sets out the role for freight in decarbonising city regions and the need for freight to play its part in creating urban areas that are greener, fairer, happier, healthier and more prosperous places.
Future of Transport regulatory review: regulatory sandboxes
Fully charged: Powering up the potential of e-bikes in the city regions
This report, produced by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group, aims to quantify and understand the potential to increase e-bike uptake in the UK, particularly in the city regions, and the benefits that could be realised as a result. It breaks new ground by presenting different scenarios on the potential for e-bikes to achieve mode shift from cars and taxis, and to deliver environmental and economic benefits.
The report also aims to support urban transport authorities to consider practical approaches to increasing e-bike uptake.
Building back better on urban transport
As the network of transport authorities serving the largest city regions in England, we worked together to keep the wheels of public transport turning during the lockdown so that key workers could get to where they needed to be.
In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.
(Updated version June 2021)
Automated Vehicles: Consultation Paper 3 – A regulatory framework for automated vehicles
Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020
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Equitable Future Mobility: Ensuring a just transition to net zero transport
This report, jointly prepared by Arup and Urban Transport Group, is intended as a starter for collaborative discussions between authorities, operators and users about the human dimension of the decarbonisation agenda, aiming to make our future transport system available, accessible, affordable and acceptable for all (also know as the Four A's).
The report presents a checklist for assessing the role of future mobility in creating a more equitable travel experience and informing discussions about future policy, infrastructure and services.
It says that embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but that steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
The future of e-scooters
This report sets out first principles to consider in any regulatory reforms around micromobility, before moving on to detailed recommendations on, first, powers to control the micromobility rental market and, second, on construction and use standards specifically for e-scooters, given concerns around the private e-scooter market.
Delivering a greener future - Urban freight and the decarbonisation of the city regions
Our city regions rely on the smooth movement of goods to keep supermarket shelves stocked, hospitals supplied with medicine and other equipment, to deliver construction materials and support thriving economies.
However, the current dominance of road freight, produces many negative impacts for our cities.
This report sets out the role for freight in decarbonising city regions and the need for freight to play its part in creating urban areas that are greener, fairer, happier, healthier and more prosperous places.
Fully charged: Powering up the potential of e-bikes in the city regions
This report, produced by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group, aims to quantify and understand the potential to increase e-bike uptake in the UK, particularly in the city regions, and the benefits that could be realised as a result. It breaks new ground by presenting different scenarios on the potential for e-bikes to achieve mode shift from cars and taxis, and to deliver environmental and economic benefits.
The report also aims to support urban transport authorities to consider practical approaches to increasing e-bike uptake.
Building back better on urban transport
As the network of transport authorities serving the largest city regions in England, we worked together to keep the wheels of public transport turning during the lockdown so that key workers could get to where they needed to be.
In this paper we set out how, with the right policy framework from Government, we can meet the challenge of ramping up public transport and prioritising cycling and walking to support a green and just recovery.
(Updated version June 2021)
Towards an appropriate legal and regulatory framework for smart futures on transport
Commissioned from consultants Steer, this report seeks to provide an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses the current UK legal and regulatory framework for smart transport futures in relation to the key challenges that UK transport authorities face. It also explores the potential for anticipatory regulation, principles that could underpin any changes to the framework and recommendations for priority areas in need of reform.
Automatic for the people? Issues and options for transport authorities on connected and autonomous vehicles
This report aims to provide an objective framework for city regions to think about connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and the approaches they might take to them.
It looks at CAVs from the perspective of city region transport authorities in the context of their wider objectives and responsibilities; it recognises that vehicles are becoming increasingly connected and autonomous; and that the range of connected and autonomous vehicles goes beyond just cars to include buses and public service vehicles. It also analyses the safety, economic, social and environmental considerations of CAVs.
The report presents options for how transport authorities may respond to CAVs, and recommends the actions national Government should take to enable them to do so.
