Episode 5: Kylie Nixon

Episode 5 Kylie Nixon

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Phil Latz: Welcome to the Micro Mobility Report podcast, where we discuss how we can all go further with less. I'm Phil Latz, publisher of Micro Mobility Report.

Irene McAleese: Irene McAleese, co founder of See Sense. Today, we're excited to be talking with Kylie Nixon. Kylie Nixon is an associate principal at Arup. She has over 25 years of experience in transport planning and traffic engineering. After studying civil engineering and urban planning, Kylie has been with Arup for a number of years, working in London for at least six, and another two in Dublin that I'm aware of.

Kylie has led Lots and lots of active transport projects across Southeast Queensland and Australasia, including Ipswich City Council's Active Transport Action Plan and working on Brisbane City Council's Refresh Plan. She's also, done some [00:01:00] work in Malaysia, I believe. Maybe we'll hear a bit more about that, and has been a for Victoria's Council.

Thanks. Thanks. Department of Transport. So, Kylie, thank you so much for joining us today. I've had the pleasure of meeting you in person because you're based here in Brisbane, and also really excited to hear that you've also, like myself, worked in London and Dublin. I'd be really interested if you could share a little with our audience about your sort of impressions of micromobility in each of those cities that you've worked in and, and kind of, I guess, if there are different emphasis.

that you've seen, or how things might have changed as well over the years.

Kylie Nixon: Cool. That will take me back. Micromobility. I don't think we actually use the term micromobility.when I think back to my time in Dublin. So Dublin was 2001, 2002. It was the time of the Celtic tiger. There was a lot of investment, in planning. And, so, , my view, so [00:02:00] micromobility, well, , there was a lot of.

Cycling, that was happening. There was a lot of walking. I think I walked more, actually, when I was in Dublin than actually rode my bicycle. We didn't have, I do recall that our office back in the day didn't have a, fleet cars. You did have an office bicycle that you could borrow, which was, , that was fascinating, quite interesting, but I don't think many people actually did use it for a site visit, that often.

But, yeah, it was very different times. , I do also remember public transport was a bit slow, but it certainly would have evolved since you were there, from my recollection. And then my time in London was, very different again, Yeah, we did, probably a lot more development planning and there was a lot more emphasis in making sure that we were, I think, the planning schemes, I'm probably using the wrong term now, probably showing my age, , there was a lot more emphasis in, in terms of providing end of trip facilities, , good access, access to public transport was a key element.

So it was, it was a very different [00:03:00] environment compared to if I think about when I started, transport planning.

Irene McAleese: What years were you in London?

Kylie Nixon: 2003 to the, the end of 09, beginning of 2000, 2010. So, yeah, that was, interesting times too, , in terms of, changing a policy, had that, focus on,The congestion charge in this, the center of the city.

It was also that clean air, campaign was happening at the same time. So yeah, it was, it was quite fascinating in terms of a lot of the development planning that you were doing to really emphasize, , improve access, accessibility, how you can deliver great outcomes for people. So yeah, different approach.

Irene McAleese: And I guess it was in the lead up to the Olympics as well, wasn't it? So, mm. Mm.

Kylie Nixon: that was exciting. I think I was living in East London actually at the time. so, that

Irene McAleese: I'm in the thick of it.

Kylie Nixon: yeah, right in the thick of it and really bringing, local knowledge to a lot of the planning they were doing. It's like, oh my god, yes, I've walked, , this [00:04:00] intersection or, , I've had this struggle myself or I can't actually navigate it because I'm actually was living there.

So I was like, yes, I get it. So that made it quite, , quite powerful for the work that we were doing, for the games ourselves. the early planning.

Irene McAleese: Yes. Oh, great. We've got some questions later about the Olympics, and I guess obviously they're coming up in Brisbane in eight years time, so we'd like to explore that with you a little more, later on. yeah. But I guess, and now you're, you're based in, Brisbane here and working mostly in Australasia.

One of the things that stood out to me when I first met you was, you were able to talk about riding a bike in Brisbane because you actually get out there and do it. tell me more about what it's like to ride in Brisbane for other people that, who don't live here and I guess, How fantastic it is to meet someone who is a transport planner who rides a bike.

