The “Micro-mobility Mindset” project explores public perceptions towards shared cycle hire schemes across the UK, focusing on both pedal-powered and electric bikes. This study, led by a team with diverse backgrounds in transport and academia, aims to equip local authorities with data-driven insights to better assess and implement micro-mobility solutions.
“We hope to offer valuable recommendations on how shared cycle schemes can be optimised to meet public needs and enhance community travel,” says Orla Bermingham, a Graduate Transport Planner at Arcadis.
The team consists of five individuals— Nima Dadashzadeh, a Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, and Montell Issah, both providing academic perspectives, alongside Orla Bermingham, Niamh Mason, and Oliver Stone-Houghton, consultants in transport and future mobility. Each team member contributes their unique expertise to ensure a comprehensive analysis of challenges and opportunities within shared mobility.
“During the initial FTVG workshops, each team member presented their potential ideas, helping us identify shared interests,” explains Orla.
Since forming, the group has held bi-weekly online meetings, setting collaborative actions and maintaining open communication through MS Teams to address questions and resolve challenges collectively.
The project’s focus on shared cycle schemes emerged from a common interest in the rising popularity of micro-mobility in the UK. Recent data has shown that 2023 saw a significant 24% increase in bike-share hires, totalling around 25 million hires for the year.
“The rise in shared e-bike use, which for the first time has surpassed traditional pedal bikes, intrigued us and underscored the need to explore this trend further,” notes Oliver, Senior Transport Planning Consultant at WSP.
Although the team initially considered including e-scooters, they decided to concentrate on the factors influencing the growing preference for e-bikes, questioning, “Does this mean that e-bikes are the preferred option due to ease and speed, or are there other variables at play?”
The team has structured the project into six phases. The initial phase involves a comprehensive literature review of existing research on shared micro-mobility, specifically focusing on bike hire schemes.
“Our review aims to identify gaps in current research that will help refine our methodology,” explains Niamh, Assistant Transport Planner at WSP.
The team will also conduct a policy and legislation review, ensuring that their findings and recommendations align with national and local standards. Based on these reviews, they plan to develop a robust methodology that guides survey design and analysis. This will be followed by data collection through an online survey targeting a diverse set of users and demographics, allowing the team to capture a broad spectrum of public opinions on cycle hire schemes. The gathered data will then undergo detailed analysis to reveal emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with shared bike and e-bike usage.
Ultimately, the findings from these analyses, alongside insights from the literature and policy reviews, will culminate in a report.
“Our goal is to produce a comprehensive report that provides evidence-based recommendations to support local authorities in making informed decisions about shared cycle schemes,” Niamh adds.
The final report will serve as a valuable resource for local authorities, helping them understand the public’s perceptions and preferences regarding cycle hire schemes. The project also underscores a commitment to sustainable and accessible transportation options.
“Through this research, we aim to provide actionable insights that can help create more efficient, socially responsive micro-mobility solutions for communities across the UK,” says Orla.
This initiative, funded by FTVG, highlights the role of shared cycles in shaping the future of urban mobility and represents a step toward fostering an informed, micro-mobility-focused mindset among transport planners, local authorities, and the public alike.
The London Luton Airport Sustainable Surface Access Staff Mode Shift project aims to transform how employees commute by promoting sustainable travel options through innovative data collection and AI-driven behavioural insights. The project is a collaborative effort between London Luton Airport and a team of academics and consultants.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to test AI’s potential in driving real change in travel behaviours, not only for our airport but for the wider industry,” says Andy Martin, Surface Access Development Manager at London Luton Airport.
The collaboration began when Andy, new to the airport sector but an experienced transport planner, noticed a LinkedIn post about the FTVG project. He presented his vision for sustainable travel solutions at an FTVG workshop, capturing the interest of experts from Bare Analysis and Geppetto Consulting. This shared vision led to a diverse and skilled project team.
“Armed with nothing but a (seemingly!) good idea, we pitched the concept, and before long, a project team was born,” recalls Joshua Hooley, Sustainable Travel Plan Coordinator at London Luton Airport.
With each member contributing unique expertise—from data analytics and behavioural research to sustainable travel coordination—the team is well-equipped to tackle the complex challenges of reducing carbon emissions and enhancing job accessibility through sustainable commuting.
London Luton Airport serves as the project’s testbed, with an ambitious goal to increase the share of sustainable travel among its staff from 21% to 35% by 2028. This shift is essential for reducing Scope 3 emissions, increasing local job accessibility, and mitigating surface access issues related to the airport’s potential expansion.
“We’re pioneering an approach that integrates deep ethnographic insights with AI capabilities to learn from the complex context of the airport environment,” explains Dr. Felicity Heathcote-Marcz, Director of Bare Analysis.
By leveraging AI to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data, the team aims to deliver highly personalised, actionable prompts that encourage sustainable travel choices, ultimately offering a replicable model for the broader transport sector.
