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ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Strengthening Social Connections

By Design Constructive Conversations – 19 March 2024.

This session focused on strengthening social connections by design. How does the design of our streets and public spaces foster, or discourage social connections? Do benches reduce social isolation and enhance wellbeing? and does more social connection within a community mean higher resilience?

Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around how urban design can increase social connections, and therefore result in better well being for people living in our communities.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

The panelists for this session were:

Useful Links and Resources


For further information on working with young people, please see the work Sustrans have been doing with A Place in Childhood –


For further information on intergenerational placemaking:


Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim to reduce crime and help people live more safely. The site includes various guides and resources, as well a UK wide network of Designing out Crime Officers.

The Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE) can also help you to connect with young people in project areas – they have a newsletter where opportunities for schools to get involved in projects can be advertised if the project clearly demonstrates benefits for the school community and aims to support positive health outcomes for young people – this can include provision of spaces aiming to improve physical and mental wellbeing, for example by encouraging young people to be more active, or by providing safe space for people of all ages to socialise and feel safe. If you are working in a Local Authority, your Education or Learning and Development teams are likely to already be linked in with SHINE and may also be able to assist with this process.

SHINE website

Projects can also apply for SHINE affiliated status – A member of the SHINE team would meet with affiliated project teams to support you to find/connect with a school or Local Authority (if you are a community or public sector organisation) who would be interested to engage with you. However, this is a longer process than promotion via the newsletter – the application is reviewed by a panel to ensure that it demonstrates mutual benefit for the school.

Details here on the website:  https://shine.sphsu.gla.ac.uk/shine-affiliated-studies/

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Sustainable Procurement

The Climate Emergency & Infrastructure Constructive Conversations – 24 April 2024

In this session we discussed embedding sustainable procurement practices in construction of active travel infrastructure. What sustainable materials are out there? What should you be considering in terms of cost vs benefit? What should you be asking for from suppliers and contractors you engage to carry out work on your projects?

Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around procurement in the construction industry, and for active travel in particular.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Useful Links

Sustainable Procurement Ltd provides services for public and private sector procurers, as well as private and third sector suppliers. Services range from sustainable procurement strategy for clients to innovation in the supply of specific products and services – Sustainable Procurement Limited – Homepage

Sustrans has been working to decarbonise our activities. if you would like to see our Carbon Reduction Plan, you can find it here: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/legal/

Further information on the Procurement for Innovation approach in Geelong Australia. Procurement for innovation – City of Greater Geelong (geelongaustralia.com.au)

Further information on the National Highways Low Carbon Programme – Four firms reach final stage of low carbon programme – National Highways

Scotland-Excel was mentioned as a procurement specialist for public sector – Scotland Excel | Scotland Excel (scotland-excel.org.uk)

Scottish Collaboration of Transportation Specialists was mentioned as a resource for sharing learning – www.scotsnet.org.uk

LCRIG mentioned by David, has a mission, centred around collaboration, innovation, skills, and a dedicated commitment to decarbonisation in the highways sector, facilitates positive change within the highways community and among our members. We act as a vital link between central and local government, the supply chain, and the wider highways community. LCRIG

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) was mentioned as a support for smaller suppliers to bid on public sector contracts –Supplier Development Programme | Helping you bid better (sdpscotland.co.uk)

The Procura+ Network has been developed by and for procurers and staff dealing with sustainability and innovation issues in public authorities. There is a fee to join the network, but the website also has a wealth of case studies and resources from across the EU. Procura+ |  Procura+ European Sustainable Procurement Network (procuraplus.org)

The Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement duty requires Local Authorities to set out in procurement strategies how they intend to comply with the duty, and to report annually on progress. Sustainable procurement duty – Public sector procurement – gov.scot (www.gov.scot) In addition, there is a set of resources to help local authorities embed this work https://sustainableprocurementtools.scot/

 Zero Waste Scotland has developed an online interactive guide to reduce waste, and enhance reuse and recycling, through design and resource efficiency for construction, renovation and demolition, it was developed back in 2016 so some of the targets have shifted, but the same principles would apply. https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/procuring-resource-efficient-construction-projects

Phil has provided this example of a trialed low carbon aggregate. Sustrans cannot make any recommendations regarding this material here. If you think it would be suitable for use in a Sustrans funded project you are working on, please discuss this with your grant advisor. https://www.lowcarbonmaterials.com/acla

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘Climate Emergency and Infrastructure’ series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Accounting for Diverse Accessibility Needs

By Design Constructive Conversations – 21 February 2024.