Kylie Nixon: Yeah, love to. I must say that I didn't always ride my bike. I [00:05:00] think I rode for just recreation, but not for commuting, but certainly I'd say over the last 10 plus years, yeah, I definitely ride for all different types of trips and purposes and bought an e bike this year, which I thought I would never do because I thought it was quite lazy.

But now I'm like, Oh my gosh, how amazing is it to go up Muscove Road and Redhill, which is very hilly for those who might not know, without having to go down every gear in my twenty speed. bike. So, yeah, so what is it like to ride in Brisbane? Brisbane has lots of hills, but we've got some amazing creek corridors as well, which are lovely, flat and shaded.

But you are certainly dodging a lot of people walking or walking their dogs as well. I ride with my kids, which can be a bit of a battle and a journey, getting them to watch driveway crossovers. So I think one of the challenges in Brisbane, it's not all about the All of the network is connected up, so you might have to go a bit out of your way to make [00:06:00] a journey.

but you know, certainly when you are on a lovely piece of infrastructure like the North Brisbane Bikeway, it's just, it's a joy and you know, it's, it's got all the elements that you'd want for your kids to just say, you know, go ahead and ride and I know you're going to be fine, which is really, really, lovely.

Irene McAleese: It's so refreshing and I have to say I have come across transport planners who work in actual travel who clearly do not ride a bike or have not been near a bike and just think that's so wrong. So I, I'm so happy to meet someone who's clearly passionate about cycling

Kylie Nixon: My, one of my earliest, earliest, earliest projects in action. I can still remember the job code for it, so you will laugh at me for it. It was doing, it was basically an audit for the safe Bikeways program. This is in like the 1996 or 97, and we did have a bicycle in the office and we chose in our project team, I was probably one of the least skilled.

Bicycle riders at the time, but how powerful was that in [00:07:00] 1990s, to actually go out with some confident riders and you think about, like, if you know Brisbane, like you couldn't really, I grew up in Mount Gravatt, which is south of the Brisbane River, like to ride to the city took me over an hour. To do that, like the velo way didn't really exist the entire way, but going out and riding bits of our network back then, when I was really, you know, had no confidence at all, I think I fell off my bike actually a couple of times in a bit of an audit, compared to now.

And I think how those insights, how important those insights were, but even just going out, like, I find every bike ride is a, is a site visit. Yeah. Really, if I could claim it on tax, I'd be rich. but because it's those observations of like, that didn't work for me, or that didn't work for my younger son, or why did we design it that way?

That doesn't, you know, and like seeing it in a peak hour, you know, in the middle of the week. Compared to on the weekend, like I will ride on the weekend [00:08:00] on certain roads that I would never do in the peak hour and you've got to bring that back into your projects. You know, I have a project in North Queensland.

I think I mentioned and, you know, down near me. There's some really interesting little Colvett crossings and I'm like. Yeah. Perfect example of when flooding and like, here's an example. So can you bring that knowledge of how it works to your project is so important. So if you are going to work on an active transport project, you need to at least get out on your bike.

You need to do a saddle survey and if it's walking, get out and walk. Experience it walking. You cannot do a project unless you've actually really experienced

Phil Latz: I believe you've been in Arup for 28 years now

Kylie Nixon: Yes, that would be correct. I joined as a grad, straight out of uni.

Phil Latz: that, that's clearly a quite a long career. What would you rate as some of your most satisfying projects during your career

Kylie Nixon: Oh, interesting. Okay. Satisfying. That's a good term for it. well, obviously London 2012 would be up there. It's, [00:09:00] complicated and,, lots of good experience from that projects, but then I've had some interesting small little, fun projects as well, or some historical ones, , worked on the Coronation Drive tidal flow bus lane.

I did a lot of the traffic. modelling for that back in the days in the 90s. it got implemented when I was overseas and then swiftly taken out, unfortunately.but , also the original, bicycle Brisbane plan and then, years later actually worked on the update, to that. So I think that's quite nice to go back and improve upon, your own work.

Phil Latz: Please explain title

Kylie Nixon: Bus lane. Yeah. Yeah. It was a tidal flow bus lane. So it was a long coronation drive. And, the idea was that, , the direction of travel that you needed the bus lane in, it was inbound, obviously in the morning and outbound in the evening. And so because of the constraints, the physical constraints of, that corridor with the and the existing bike lane that was [00:10:00] there, bike facilities that were there at the time.

