Research findings on the future of transport for the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) will be presented this week at a prestigious transport conference being held in Cardiff.
At the Moving-on Conference, which begins today (Tuesday, June 5), Derek Halden, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen and Director of transport consultancy DHC will reveal how retail businesses and government policies can work together to create a sustainable and profitable future.
He said: "This conference is looking at the policies, technologies and its applications that will help us work together to travel together.
"The research I have been involved shows how we can make progress on seemingly controversial agendas and predicts a transport future with voluntary road pricing gaining market share. In addition, carbon offsetting can be more widely adopted now as a forerunner to full scale emissions trading. Technology is of increasing importance and informed travellers will increasingly rely on electronic information to manage travel choices. Also new flexible modes of transport are evolving from today's taxis, car clubs, and taxibuses; and smartcards and smartmedia will pay for most parking and public transport tickets.
Institute for Transport and Rural Research Director, Professor John Farrington, from the University of Aberdeen, said: "I welcome this review which should help to stimulate a wider debate on how the retail sector can help shape future transport. Associates of the Institute for Transport and Rural Research play a very important role in developing cross-sectoral research and knowledge transfer. Derek Halden's review is a significant contribution to the work of the Institute at the University of Aberdeen."
Hosted by the Welsh Assembly Government and supported by ITSO, ITS (UK) and Smartex, this conference is one of the few that brings together senior personnel from Local and Central Government, Transport and Planning Consultants, plus Public Transport Operations (bus and train) throughout the UK.