What next for urban transport?
This report - published to coincide with the 2019 Autumn Party Conferences - identifies four urban transport challenges and four solutions needed to overcome them.
It also details what transport authorities need from Government to bring about these changes.
On launching the report, Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group and Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There is much more that needs to be done if transport is to contribute effectively to meeting the many challenges that city regions face, from the climate crisis to public health challenges associated with a lack of physical activity. The right policies can help overcome these challenges."
MaaS movement? Issues and options on Mobility as a Service for city region transport authorities
This report examines the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) - schemes which provide access to information on, and payment for, transport options via a single digital platform.
It identifies the three key factors that will determine the future of MaaS and also sets out the issues and options for city regions on the role they might play in shaping MaaS in their areas.
Policy futures for urban transport
The latest edition of Policy futures for urban transport emphasises how a new deal on funding and powers is essential to keep the UK's cities moving forward.
The report sets out the 10 key policy changes that are needed to make cities healthier, fairer and more prosperous.
These include further devolution of rail services; greater funding for buses; reform of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle legislation; an ambitious strategy to encourage more cycling and walking; a long term investment plan for urban rail services; and a visionary national policy framework on air quality.
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Allowing non-physical guided transport modes to be authorised by a Transport and Works Act order
Mobility as a Service Code of Practice
Future of Transport regulatory review: regulatory sandboxes
Automated Vehicles: Consultation Paper 3 – A regulatory framework for automated vehicles
Submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2020
Future of Transport Regulatory Review
e-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?
Legalising rental e-scooter trials
Automated Vehicles: Passenger services and public transport
Bus Services Act Open data and accessible information
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Response to Queen’s Speech: Transport Bill is opportunity to extend benefits of local control of transport
Responding to the Queen’s Speech, Jonathan Bray, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
New transport technologies must promote equity and inclusion to deliver just transition to net zero, says report
Embracing new technologies will play a key role in decarbonising transport and help towns and cities to achieve net zero emissions – but steps must also be taken to ensure that the way new technologies are applied does not marginalise some groups or reinforce existing inequalities.
Transport authorities call for powers to ensure e-scooter services meet local needs
The Urban Transport Group is calling for a new national enabling framework to give locally accountable transport authorities the option to regulate key aspects of micromobility rental services (like e-scooters) in line with local needs and circumstances, in a new report, published today.
Greening urban freight key to decarbonising city regions, says report
The greening of urban freight and logistics is central to decarbonisation strategies both nationally and within city regions, says a new report by the Urban Transport Group.
100 million car and taxi trips in city regions could be replaced by e-bikes if Government delivers target for shift to cycling, new report shows
Over 100 million car and taxi trips made in city regions each year could instead be on e-bikes if the Government is able to deliver its target for mode shift to cycling, according to a new report by consultants Steer for the Urban Transport Group (UTG).
Urban Transport Group powers up project into benefits of e-bikes for cities
A new project to examine the wide-ranging potential benefits e-bikes can bring to city regions and the options transport authorities have to harness such opportunities has been commissioned by the Urban Transport Group.
Empower urban transport authorities to build back better from COVID-19, urges report
Transport authorities can play their part in shaping a positive legacy of COVID-19 for the UK’s city regions, provided they are given both the funding and powers they need to respond to the challenges that lie ahead.
City regions welcome e-scooter trials but highlight need for safeguards
City region transport authorities have welcomed Government plans to bring forward trials of e-scooters to explore the role they might play in the future of urban transport and to inform future decisions around the legislative framework.
Uncertainties around pace & scale of autonomous vehicle rollout laid bare in new report
‘Considerable uncertainties’ about how fast and how far the rollout of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will go in the UK has been outlined in a report from the Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities.
Critical challenges and solutions to improving transport in city regions identified ahead of party conferences
The challenges to improving transport in the UK’s city regions and the solutions needed to overcome them have been set out by the Urban Transport Group today.