The bus lane then, using infrastructure would change whether it was in and out, basically. And sort of, like Sydney Harbour Bridge with, certain lanes turned on and switched off.

Phil Latz: Maybe using that one as a case study, but to me, there's If you like three levels of gatekeeper or influence, maybe four of you include the general public, who in turn elect elected officials, be it the mayor, be it the premier, the councilors, whatever. So let's call one group the elected officials. The second group, the bureaucrats, be against state or local government that implement the policy.

And then the third group being yourself, being the experts, the consultants, the designers, the engineers, and so on. So. How much influence do you get to have in that third group on the outcome and who do you think of those three groups has the most power? What are the dynamics between those three groups?

Kylie Nixon: Tough question already in [00:11:00] there. Wow. So elect, so what have we got, the elected officials, the bureaucrats and the experts at the end of

Phil Latz: Hmm. You can call yourselves the good guys if you like, but yeah, those three groups, who's got the power and how's the dynamics.

Kylie Nixon: I think it's on us to make sure that we're providing all the evidence to make a decision at the end of the day.

So, if we don't provide sufficient evidence, and I think these days are all a lot better with also listening, to the community and what the community wants. If I reflect back early in my career, but also could be just ignorance as a very young, engineer or planner in your career. Sometimes you're not as across, the full details of a project, but I certainly feel we do a lot better.

better with community input. So who has the end, say at the end of the day? I think that can, I'd rather not actually say it's one or the other because it certainly can change depending on what the situation is but also how strong a voice the community has. so yeah, [00:12:00] if I reflect on some past projects probably was, the elected officials had the final say and delivering upon a plan.

Irene McAleese: I know that you're, like myself, you're also a mother, and I'm wondering, , there's obviously less women, working in the transport field, compared to men, and we've got a unique perspective to bring, in the situation, so I'm just wondering, how much has being a mother changed your awareness about good or bad urban design for

A second question on to that would be that, , what do you think we could do more to get more women involved in active transport as well? just any thoughts that you might have on that, Carly, would be great to hear your perspective.

Kylie Nixon: I think that's really interesting. I had, my first child, not long after I left the UK and I returned back home here to Brisbane. Brisbane is my home. city. And, we went back over to London to experience the games because I'd worked on it for seven years. [00:13:00] Wanted to go, , enjoy or see what was the outcome.

And my eldest, who's 13 now, was one. And I remember just traveling through the London Underground and I had a pram and, , going to the venues and I was like, Oh my God, I did not bring that perspective when I was doing that planning. So I think the biggest thing is for me as a mom is I realized that maybe I wasn't, , fully understanding some of the challenges, , that different people have, and it goes back to, , making sure we're delivering inclusive design outcomes.

My father's, well, I think he's probably driven a car once in his life, but basically my whole, Childhood grew up with only my mom was the, the car driver. My dad was a public transport user and a walker. And that certainly, I feel has shaped how I always traveled. And I didn't get my license to really late because.

I didn't really see the need to, so I always used, I grew up on the south side of Brisbane, so it was bus, not train. , and I probably didn't, I didn't ride a bike, significantly [00:14:00] until I got a, , a job and then I used, bicycles, , on your projects. But my kids have had a certainly a very different upbringing in terms of thinking about how they travel.

, they walk to school, I make them walk to school. yeah. , and we've always asked ourselves, well, , should we walk and go to the shops rather than drive? Or should we catch the bus? And, , they've very been very, it's, , I think most kids, , you get excited about a truck, but I think my kids are very excited about buses.

Irene McAleese: good.

Kylie Nixon: Yeah, so

yeah, so I definitely think it brings a completely different level of awareness. So then going to your second part of the question then about how do you encourage more women maybe to join, and choose transport engineering or planning? I think we are starting to see a lot more women to choose it.

Like, I'm really impressed in our own team here at ABB. we've. Got quite a nice balance team. There's quite a lot of young females that have joined our team and really passionate about transport and they don't all have engineering degrees. It's that diversity of [00:15:00] their skills that they bring into it because I think they're seeing the fact that it's, Yeah.

