A new report, Travel Behaviour Change in London: Delivery, Challenges and Opportunities, has shed light on the current state of travel behaviour change initiatives across the UK capital.
The report, commissioned by the London Technical Advisers Group (LoTAG), found that London still hosts a wide range of travel behaviour change initiatives.
However, participants in the research described a challenging funding landscape with a shift of focus to infrastructure projects and EV charging, resulting in a lower number of programmes compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Steer engaged directly with travel behaviour change practitioners from 18 London boroughs and Transport for London (TfL) to gain insights into existing programmes and their implementation. This was followed by a workshop where findings were shared, and recommendations for future improvements were developed.
Beyond school travel planning, common behaviour change initiatives include Bikeability/cycle training for children and adults (11 boroughs), School Streets or Liveable Neighbourhood measures (six boroughs), and cycling try-out schemes like Ealing's cargo bike program. Only two larger projects were identified: Big Shift in Lambeth and Let's Go Southall, which were funded by Sport England.
Four boroughs said that the main reason for running their behaviour change programme was to increase active travel/physical activity. Three boroughs mentioned air quality. Two boroughs each mentioned improving public health, addressing the climate crisis, and improving congestion. Reducing car use, improving road safety, and encouraging network efficiency were all also cited as main reasons for at least one borough each.
Funding and resources emerged as major obstacles to the delivery of effective behaviour change programmes. Borough representatives mentioned working with reduced funding, resulting in smaller programmes and spreading budgets thinly across multiple initiatives.
Practitioners highlighted not only financial constraints but also challenges such as limited political support, a predominant focus on infrastructure projects over "soft" measures, and significant data gaps. These gaps make it difficult to effectively target interventions or assess the success of different approaches.
Despite these challenges, many practitioners have displayed creativity and adaptability, finding ways to enhance their skills and stay updated with best practices in the field. Notably, most boroughs expressed a desire for more structured support to develop their behaviour change capabilities and knowledge.
Based on the findings, the report recommends establishing a Sustainable Mobility Network (SMN) to foster greater collaboration and knowledge sharing among behaviour change professionals across London. The SMN would serve as a digital hub, offering case studies, best practice materials, and a platform for both virtual and in-person networking events.
The proposed network aims to bridge existing knowledge gaps, provide targeted resources, and empower practitioners to implement more effective behaviour change initiatives. By fostering a collaborative environment, the SMN could play a vital role in helping London meet its goals of increasing active travel, reducing car use, and improving air quality.
If you’re interested in learning more about how behaviour change programmes can contribute to your borough’s transport and environmental goals, contact Fiona Jenkins or Lisa Martin to find out how the proposed Sustainable Mobility Network could support your efforts.
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