This session focused on designing for diverse accessibility needs. What prevents people with varying disabilities or mobility needs being able to safely and confidently navigate public spaces? How can design features address these needs and make life easier for everyone – without one interfering with another?

Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around how urban design can ensure that designs are accessible to everyone regardless of their circumstances, and provide spaces where anyone can travel actively, where they live, work or socialise.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Useful Links and Resources

Helsinki Guidelines for Implementing Accessibility (in Suomi/Finnish)

Helsinki Guidelines for Implementing Accessibility (in English) City of Helsinki accessibility guidelines for outdoor areas  | Helsinki for all | City of Helsinki

Further links from Helsinki about embedding accessibility in planning and delivery of infrastructure.

Information on the inclusive design reports Robert has been working on, and other reports produced by living streets – the Slips, Trips and Falls report may also be of particular interest. Our Key Reports and Research | Living Streets

Research and recommendations carried out by Sustrans and Transport for All Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry – Sustrans.org.uk

Information on Sustrans’ approach to Urban Design, and some examples of our work Urban design and planning – Sustrans.org.uk

Find and contact your local access panel. Find your local Access Panel – Disability Equality Scotland Access Panel Network

Information on Access Panels, and what they can bring to your projects. Home – Disability Equality Scotland Access Panel Network

Transport Scotland Inclusive Design guidance – this is in draft form and is under consultation until the 29th March. Guidance on Inclusive Design for Town Centres and Busy Streets | Transport Scotland

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Integrating PAS 2080 Carbon Emissions Standards

The Climate Emergency & Infrastructure Constructive Conversations – 24 January 2024.

In this session we took a deep dive into the refreshed PAS 2080 standard (the standard for managing carbon in infrastructure). What does the introduction of this standard mean for active travel infrastructure projects? How can it be embedded into working practices, and what do project teams need to be thinking about so that they are ready for the changes it will bring to construction requirements?

Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around how PAS 2080 can help speed up decarbonisation in the built environment sector.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Useful Links & Resources

  • Our panelist, Maria, suggested looking at the ‘PAS City’ example on page 24 in the above guidance, which illustrates a worked example of a fictional project and how they applied the PAS 2080 carbon management process and the key decarbonisation principles.

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘Climate Emergency and Infrastructure’ series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk.

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Preventing Child and Pedestrian Casualties

By Design Constructive Conversations – 17 January 2024.

In this session the focus is on preventing pedestrian and child casualties. What makes a road or street safe to walk along and cross? How can design features slow, direct or change driver and pedestrian behaviour to reduce the potential for collisions?

Our expert panel spent half an hour discussing these questions and more around how urban design can increase safety of people travelling actively, and prevent casualties of people walking, wheeling, cycling, or otherwise actively travelling or socialising in public spaces.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

See below for some links to further information and projects mentioned by the panelists. Some of our panelists have also kindly provided contact details if you would like to get in touch with them about their work in this area: 

  • Lucy Marstrand Taussig – Design Policy Lead for Streets, Transport Strategy and Policy, Transport for London
  • Kristina Mattsson – Project Manager, Traffic Safety, Vision Zero Academy, Swedish Transport Administration – kristina.mattsson@trafikverket.se
  • Cherie Morgan – Director of Projects, Play Scotland
  • PC Stewart Sinclair – Road Policing Traffic Management, Police Scotland – Contact Police Scotland – Police Scotland

Useful Links and Further Information

The Vision Zero Academy was established by the Swedish Transport Administration. Vision Zero Academy is a global knowledge hub with the overall purpose to spread knowledge about Vision Zero and support and collaborate with different stakeholders around the world in their strive for safe road transport systems. Vision Zero Academy – Bransch (trafikverket.se)

Some visual examples of traffic calming measures from the Vision Zero Academy in Sweden:

  • Zebra Crossing being used to calm traffic on approach to a side road. semi rural location.
  • zebra crossing and cycle crossing side by side on residential street
  • traffic calming measures on road in lead up to zebra crossing before a busy junction - narrow road lanes textured surface, and road markings.
  • zebra crossing - raised to pavement level and textured surface and markings on road in lead up.
  • urban area roads separated by fences with frequent gaps for pedestrians, and traffic slowed by speed bumps.