, you're having to shape, , the places that you actually, , you're living in. So it's quite transformational. You can actually really make a big impact. So I think that's really, really nice to see. And so that's probably would be part of the messaging that I would probably send out.

because when you did your civils back when I did it, it was very much structural engineering, , learning about buildings. It was hard civil engineering, but, , I sort of chose traffic because I thought, Oh, all right. It's a bit more diverse, and I'm actually really glad that I

Irene McAleese: Yeah, yeah,

Kylie Nixon: Yeah,

Irene McAleese: yeah. I mean, there wouldn't have been many women in your civil engineering degree, I don't

Kylie Nixon: no, no, I couldn't even tell you how many. I'm still friends with two of them, and I know there was more than us three. we still hang out and kick around.

Irene McAleese:

Kylie Nixon: but yeah.

Irene McAleese: Yeah. And then what about getting more women onto bikes generally? Because there is that sort of gap, in terms of [00:16:00] participation. Are there any, any particular design needs or considerations you think should be considered? It could be done to, to help get more women onto bikes.

Kylie Nixon: Yeah, I think what's really interesting and going back to, I think, the question that you asked, Phil, as well, , what do I think about how micro mobility has changed? I think the knowledge that we have now, a lot of the research, we're actually asking people, , surveys are actually, , Getting that understanding, we're not just designing for an anonymous type of person.

It's actually getting to the nitty gritty. And a lot of that research certainly has shown from that clusivity point of view that women want safer infrastructure. , we need to make sure we're connecting the network, to where women need. To go as well, , a lot of if you think about old school network planning, and I think about some earlier, projects, , we were probably planning our networks for active modes like we did for cars, but it sometimes isn't necessary.

going to be as direct or, as [00:17:00] perfect. So, , for women, it's like, how do we connect those places, that women need to go to if they're shouldering that heavier, care, activities as well. So, yeah, so I think there's a, there's a lot of good research and evidence out there that's showing that need.

But I think we also need to make sure that we're asking the questions in the context because it's different cultures of different cities may have different needs. so can't always just use that homogenous view that, okay, around the world. It's, it's all about infrastructure, safety, safety at night may be a key important element, or the reason why they may choose a car over riding.

for listening.

Irene McAleese: Yeah. Yeah. Because I've known, I've seen some of your work is really interesting. You've done a lot of stuff around night time, looking at the different light, how lighting might influence people's decisions to ride. I guess there's And even the shade and the coolness or comfort factors as well would all play into

that experience for

Kylie Nixon: that [00:18:00] we have all this evidence. I think it goes back to that question. You asked Phil,know, , if we're the experts, we need to bring all the evidence and bring it and help articulate it in a way that actually helps make those decisions. There was a really interesting post, I think it was this morning, or it might have been yesterday on LinkedIn, by a traffic consult.

a traffic survey consultant and it showed, , it was basically flagging is the excuse that people aren't choosing to ride is because Brisbane's so hot as our subtropical environment and it highlighted in the, the graph that, , in winter, our riding, our frequency of riding actually didn't go up.

We did go out more often in winter because it's chilly. It was my reaction

Irene McAleese: I love data. You've got to have the data.

Kylie Nixon: I know, I know you love data. And I was like, there you are. And I remember someone said to me once, we've been doing some really, some great active transport studies with TMR in Townsville. And I was saying, , it doesn't really change, , Townsville is hotter than Brisbane.[00:19:00]

And, , that consistency of writing is sort of like the same throughout the year and the same, , other, Countries as well, , people are out there, they're doing it. So then what is the barrier? So how can we make it better? So, yeah, bring that shading, shade our bike paths or, , get, safer infrastructure.

But that nighttime element, I think, has been a big miss in our planning because we always plan thinking about the day, not about the day. , what is it like to go out there at night? So, I have a bike, a creek corridor near me, Phil. It's really dark. And if you're on your bike with your, your, torch, your headlight on your bike, and it creates that nice tunnel effect.

And I can't see anything except a few reflective things. And I make the decision, I'll go on the dark street, , which is equally as dark, or go, go the creek corridor, because it's actually quicker. But it's just. I can't see anyone coming. So, , I did one time I decided, oh, I'm gonna give it a go.

