Transport Talks

This podcast explores a project in Westminster involving side road zebra crossings. The initiative aims to improve pedestrian priority and road safety by using simple, low-cost road markings to nudge driver behavior. Experts discuss how these trials support 2022 Highway Code changes, noting that driver compliance nearly doubled at the test locations. While the markings are currently informal in England, the project's data has already influenced official transport standards in Wales. Ultimately, the trial demonstrates how minimal design interventions can effectively manage traffic flow while creating a more accessible and inclusive urban environment.The podcast host, Justin Ward, interviewed a panel of four key professionals who were central to the design, modeling, and rollout of the Westminster trials:Keith Furth – Project Director from the transport and engineering team at NRP.Dean Gibbs – Associate Director at NRP, who worked closely with contractor FM Conway to manage the physical, on-the-ground implementation of the crossings.Dean Walker – Director at NRP and the project manager who led the micro-simulation traffic modeling and data analysis.Hayden Tuck – The Client Officer representing Westminster City Council

A landmark document titled "Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport," published in April 2026, is set to fundamentally reshape how people move across England. The strategy marks a significant shift toward a transport network designed to be safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible, placing "people, place, and partnership" at its core.In this interview, Danny Williams, the former civil servant who led the development of the strategy and founding CEO of Active Travel England, is interviewed describing the document as a "direction of travel" for the nation.Danny Williams is a partner at Strat-edgy LLP, a strategy consultancy that works exclusively with senior leaders in transport, infrastructure, and government. Danny has operated at senior level across government and private sector leadership. He founded and led Active Travel England – a new executive agency – before leading development of the first national transport strategy in two decades at the Department for Transport.

This episode of CIHT Transport Talks podcast hears from experts reflecting on the findings of the CLIMATES project – a major programme involving more than 300 professionals exploring how the sector can respond to climate change over the next decade. Featuring:Professor Glenn Lyons, immediate past president of CIHT, and Mark McDonald's, professor of Future Mobility at UWE Bristol. Claire Haig, founder and CEO of Greener Vision. Claire is also executive director of the Transport Knowledge Hub and creator of the Tabular Project.Annette Smith, Project Director at Mark McDonald.Key links:CIHT CLIMATES report (2025)A Well-Adapted Transport System: Findings from the CCC’s independent assessment of climate risk and adaptation options - 11 June 2026, 12:30-13:30 - CIHT Webinar National Emergency Briefing

Amanda Kirby, emeritus professor and CEO of a tech-for-good neurodiversity company. She discusses neurodiversity vs neurodivergence, shifting diagnostic language, and online identity trends. Covers overlaps between conditions, designing highways and transport for diverse users, and why universal, needs-led design and policy-ready guidance matter for inclusive infrastructure.

Join CIHTs Professional Development Offcer and guest speakers from key positions within the level 3 transport planning technician apprenticeship.Celebrating a decade of collaboration and achievement since its introduction in 2016, CIHT talks with apprenntices, training providers and employers to share insights from across the apprenticeship journey.Gues speakers include:Sarah Carter, Project Manager, at Leeds College of Building, reflects on her role in delivering the apprenticeship.Richard Garratt, Head of Transport Planning Apprenticeship Scheme at Leicestershire County Council, highlights the value that apprentices bring to businesses including their contribution to real-world projects.Distinction level apprentice, Shakira Bickhan, shares her personal journey and what inspired her to choose the apprenticeship route, the support she received from CIHT, and the apprenticeship’s role in building her confidence, professional competence and career opportunities.The podcast also highlights CIHT’s ongoing role as an End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), and how engagement with CIHT supports apprentices during their training and beyond, including professional registration.

This episode is to highlight the CIHT Naitonal Conference 2026 taking place on 18 March.1 Basinghall Avenue City of London EC2V 5DD UNITED KINGDOMThe title of the conference is:  From Risk to ResilienceThe conference which will take place in London, will explore how we move from risk to resilience, to make our highways resilient to the full range of hazards faced.   The one-day event will bring together high-profile speakers from government agencies, local authorities and industry leaders to discuss the pressing challenges we face today and the pioneering solutions that will drive us forward. Bookings Now Open: Tickets are limitedJust like the 2025 Conference, we’re expecting the 2026 Conference sell out fast. So please share with colleagues and book your place early to secure the Individual and Group Early Bird rates before they are gone.National Conference 2026

This episode of CIHT’s Transport Talks was developed in partnership with the Bus Centre of Excellence.  Featuring an interview with Tom Cunnington from Transport for London.  Tom provides his insights into Allyship through his work with Women in Bus and Coach – an organisation that aims to create a national network to encourage, represent, support and retain women in the bus, coach and community transport profession. The theme of the episode is on the eternal vigilance of an ally – an implication of something that requires continuous effort – that help and support need to be part of an ongoing conscious undertaking.

This episode features an interview with Andreas Markides.Based around his book Urban Myths. Urban Myths is an intriguing and fascinating read that explores the prism of ancient Greek civilisation and myths as a reference to show how human behaviour, values and frailties are timeless.Andreas Markides BSc MSc CEng FICE FCIHT AoU is a chartered civil engineer with a masters in Transport Planning from Imperial College. In the past he had been chairman of Colin Buchanan and Partners and he is now chairman of Markides Associates, a consultancy  which employs 35 transport planners and engineers.In 2013 Andreas had led the Government’s Planning Commission for the island of Cyprus and he was the President of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) in the UK during 2017/2018.He has appeared as expert witness at many public inquiries and he has led several town centre regeneration as well as urban extension projects. He has written many learned papers and presented at numerous conferences.

What is the opportunity for shared transport to change travel in the UK?This episode spans widely looking at how car clubs can have an impact the size of Hyde Park, how DRT could work for rural users, to how e-bikes and e-scooters should be legislated for.Featuring an interview with the Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK).  CoMoUK is the national charity dedicated to the social, economic and environmental benefits of shared transport.This episode was recorded in July 2025