use and abuse of language in transport
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was given to the 'Connecting Cycling' conference in Canberra, Australia, in 2003. It illustrates the importance of language and its potential negative effects in respect of travel behaviour change. The presentation derives from earlier musings, with Paul Tranter, about the illogical nature of automobility as represnted in the majority of transport literature (http://www.slideshare.net/Catalystian/a-wish-called-wander)TRANSCRIPT
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Use and Abuse of Languagein Transport
Ian KerPrincipal Planner/EconomistARRB Transport Research
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You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive
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You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive
Road-rage hits elephant in Sri LankaMonday July 2, 3:53 PM (AFP) Road-rage hits elephant in Sri Lanka.
A Sri Lankan elephant experienced a fit of road-rage, pushing aside a bus after the driver rudely obstructed its way. The elephant was ambling along a main highway in the central town of Eheliyagoda recently when a private bus overtook it and came to an abrupt halt in the path of the pachyderm, the Lankadeepa newspaper reported. As several trumpet calls failed to get the obstructing bus out of the way, the tusker pushed the offending vehicle and smashed its windows before continuing its journey.
Police did not press charges.
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More Language Cyclists Dislike
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Nanny State? Or Aunt Sally?
A government perceived as having excessive interest in or control over the welfare of its citizens, especially in the enforcement of extensive public health and safety regulations.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
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Working with the Market
Clearer perception of costs, benefits and impacts
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Working with the Market
Clearer perception of costs, benefits and impacts Removing ‘barriers to entry’
‘try before you buy’ choose what works for you no need for long term commitment information opportunity
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Automobility is Bad language
auto - self, own, of or by oneself mobile - shifting position readily; not fixed
automobile - shifting position readily by oneself?
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Automobility and Academia More than metal and (e)motion Inevitability of the automobile Oil makes the wheels go ‘round The auto as liberation
technology Centrifugal spin Trapped behind the wheel Cultural icons and rites of
passage Foul play Blowing smoke
Where do they go to die? Moving away from cars Where are we now? Calming traffic
University of California at Berkeley‘Automobility 121’
Syllabus 2003
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Regulation is in the Eye of the Beholder
A Level Playing Field?Mass car ownership offered us a control over time and space which no previous generation has ever had, and we took it up willingly and enthusiastically. But it has got out of hand. It has now started to defeat its own advantages: There is much talk of a 'level playing field' - but playing fields are never level, which is why we change ends at half time. It's now half time - literally: we are probably about half way to the levels of traffic that would eventually apply if trends continue unchecked, and that just won't do. So we need to find a better way, or better ways.
Phil Goodwyn (1997), Solving CongestionInaugural Lecture as Professor of Transport Policy
University College, London
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Transport Infrastructure Funding: A Level Playing Field?
Roads Large continuing investment
needed Mainly from current user
revenues Hypothecated funding sources Users apparently meet
expenditure… …but expenditure less than cost
in cities:ExternalitiesDeteriorating asset
Public Transport Large continuing investment
needed Mainly debt funded No dedicated funding sources Users do not meet
expenditure… …but expenditure greater than
cost:Few externalitiesImproving asset
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Some Consequences Roads in cities are underpriced:
relative to public transport in absolute terms ‘hidden’ deficit
Roads are not subject to financial analysis Public transport is ‘deficit-funded’
20% ($40 million) of cost 25% of ‘deficit’
is interest on debt
Bicycles fight for whatever they can get
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Pattern LanguageFundamental to any science or engineering discipline is a common vocabulary for expressing its concepts, and a language for relating them together. The goal of patterns within the software community is to create a body of literature to help software developers resolve recurring problems encountered throughout all of software development. Patterns help create a shared language for communicating insight and experience about these problems and their solutions. Formally codifying these solutions and their relationships lets us successfully capture the body of knowledge which defines our understanding of good architectures that meet the needs of their users. Forming a common pattern language for conveying the structures and mechanisms of our architectures allows us to intelligibly reason about them. The primary focus is not so much on technology as it is on creating a culture to document and support sound engineering architecture and design.
http://hillside.net/patterns/patterns.htm
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No Pattern LanguageThe Building of the Tower of Babel
by
Pieter Bruegel, 1563.
Oil on oak panel, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
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Making Travel Behaviour Change Work
Funding Travel Behaviour Change Programs Government ‘walking the talk’
Getting the economic signals right Transport pricing Taxation
Coherent supportive context Leadership by example Developing tools for employers Sharing information Supporting workplace travel plan development and implementation
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Rhetoric to Reality: What Inhibits Change?
Planning as a substitute for action ‘Expert servants’ Structural and institutional inertia The best as enemy of the better Not really believing it yourself
Never hire an architect who claims “I’m an architect - not a change management consultant”.
Vivian Loftness, Professor of Architecture
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Local Politics
Misunderstanding Why should local government be marketing public transport for
State Government?
Misperception We’re already ‘better’ than other places
Misinformation It isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
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Not ‘Just’ Physical Activity & Health
Independence Cognitive Development Physical Fitness Self-esteem Sense of Community Sense of Place
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Not ‘Just’ Physical Activity & Health
Independence Cognitive Development Physical Fitness Self-esteem Sense of Community Sense of Place
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Achieving and Perfecting