Why am I so scared? I know what's there the whole time I was like, frightened and I was like, well, we're not gonna [00:20:00] let my kids do that on their own , ,

Irene McAleese: yeah, I

Kylie Nixon: and sort of like banned them from, , helicopter parenting, ,

Irene McAleese: think, I think that's really important and I think lighting is a particular concern for women as well, just for personal safety as well, wanting to ride

Kylie Nixon: concern, actually, yeah, and that it can also just be slightly, , marginally lit and because you're not really sure if you can see what's down your street, , it sort of makes you rethink or hesitate. So, and then you don't go out, , enjoy those other opportunities.

Phil Latz: Brisbane, your home city, is the first city in Australia to adopt e scooters. Now, just not necessarily speaking from an Arup perspective, but even just as a resident, as a mum, and so on, what do you see as the, both the opportunities and challenges for e scooters as part of the transport mix?

Kylie Nixon: Well, I think there is a role for [00:21:00] them.and I, and I don't necessarily believe it's a first mile last mile role, but it could help support that, a lot more. but yeah, I think there's a, there's certainly growing in attractiveness. It isn't something that we can stop. Probably, had such a quicker boom than, , probably, well, bike riding has been around for for a while, but yeah, they've come on quite quick in terms of the attractiveness of them

Irene McAleese: we already touched on how you worked in London in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics. I guess with Brisbane, having the Olympics now around the corner, what should we be doing now to create a positive active transport legacy for Brisbane? guess what lessons learned from London would you like to sort of see taken through?

Great question. I think one of the lessons from London is that they did have a lot of their planning, , completed early. Like, they sort of had a, particularly from a public transport point [00:22:00] of view, there was a lot of good planning that was in place, that they knew were coming. But, there was a lot of great questions.

Kylie Nixon: campaigning, behavior change, activities that were happening at the same time to really get everybody excited about the games, but also, getting active as well. So there was a lot of programs, if I recall, with schools, everyone get excited about sport and getting active and certainly, , taking that same approach here for Brisbane, with our schools, across our schools and our community, , to get out, be active. , experiencing your city by different modes, I think would be really important, particularly if we're going to try and achieve that sustainable and accessible vision for our Brisbane games, which would be wonderful. I think talking to the community also about what that means to them. Will be really important for our games, but clearly there's some really great conversations already already been had about our games, such [00:23:00] as making sure we are looking at that shading, getting those really great connections, really making sure we're looking at those connections to public transport.

So, if you want to go experience an event at one of the venues that you are being multimodal with an active public transport journeys is a really key.to that, as well. And I think looking outside the box, I think one of the great outcomes from the work that we did, for the London Olympic Park was recognising, through working with the local governments, it was the borough councils there, looking at those opportunities to extend that grant funding so that they could mitigate the impacts or the events but in a sustainable way.

And that was a really powerful outcome of London 2012. You had the five host boroughs and they all worked together. to mitigate, the construction, the gains itself, but looking at transformation towards legacy. And with that, , they had that decision with how they could, bring legacy outcomes early on.

It was really looking at those, , active [00:24:00] transport outcomes, , that walking and those cycling and those connections, which was really powerful. And, , how they delivered it way in advance of the actual event itself. So I think that would be a really great outcome for Brisbane. Thanks

Irene McAleese: ah, I like that. Bringing the legacy forward so people start enjoying some of the benefits even before the games start. Yep. And then there's that whole community piece as well to carry on.

Kylie Nixon: yeah, because why should you have to wait for legacy? Legacy should be now. So we've got the event. Let's catalyze all those great outcomes now. And so then everybody's in that right

Irene McAleese: Hm,

Kylie Nixon: the games as well, because you having that experience and it's that buzz.

Irene McAleese: Mm. And given the high benchmark that Paris set with the Olympics recently as well, in terms of, , the transformation that the city did for, to allow more cycling, do you see that Brisbane is going to go along, , are we going to really, are we going to use this as an opportunity to make a serious shift towards more active travel, or will it be more [00:25:00] focused around getting people to and from games, venues?

Kylie Nixon: I believe there is a real desire to have that opportunity to get that shift to more active travel. I think you're sort of seeing it in a lot of the rhetoric from Brisbane City Council and the rhetoric from the state as well and all of those involved in delivering the event. That yes, wanting to actually see some positive outcomes for our city, which I think is great.

