Current Projects
E-Scooters in Greater Manchester
Healthy Active Cities at the University of Salford is conducting a study alongside the Department for Transport’ e-scooter share scheme trial to understand experiences and perceptions in relation to the scooters, to identify who is using the scooters, why, how, and for what purpose, and to place the scooters within a broader context that takes account of other road users, the wider community, and vulnerable people.
Mobility at the Neighbourhood Scale
Jointly funded by Transport for Greater Manchester, this research uses qualitative methods to better understand how people see their local areas, how they get around, and how this affects their wellbeing and quality of life. We’ve chosen Leigh, in Wigan, as the focus for this stage of the project. Our interim report set out some of the context for this by means of interviews interviews with older and disabled people and with stakeholders working with them. Subsequent phases have collected data using mapping workshops and walking interviews to consider the needs of older and disabled people living in Leigh.
Past Projects
Active Neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester: Qualitative insights into resident experiences
Working with Transport for Greater Manchester, we are using Low Traffic Neighbourhoods as a lens through which to focus on the implementation of walking, rolling and cycling interventions from the perspective of diverse communities and to develop the evidence base on effective strategies for increasing rates of active travel.
Bike share in Greater Manchester
In 2018 we conducted the first large-scale study of dockless bike share schemes in the UK. This looked at the Mobike pilot scheme in Greater Manchester and over 2,000 respondents and 20 interviewees provided valuable insights into the potential of developing such schemes further.
CARGO PEDAL: Harnessing the potential of e-cargo bikes for sustainable urban transport
Our 2020 ESPRC-funded study, CARGO PEDAL explores the potential of e-cargo bikes to improve efficiency and sustainability for a range of different stakeholders. The project aims to understand the challenges of e-cargo bike uptake, and to what extent the bikes can supplement or replace the use of automobiles as part of daily operations.
Reshaping Mobility Policy: Sustainable Transport Responses
This project is something we have been working on as part of our response to the covid-19 pandemic to try and understand more about how transport and mobility are changing and being changed by the situation.
In Running About the Place, we are investigating connections between physical activity, green spaces and wellbeing. We’ve also expanded this work to research exercise during the current social distancing measures in response to COVID-19.
Talking the walk: Understanding active travel in Ordsall
Talking the Walk was undertaken between January and July 2017 and sought to understand the enablers and barriers towards active travel in Ordsall, Salford. Methods included interviews, conversations, structured workshops and incorporated an ‘ethnographic’ element involving walking on routes around the area. The research highlighted a need to increase understanding of wider local societal issues to address the complexity of changing travel behaviour at a community level.