This morning’s meeting of the Editorial Panel for the Smart Transport journal is a case in point. Gathered around the table was a powerful collection of voices and perspectives, all of whom are at the cutting edge of their own particular part of the transport sector, all of whom have a valuable insight and perspective on its future direction.

I was reminded again this morning of the extent to which the private sector is already acting to address many of the challenges we know need to be addressed: investment in new vehicles and aircraft that are more efficient and pollute less; initiatives that are delivering innovative user-focused services. 

Innovation is about experimentation, seizing the opportunity to try out new approaches and not being afraid to fail: too often the public sector inadvertently constrains our ability to effect change but wanting to have the evidence that we have the right answer when real world experience reminds us that solutions often evolve over time in response to user needs.