Phil Latz: In addition to working with Arup, you're also a member, you've been on the board of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Transport Institute of Australasia, to give it its full name, which sounds very grand. Would you like to just share what that organization is, maybe what it's called every day and what sort of work you do?

you do in that organization

Kylie Nixon: Ped bike trance is it's a shorter version of its name, and, [00:26:00] it started, long before 2010. it was made, I believe, Brawman Thornton from walk 21 with a few, Professor Matt Burke from Griffith Uni and a few of our amazing colleagues from TMR set it up. and it's all about, providing a networking.

Opportunity and opportunity for professionals to learn from each other about,active transport planning basically. And over the years, it certainly has extended to ensure that we're welcoming advocates as well to come and learn, , what are the latest guidance? What is the standards? , what, what are some of the great projects that we're doing related to walking and riding?

So it's a not. For profit, organization committee is being made up over the years of consultants of TMR representatives or council representatives. and it's really about just holding, having, regular, get togethers,That's talking on topics or projects related to what we're doing in active transport.

So what was really great, actually, during the pandemic, [00:27:00] we went more online. So we had a lot more attendees across different,different regions across our country, but also, More able to bring in some international speakers, as well for discussion. So last the week for last, we had a joint event with AITPN, talking about some of the updates to the walking network planning guidance, and the new bicycle parking at PT strategy with TMR, which is really great event.

And in past events, we've had, for instance, walk 21 speak, Dr. Ragini Tolley, present for us and, , some topics, from some of our advocates, what they're interested in. So it really is about, yeah, just come together and sharing and making sure we're doing better and bringing best practice into what we're doing.

Phil Latz: Cause you can only learn and do better if we're sharing, really at the end of the day. So it's a really nice, welcoming environment. Excellent. Now you do need to just explain to people who don't know what T M R stands for and what AI TPM stands for. I know AI [00:28:00] TPM is a very long one. You won't get deducted any Brownie points if you don't get an exact, but just, just what, what are they? Not so much an exact translation of the abbreviations as what are those two things that

Kylie Nixon: Okay, TMR is our Department of Transport and Main Roads. It's our state government, department here in Queensland, that it looks after, the remits related to transport and includes active transport and public transport as well. And AITPM is the Australian Institute of Traffic Management and Planning, if I've got that right, TPM, might have got the order around wrong there,

Phil Latz: close enough, Well,

Kylie Nixon: which is, for practitioners who are involved in traffic and transport planning coming together and again, a similar remit in terms of, professional organization, , getting good network planning, learning and development.

So, yeah, and so we do co host a lot of events together, which I think is great. great because it's got different [00:29:00] memberships, where Pebite Trans get a lot of student memberships as well as advocates, which I think is what makes, it quite a great opportunity so you can learn from each other. so you're bringing your new cohort of active transport planners through, but also you're hearing from the advocates who are bringing the voice of community, where our TPM is very much professionally focused.

Phil Latz: thank you very much for that, Kylie, because we are starting to get some listeners from outside Australia as well, which is marvelous and, , don't want to leave them in the dark. So that's all the questions that we've prepared other than if there's anything we haven't asked you that you think, Oh, why didn't they ask me about this?

I would have really liked to have shared. So is there

anything

Kylie Nixon: we sort of touched on all key topics there. There's inclusivity in there. a bit of history, think the key thing would be just, yeah, it's like integration, I think is key. I think it's [00:30:00] often forgotten or, , just good old Fashion transport planning integration is really key when we're talking about micromobility.

Don't have to make it any more, difficult than that. People aren't complex, . so yeah, just thinking end to end journey. I think that's the most important thing. I think we try to get too sexy with new words for things and I think we just need to do it better. Do what we've already been doing and doing really well.

Integrated transport planning.

Irene McAleese: How do you make it, how do you make micro mobility more integrated? Just to drill down on that. How would you, what are the key takeaways for people, if you had to say top three things to make it more integrated?

Kylie Nixon: integrated. Well, we need to, well, if we're following a good old, the transport hierarchy, isn't it? Walking, riding and micro mobility is there in the riding, isn't it? And, , public transport in cars, so. Getting integrated public transport, I think, is a really solid key foundation. If public transport is the [00:31:00] backbone of a sustainable transport network, then the integration should be there.

