This module considers ways in which the society’s mobility needs can be met with minimum negative impacts which are associated with excessive use of private automobiles - such as impacts on the quality of our environment, social cohesion, health and traffic accidents. The module has two focuses: 1) the relationship between transport and the environment and 2) the means through which sustainable mobility might be achieved. In addressing the former, it introduces students to the nature and measurement of environmental externalities, considers methods for forecasting and costing environmental impacts from the movement of people and goods and addresses the practice of environmental impact appraisal and project evaluation. In addressing the latter, the policies adopted in the UK and internationally for promoting sustainable mobility are evaluated, key challenges identified and innovative ideas to overcome the challenges explored and sought. Environmental problems associated with transport in the developing world are also considered. Throughout, the contributions of social, economic, technological development and planning approaches to today’s mobility patterns environmental problems are addressed.   

 By the end of the module students should be able to: 

• appreciate public  knowledge of and attitudes towards environmental externalities in the transport sector;
• appreciate the motivations behind and barriers to behavioural changes in transport;
• understand the methods of environmental prediction;
• understand the principles and practice of Environmental Impact Appraisal relating to transport schemes;
• critically appraise a range of transport policies for promoting greater sustainability at national, regional and local levels  

The module will be delivered by lectures, computer lab practicals, and participatory workshops.

• Ability to apply a computer simulation to model the inter-relationship between traffic growth, fleet turnover, and environmental standards in the context of analysing the impact of technological and travel related policies;
• Practical knowledge about Environmental Impact Appraisal;
• Ability to generate sustainable mobility plans for the commissioning public organisation;
• Ability to produce a professional report.

Report - REMIT: Forecasting road emissions (50%)

Group Presentation -Live Project: Sustainable Mobility for Valleys Regional Park (25%)

Group Report - Live Project: Sustainable Mobility for Valleys Regional Park (25%)

• Measurement and monitoring of environmental effects and problem identification, with particular references to noise, pollution and accidents
• Environmental forecasting and impact prediction: the practical use of models for forecasting noise and air quality.
• Simulating the interaction between traffic growth, fleet turnover and environmental standards.The Excel spreadsheet model REMIT. Introduction to coursework
• Policy instruments to alleviate environmental impacts of transport
• Technology vs. behaviour: alternative approaches to environmental problems
• Walking and Cycling
• Land use, travel behaviour and the environment
• The Common Appraisal Framework in practice and its application to the M4 relief road.  (Visiting Speaker)
• Group presentations on Sustainable Mobility for Valleys Regional Park

Banister D (2005) Unsustainable Transport. Routlege, London and New York.

Headicar P (2009) Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain, Routledge, London

Newman and Kenworthy (1989) Gasoline Consumption and cities.  Journal of the American Planning Association 55(1), 24-37.

Stern, N. H. (2007) The economics of climate change: the Stern Review, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge