Professor Helena Titheridge and Associate Professor Daniel Oviedo Hernandez

Future proofing the transport system for an ageing population

Abstract

This presentation explores the diversity of capabilities and travel needs of older people in the UK, drawing on research done for the Department of Transport, questions how these may change over the next few decades and considers what changes may be needed to ensure future transport systems are age-friendly. The world’s population is ageing. According to the United Nations, by the mid-2030s the number of people aged 80 and older is expected to outnumber infants, and by the late 2070s, there will be an estimated 2.2 billion people aged 65 and older in the world, exceeding the number of children under age 18.  The UK is no exception, the older population in the UK is expected to rise from its current levels (estimated to be19% in 2022) to 27% by 2072 (ONS, 2022).  This increase in older people is likely to place pressure on the economy, health care and other supporting services including the transport system.  Keeping older people mobile is important for their well-being, as well as enabling them to access essential services, it helps reduce loneliness in later life and ensure older people can remain active.  Whilst we know a lot about the mobility challenges older people can face, as a group they are not homogeneous, and the characteristics of the older population is likely to change over time.  In addition, increasing digitalisation of the transport system, autonomation and introduction of new modes bring about new challenges and opportunities, which may impact older people differently from younger age groups.

Biography

Professor Helena Titheridge has 25 years of research experience in the areas of transport sustainability, mobility, the built environment.  She has a strong interest in understanding the synergies and trade-offs between different social and environmental agendas including those related to decarbonisation, improvement of air quality, social inclusion and accessibility for older people, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups, transport poverty, and transport inequities.   She is a member of the Centre for Transport Studies and Co-Director of the Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience.  Helena is also Chair of the Royal Geographical Society Transport Geography Research Group, and a member of the WCTRS Scientific Committee.  Helena has collaborated on research projects with a wide range of non-academic partners including the Department for Transport (DfT), Transport for London (TfL), the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Hertfordshire County Council, Milton Keynes Council, Leicester City Council, Kent County Council, RNIB, Arup, and MOTC Taiwan.

Transport and equity in the Global South: Insights from Latin America and Africa

Abstract

This presentation delves into recent research on the dimensions of accessibility, equity, and inclusion in the transition to sustainable mobility within the Global South. By integrating multidisciplinary perspectives and fostering knowledge coproduction, it explores the challenges and opportunities in advancing evidence-based policy and advocacy. Drawing upon five years of primary evidence and experiences in policy engagement and advocacy, the presentation uses examples from cities experiencing rapid demographic and economic growth, alongside increasing automobility, including South and Western Africa, and mid- to large cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. It invites the audience to reflect on and build upon these experiences, engaging in a debate about the diverse localised political, social, economic, and cultural challenges for achieving more sustainable mobility.

Biography

Dr. Daniel Oviedo is an Associate Professor at The Bartlett Development Planning Unit of University College London, specializing in urban mobility, transport equity, and their intersection with health and sustainability in cities of the Global South. With over 15 years of experience, he has conducted research in 22 countries, primarily in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Oviedo is the Principal Investigator for the "On the Way to School" project, a three-year study funded by the UK Medical Research Council and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases. This project assesses the impact of active mobility policies on adolescents' health in Colombia and Mozambique.

He also leads the Walking Cities Lab, a research platform involving over 12 partner organizations in 8 countries, focusing on walking in "unwalkable" cities, initially in Sub-Saharan Africa and increasingly in Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative develops strategies to position walking as a viable, accessible, safer and enjoyable mode of transport.
Beyond academia, Dr. Oviedo consults for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and other global organizations like the OECD, integrating equity and sustainable transport policies into mainstream planning and aid funding.