Phil Latz: Thank you very much for joining us on the Micro Mobility Report podcast.

Kylie Nixon: worries. Thanks for having me.

Irene McAleese: Thanks Kylie.

Phil Latz: Well Irene, what were some of the points that stood out for you from that chat with Kylie?

Irene McAleese: Yeah, that was really interesting. I think, I mean, for me, one of the best things is that Kylie is actually a practitioner who is Out there on the bike and bringing back those experiences into her work. and the fact that she's a mom out there cycling with her kids. Fantastic, because A, we don't have that many transport planners who are women.

and B, she really does have an interest in sort of inclusivity and, you know, the understanding of, you know, Women and thinking or it's just she really has had some very interesting work around the nighttime, you know, work as well, looking at the effect of lighting and shade and all that's very innovative.

So, no, [00:32:00] I thought it was good. And obviously she's, she's got a global perspective, having worked in London and, and Dublin and, you know, been through one Olympics already. So, it's really, it's very interesting to hear, how,you know. Arup and, Kylie can get involved in the, in all the work in the lead up.

Phil Latz: Indeed, and certainly, yes, it's eight years till the Olympics, just under, and they do need to get moving because eight years will go like a flash, but it is a unique opportunity for Brisbane and Australia to do some positive things towards active transport and micromobility. So now the last thing we do each podcast is a segment called what's up where we share some of the things we've been doing or something we've read or seen.

So what's up Irene?

Irene McAleese: Okay. So for me, I'm really excited to be speaking at the iMove conference, in Brisbane. On the 24th of October, the conference runs for two days, actually, 23rd and [00:33:00] 24th. I'll be sharing some interim, interim results from an exciting project that SeaSense is involved in, in Victoria, working with Surf Coast Council, all about looking at before and after infrastructure goes in and measure, measuring and evaluating the impact.

So that's, yeah, that's my speaking gig that's coming up and then, I think it's just today of this is going out, this is being recorded on the day of the launch of the e bike subsidy scheme, which has been announced, here in Brisbane as well. So, right after this call, I'm going to jump on and make sure I could try and get one of those vouchers.

Cause I quite fancy, fancy a new e bike. I actually couldn't bring over my e bikes from the UK because of the shipping requirements with the battery. So, yeah, I've been down an e bike since we got here and haven't remedied that yet. So. This could be really good timing for me. and, and as generally, I think e bike [00:34:00] subsidies are an absolutely fantastic idea, a way to get, you know, you know, to really broaden out cycling and make it much more attractive.

So I'm actually going to write a blog about that for SeeSense coming up soon because I do see some good missed opportunities with all these e bike subsidies where they could be collecting some more data from the bikes than they are.otherwise the, a couple of things that have, that have jumped out to me looking in the UK.

I mean the, not so good news really but England's National Travel Survey data came out, and it,it actually shows that cycling rates there are now at a 10 year low. so this is, obviously not great news, but the, The leisure trips cycling to education are up, but actual cycle commuting is down.

and significantly, the cycling rates between men and women are quite stark. so safety is still a big barrier there, for people saying why they're not cycling. But in good news, [00:35:00] the new UK Labor government, is saying that they are planning to invest, invest, quote, unprecedented levels of funding, for cycling, over the next few years as they're parts of plans to improve health and inequality.

So, You know, the new transport secretary has come out and said that, Hey, you know, if we invest, in a national network of safe cycle routes, this could actually cut GP appointments by hundreds of thousands, if not millions a year. So it's really great to hear the transport, secretary acknowledging there's evidence and, let's see how that can flow through to actual impact.

Phil Latz: I'll have two points to my what's up. The first is to say that we last week we announced that we are selling our media business, which is the Latz report and the micromobility report and related yearbooks, websites, et cetera, newsletters.

But [00:36:00] so there's an ad live on seek business. I've committed to go through to Christmas 2024 to give time for. somebody to express interest and take over. We've had five expressions of interest so far. So who knows, maybe one of those will result in that happening. And I'm just getting, I mean, just incredibly old now.

I think they'll need to put me in a museum, soon in the fossil section. Just time to work a little bit less hard, but definitely want to emphasize that one way or another, the Micromobility Report podcast will

Irene McAleese: Yay.

