Luna Vandeweghe - Graduate Consultant (Transport Planning), WSP

Mind the Gender Gap - Tackling Inequality in Sustainable Transport

The journey from A to B has changed in the 21st century, with public and active transport being promoted more than ever in line with the UK’s goals of achieving Net Zero. In September 2025, the government announced a £2.3 billion investment as part of the ‘Plan for Change’ to support local transport connections and provide smoother journeys using public services. However, do we all rely on public transport in the same way? How does your view of safety compare with others? Is transport really that political?

In her presentation, Luna looks to answer these questions and explores the challenges faced by women in the UK when using sustainable travel. She highlights successful initiatives in Mexico City, Osaka and Tallinn that have targeted gender inequality. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the UK’s current policies and how the challenge of women’s safety is approached differently across the globe.

Oscar Freeman-Davies - Transportation Planning Officer (Road Safety), Devon County Council 

Trend → Treatment → Outcome: A 10 year comparison showing transport schemes' impact on collision reduction at cluster sites

Devon County Council conducts an annual cluster site review identifying sites where there have been 5 or more collisions, within a 50m radius over the latest 5-year period of collision  data. Eight cluster sites were chosen and analysed over a 10-year period (2015–19 vs 2020–24) and compared with a countywide baseline; changes in total collisions, cyclist collisions,  and KSI were assessed before calculating financial benefits using DfT ‘Cost per Collision’ (2023).

Across cluster sites where schemes were introduced, reductions consistently exceeded the  county baseline for all collisions and cyclists. The largest reductions were schemes that reduced motor traffic, improved infrastructure, provided signage, and crossing upgrades. The value of cyclist collision reduction alone is estimated at £3.5 million across the 8 sites  analysed. This shows how scheme led transport planning alongside collision intelligence can lead to a safer system for all whilst reducing the burden on public health.

Vaani Shokar

The Lifecycle of Travel Plans - From Conception to Implementation 

Comprehensive travel plans aim to ensure new housing developments encourage walking, wheeling and public transport over private car use. Effective travel plans look to support community wellbeing whilst simultaneously reducing congestion in and around developments.

This presentation explores the intricate journey required to produce such plans, examining how policies are conceived, developed and ultimately implemented in addition to the challenges that inhibit uptake and interaction at each stage. Collectively, these challenges undermine the effectiveness of travel plan delivery, resulting in missed opportunities, dissatisfaction and delays.  

By analysing and evaluating strengths and weaknesses associated with these stages, it highlights the interconnected problems facing decision makers and proposes strategies for a more streamlined, efficient approach to travel planning with context to both public and private sectors.