Evolving ‘Smarter Choices’ thinking can unlock real benefits

There is an economic, environmental and social dividend if the transport system is used more resource-efficiently. But it requires individual players to come out of their silos and work together

Derek Halden founded the planning, design and research consultancy DHC in 1996 and the data agency Loop Connections in 2011. Through these companies he has pioneered joint working approaches to check that people can access places, and managed improvements to plug gaps from smart information and payment systems to new road, traffic management and rail infrastructure. He is currently managing a national review of smarter choices for the Scottish Government. Contact derek.halden@dhc1.co.uk.

Derek Halden founded the planning, design and research consultancy DHC in 1996 and the data agency Loop Connections in 2011. Through these companies he has pioneered joint working approaches to check that people can access places, and managed improvements to plug gaps from smart information and payment systems to new road, traffic management and rail infrastructure. He is currently managing a national review of smarter choices for the Scottish Government. Contact derek.halden@dhc1.co.uk.

Genuine smarter thinking about transport involves more than simply promotong individual modes. It requires a complex balance of economic social and environmental factors.

Genuine smarter thinking about transport involves more than simply promotong individual modes. It requires a complex balance of economic social and environmental factors.

The term ‘smarter choices’ is increasingly used to describe the development and promotion of sustainable transport, both in terms of the decisions by users about their travel choices, and by transport system providers about their service offer. However,  care is needed managing these programmes as smart language does not does not necessarily imply practical outcomes.

One of the critical issues is the distinction between marketing and promotion, known as ‘soft...