Phil Latz: whether it, whether it goes under that umbrella or has to have a slight name change or whatever, we'll see.

But as long as you'll still have me partner with you on this podcast, Irene, I'd certainly like to keep going with

Irene McAleese: Yeah. And, and we've been talking about legacy Phil. So let me just say, you know, what a legacy you've created with, you know, the micromobility [00:37:00] report and all of the fantastic work you've done to help build the cycle industry over the years. So, let's hope you find, a really, a buyer worthy to take on the mantle, and follow in your excellent footsteps

Phil Latz: well, I'm definitely planning to continue my advocacy in a volunteer capacity as well for a good while to come as well, so, yeah, I'm definitely staying in the field. And then the second thing for my Whats Up. Just to try and keep a positive light, because sometimes in Australia it can get quite depressing if you're an advocate and you see some things that are done or other things that don't happen.

Just a little national snapshot of infrastructure. So the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge in Brisbane, which I've taken two or three sets of photos of. of over the past couple of years as it's been constructed, basically going from kangaroo point, which is on the south side of the river near where the story bridge goes for [00:38:00] anyone that has been to Brisbane and we'll go directly across to the CBD just at the top of the botanical gardens.

That's a 299 million bridge. It's quite an exceptional architectural design, very long. It's a very wide river, the Brisbane River, cycling and walking micro mobility only no cars, you know, trucks, buses, motorbikes are all on that bridge and it should be opening. imminently by the end of the year. So quite an exceptional project.

They're projecting 6, 000 plus users a day and really an important piece of infrastructure. Going across to the other side of the continent, Perth, and I was lucky enough to go there last year and photograph This under construction as well. Their Causeway Harbour Bridge, linking the CBD with their eastern suburbs.

It's a 100 million project. Two bridges and a path through an island, which is in between, replacing a, basically a footpath, a [00:39:00] narrow footpath on the main road. Very busy, unpleasant place to ride or walk right now. And this will be a beautiful sweeping, curved, separated, completely separated, probably about 50 metres.

to the south of the busy roadway. Lovely bit of infrastructure, which also is due to open at the end of the year. Recently, I was in Sydney and took photos of the Oxford Street cycle path, which is under construction, which is another key bit of infrastructure for the city of Sydney. And related to that, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is, should be under construction imminently.

I'm planning to go and have a look next trip and see if there's actually work happening on the ground, but it's due to start. The northern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been 90 years without a bike path. It's got. five flights of stairs right now that people have to wheel or carry their bikes up and down five flights of stairs, which is incredibly dangerous, incredibly difficult, let [00:40:00] alone cargo bikes, e bikes, bums with kids, just forget it.

It's just an incredible, incredible barrier right now. Moving south to Melbourne, the Westgate Tunnel Project, so not something The active mobility advocates might like a major new motorway tunnel that links the Westgate motorway with the northern side of the CBD. But as part of that, there's 100 million of bicycle infrastructure, including a 2.

5 kilometer elevated VeloWay. I was just in Melbourne just over a week ago. And could see part of that is a big bridge going over a six lane main road, to link the CBD to the suburbs for cyclists and pedestrians. And that was well underway, that bridge just about nearing completion. So further important links.

And then finally Canberra, which we normally associate with being [00:41:00] Australia's best cycling city. You know, Lane, laneways, pathways around the Lake Burley Griffin and so on, but a new route called the Garden City route is under construction as we speak, just started, which is, you know, on road and and separated cycleways where people actually want to ride, you know, to, trip generator locations, basically from the city civic up to the northern suburbs.

So that's a great project to see. underway. So all of these projects are very encouraging, but we do need more networks, lowering of speed limit, modal filters, these lower cost things to do the heavy lifting, not just the glamour projects. Sometimes it seems like those projects that are listed, that's over half a billion dollars of projects all up, which is great, but You know, let's, let's fill in the networks as well.

So [00:42:00] on that note, that is the end of my, what's up. So unless you've got anything to add,

Irene McAleese: I think we're done, Phil. Great.

Phil Latz: we're done. we will see, we've got two more guests already lined up as we speak. Great guests, one from the UK, one from France. So who are they? Well, stay tuned. We'll see you next time. Until then, keep riding.

Irene McAleese: Bye bye.