Zhero is Heroes on route to Vision Zero – this is a campaign to bring together multiple stakeholders across society to achieve vision zero. Together we are Zhero – Zhero.se

The Swedish Transport Administration (STA) have requirements how to build roads and streets. But the municipalities can have their own requirements for design of the streets they have responsibility for. STA has some supporting documents for how to plan and design the traffic environment. This is a website with description and links to these documents: Traffic strategic work – Accessibility in a sustainable society

Note: the above website is in Swedish – there is a language option, but it takes you away from this page. We found google chrome was better than microsoft edge for translating this page.

Police Scotland works with Transport Scotland to regularly publish collision and casualty data. There is more information with links to the relevant databases here – Road traffic collision data – Police Scotland

Play Scotland Has recently launched the ‘State of Play in Scotland’ report bringing together research into children and young peoples attitudes and access to play, with several design elements mentioned as potential barriers. PS00105-PS-State-of-Play-in-Scotland-2023-Digital-links.pdf (playscotland.org)

Research into Low Traffic neighbourhoods from Transport for London is ongoing. A summary of some studies to date can be found here: Cycling & walking – Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) and a more in depth study from 2022-25 is currently underway. You can find an overview and a summary of year one data here: Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in London project – year one summary | University of Westminster, London

Other links that may be useful

Home – Road Safety Scotland

The Safe System and road safety | Brake

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Integrating Climate Adaptations

By Design Constructive Conversations (20 December 2023).

What challenges does our changing climate bring to our public places? What adaptation measures exist that we can use to future proof infrastructure developments against the impacts of our changing climate? Our panel discussed these questions and more around how urban design elements can integrate innovative solutions into walking, wheeling, cycling, and public spaces design.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Feedback Survey

We would appreciate you taking a moment to complete our short feedback survey after you’ve watched the recording.

Further Information

See below for some links to further information and projects mentioned by the panelists. Some of our panelists have also kindly provided contact details if you would like to get in touch with them about their work in this area: 

Useful Links

See below for some links to further information and projects mentioned by the panelists.

  • The Papdale East Playpark project Janette talked about is a fantastic project, solving problems with flooding as well as providing a space for the community to come together to play and connect and travel actively through what was a previously waterlogged location.
  • Adaptation Scotland provides a range of advice and resources for anyone interested in integrating climate adaptation and climate resilience in their projects.
  • NatureScot is another Scotland-based resource for information on how climate measures can increase biodiversity through strategic use of green and blue infrastructure.
  • Community Climate Adaptation Routemap touches upon a lot of the things discussed.
  • Climate Ready Clyde’s Climate Vulnerability Map is a great example of drawing together heat, flood risk and multiple deprivation index data to inform decisions.
  • Guide to Climate Change Adaptation by Design looks at specific ideas and case studies across household to street to neighborhood to catchment scales.

Specific projects mentioned and other useful links include:

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk

Categories
ConstructiveConversations Engage • Inspire • Learn PfE

Eradicating Violence Against Women and Girls

By Design Constructive Conversations- 15 November 2023.

How can urban environments and public spaces be designed in such a way as to make them feel, and be, safe spaces for women and girls? Our panel discussed how urban design elements can make women and girls feel safe, and be safe when walking, wheeling, cycling, or otherwise actively travelling or socialising in public spaces.

Following watching the recording you may find it useful to take a few minutes to reflect on the discussion.

  • What is still circling around in your head on this topic?
  • What do you feel is ‘squared away’ – you feel you have a much clearer understanding of?
  • What key takeaways or highlights do you have from the discussion?

Feedback Survey

We would really appreciate if you could take a moment to provide feedback on this session.

Below are contact details for some of our panelists if you wish to contact them directly, and some links to further information relating to this topic that you may find useful.

Further Information

See below for some links to further information and projects mentioned by the panelists. Some of our panelists have also provided contact details if you would like to get in touch with them about their work in this area: 

Useful Links

(Note: The next two links take you to the City of Vienna website which is in Austrian German, a Chrome browser was better able to translate the pages than Microsoft Edge).

About Constructive conversations

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and join us for some informal constructive conversations about some of the challenges in delivering active travel infrastructure.

At each 1 hour session, our expert panel will spend half an hour discussing key questions and more around the chosen topic. Following this, you can take part in an optional small group discussion where you can share your own experiences on the topic, present a related issue in a live project, and receive advice and feedback from peers.

Other sessions

The ‘By Design’ series of constructive conversations explores how urban design in active travel projects can help to address some of the big issues facing society today.

The Climate Emergency and Infrastructure series of constructive conversations explores sustainability in construction of active travel projects.

Look out for more series on different topics in future, and if there is a topic you would like to suggest for a series, or a standalone session, please do get in touch with us placesforeveryone@sustrans.org.uk