Beyond its local impact, this project has the potential to inform sustainable transport planning nationwide, demonstrating the feasibility of using AI to incorporate nuanced, context-driven data into travel planning systems. If successful, the project’s approach could become a model for developers, local authorities, and transport planners across the UK.
The project will begin with an in-depth analysis of current surface access travel behaviours among all London Luton Airport staff, including those employed by third-party organisations. Initially, the team will conduct a desktop review of existing data to understand current travel patterns and identify the primary factors influencing these behaviours. This analysis will set the foundation for a new staff travel survey, to be launched in the summer of 2024, aimed at capturing up-to-date data on employee commuting habits.
In parallel, the project will undertake extensive stakeholder engagement, benchmarking best practices by comparing results with other airports. Ethnographic research will form a critical component of this phase, involving in-context interviews and shadowing of representative staff members at the airport.
“Our aim is to gain a rich, qualitative understanding of the travel challenges faced by various staff demographics,” says Dr. Nima Dadashzadeh from the University of Huddersfield
Observations at key transport hubs and access points will further inform the AI’s ability to interpret complex behaviours and respond with precise, sustainable travel recommendations.
The analysis of these ethnographic findings will feed into an AI workshop designed to generate practical outputs. During this workshop, the team will explore how the qualitative insights and survey data can shape AI algorithms to deliver personalised, sustainable travel nudges. The workshop will culminate in the development of prototype tools that encourage behavioural change, such as tailored recommendations for low-emission commuting options.
In its final phase, the project will compile a comprehensive presentation, including a slide deck and video content, to convey its findings and AI-driven concepts to key stakeholders, including the FTVG and London Luton Airport’s Steering Group.
“Our goal is to secure the investment needed to advance these ideas and drive real change in surface access sustainability,” says Andrew Longman, an AI consultant, “It seeks to establish a model for targeted behavioural nudges that encourage staff to switch to more sustainable modes of transport.”
By demonstrating how AI can enhance sustainable travel initiatives, the project hopes to lay the groundwork for industry-wide adoption of similar strategies, enabling scalable and efficient sustainable transport solutions.
This project exemplifies how data-driven insights and innovative technology can converge to address pressing challenges in sustainable transport. Through this initiative, London Luton Airport and its partners aim to foster a long-term culture of sustainable travel, paving the way for smarter, greener infrastructure in the aviation sector and beyond.
The COLLABORATIV (Collaboration Of Landowners and Local Authorities in the Building Of Rural Active Travel Infrastructure) project seeks to address the unique challenges of establishing active travel infrastructure in rural areas by fostering cooperation between landowners and local authorities. With dispersed settlements and complex land ownership patterns, rural regions often lack the necessary connectivity for effective active travel routes, limiting the potential for increased walking and cycling. Led by Jonathan Fuller, Principal Transport Strategy Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, and Dr. Felicity Heathcote-Marcz, Director of Bare Analysis, this initiative aims to explore best practices and solutions for overcoming these challenges.
“In some contexts, issues surrounding land ownership can hinder rural local authorities from realising their active travel goals,” notes Jonathan.
This project aims to bridge that gap by creating a framework for collaboration that enables local authorities to work in partnership with landowners, ultimately supporting sustainable and accessible travel options in rural areas.
Jonathan and Felicity met at an FTVG active travel workshop, where they quickly recognised the value of their complementary skills. Jonathan’s role within a local authority provides direct insight into the on-the-ground challenges of developing rural active travel infrastructure, while Felicity’s background in social research allows her to understand the perspectives of various stakeholders involved.
After discussing their shared objectives, they successfully secured FTVG funding to bring their project idea to fruition.
“By combining our expertise, we aim to offer actionable insights that can benefit rural communities across the UK,” Felicity explains.
Together, they hope to produce a resource that local authorities, landowners, and other stakeholders can use to foster a collaborative approach to rural infrastructure development.
The inspiration for COLLABORATIV arises from the limited research on implementing active travel infrastructure in rural areas, where disconnected towns and villages often hinder the effectiveness of such projects. Local authorities in rural contexts face the significant hurdle of landownership, as they seldom control all the land needed to construct continuous travel routes between settlements.
This project intends to examine how various local authorities approach landownership challenges, how they can garner support, and what mechanisms exist to aid project delivery.
The ultimate aim is to “highlight case studies of successful rural projects where landowners have played a supportive role, yielding co-benefits for the community,” according to Felicity.
The project’s findings will culminate in a practical toolkit offering guidance for local authorities on engaging landowners, addressing public concerns, and overcoming obstacles in the development of active travel infrastructure. Additionally, these insights will be beneficial for fostering collaboration with national organisations that can provide financial and logistical support to facilitate these projects.
The team’s methodology includes engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to capture a diversity of perspectives on rural active travel infrastructure challenges.
“So far, we have spoken with representatives from national organisations, rural local authorities, charitable groups, and even journalists who cover this sector,” Jonathan shares.
In the coming months, the team will visit rural active travel infrastructure sites that have successfully been implemented. These site visits will include face-to-face interviews with local stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, and council officers.
“These interviews will allow us to gather real-life case studies, providing tangible examples of the hurdles and benefits of these projects,” Jonathan explains.
By analysing these interviews and observations, the team will extract common themes and insights to inform their final deliverable: a best practice guide for rural active travel infrastructure development. This guide will be a valuable tool for local authorities, offering practical strategies for fostering partnerships with landowners and addressing logistical challenges in rural contexts. Additionally, the team hopes to expand this research through future studies involving a larger set of local authorities, with the ultimate goal of attracting further funding to support a broader, nationwide impact.
The early feedback from stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, underscoring a clear demand for resources that can assist rural communities in establishing active travel routes.
“We’ve been inspired by the dedication of local authorities, landowners, and community members who see the value in these projects,” says Felicity.
The team’s guide will not only assist local councils but also serve as a resource for charitable organisations, campaigners, and community advocates working to promote active travel.
Through the COLLABORATIV project, Jonathan and Felicity aim to pave the way for a more integrated, cooperative approach to rural active travel infrastructure. By bridging gaps between local authorities and landowners, this project holds the potential to drive positive social and environmental outcomes for rural communities across the UK. The team invites additional stakeholders to join their research efforts, hoping to broaden their understanding and strengthen the impact of their recommendations.
This project explores the feasibility of establishing a universal battery swapping and charging infrastructure to support the adoption of electric motorcycles in Uganda and the UK. The team, led by Dr. Chris Byaruhanga, a lecturer and researcher at Kyambogo University in Uganda, aims to address the challenges of accessibility and convenience for electric motorcycle users by creating a standardised, cross-brand solution for battery swapping and charging.
“In both Uganda and the UK, motorcycles have become essential for transportation and delivery services, and with the shift towards e-mobility, there’s a growing need for supportive infrastructure,” explains Chris.
Joining Dr. Byaruhanga on this ambitious project are Dr. Dilum Dissanayake, an Associate Professor of Transportation Planning at the University of Birmingham, and Eng. Ivan Ssensamba, an experienced engineer in traffic systems and data analysis. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise in transport policy, data analysis, and infrastructure development, and are well-positioned to tackle the complex landscape of electric motorcycle infrastructure in both countries.
The growing adoption of motorcycles in Uganda and the UK, each with unique motivations and challenges, provides the backdrop for this project. In Uganda, the popularity of Boda-Boda motorcycles as a flexible and efficient mode of public transport highlights the need for sustainable alternatives. In the UK, motorcycle registrations have risen in recent years, partly driven by the pandemic’s surge in delivery services and a push toward decarbonising transport by phasing out fossil-fuel motorcycles by 2035. While electric motorcycles present a promising solution, their success depends on the availability of widespread, convenient charging and swapping stations—a critical gap in both countries.
“Currently, Uganda has isolated battery swapping stations operated by individual companies, which limits accessibility and requires riders to locate specific brand stations,” notes Chris.
This lack of a universal infrastructure presents both logistical and practical challenges for electric motorcycle riders, reducing the appeal of e-mobility. The project aims to investigate the technical and financial viability of a unified battery-swapping network, which would streamline access and support the adoption of electric motorcycles across diverse brands and regions.
The feasibility study will take a participatory approach, involving key stakeholders in both Uganda and the UK to gather insights on their needs and expectations for a universal swapping and charging hub. The project will begin by identifying the current electric motorcycle service providers and mapping existing battery-swapping locations. Motorcycle associations and relevant stakeholders in both countries will also be engaged to explore potential collaborations and partnerships for a universal infrastructure.
Workshops will be held with stakeholders to examine current challenges, business models, and opportunities for standardisation. These sessions will focus on addressing the project’s central question: “Is it feasible to establish a universal battery charging and swapping hub for electric motorcycles?” Additionally, interviews and surveys with stakeholders will help capture data to understand operational models and user needs in the context of battery swapping and charging.
The main outputs of this project will include a comprehensive map of existing infrastructure and a feasibility report. The map will offer a visual overview of current battery-swapping locations, aiding users and operators in understanding the existing landscape. The feasibility report will provide technical, market, and financial analyses, delivering insights into the potential of universal, standardised battery swapping and charging. This report will also offer guidance on optimal business models and operational strategies for current retailers, helping both companies and motorcycle riders make informed decisions about adopting electric motorcycles.
This FTVG-funded project holds significant promise for transforming the electric motorcycle ecosystem in Uganda and the UK. A universal battery-swapping infrastructure would increase the convenience and appeal of electric motorcycles, supporting sustainability goals and aligning with global trends toward e-mobility.
“If successful, this universal infrastructure could pave the way for more affordable and accessible electric mobility in countries with diverse transport needs,” says Dilum.
The findings of this feasibility study will provide critical guidance for policymakers, transport planners, and business leaders, offering a replicable framework that could extend beyond Uganda and the UK. By fostering collaboration across stakeholders, this project aims to demonstrate the potential for scalable, standardised infrastructure that makes electric mobility a viable choice for more riders worldwide.