PP443      Half Unit
Sustainable Transport: Cities, Policy and Politics

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Availability

The way we move shapes the way we live. Transport connects people, goods, and ideas, forming the backbone of economic prosperity, urban development, and societal collaboration at various scales. Yet, our current transport systems are at a crossroads, contributing significantly to climate change, social inequities, and environmental degradation. How do we reimagine mobility for a future that is sustainable, equitable, and resilient? 

This course, "Sustainable Transport: Cities, Policy and Politics," dives into the dynamic intersection of transport systems, urban planning, and governance. Designed for students interested in policy making, urban governance, planning, and delivering positive change, the course offers a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of transport. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the course examines how cities serve as pivotal arenas for rethinking the role of transport, where policy frameworks, political interests, and technological advancements converge to create transformative change. 

Over ten weeks, the course cuts across the core principles of sustainable transport, unpacking how it can mitigate environmental impacts, enhance social equity, and bolster urban economies. From understanding global policy frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals to analysing the role of local governance, this course provides the tools to navigate the complex political and economic landscapes of transport policy. While the first half of the course addresses the ‘what’ of sustainable transport and its substantive dynamics, the second half focuses on the ‘how’ of governing the urban transport domain. Along the way, students will engage with real-world case studies, debate controversial issues, and collaborate on innovative solutions tailored to urban challenges. 

This course is ultimately not about theory but action. By the end of the course, students will have the foundational knowledge and skills to lead the development of sustainable transport strategies, evaluate their environmental and social impacts, and advocate for meaningful policy changes. Whether they are envisioning low-emission public transit, promoting active mobility, or integrating cutting-edge technologies, this course empowers students to lead the transition toward a sustainable future. 

The course is designed for post-graduate students in the MPA and MPP programmes at the School of Public Policy. It is open for interested post-graduate students across post-graduate programmes from other departments. No pre-existing skills are required for taking this course. 

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

Problem sets

• Barfod, M. B. and K. B. Salling (2015). "A new composite decision support framework for strategic and sustainable transport appraisals." Transportation Research Part A-policy and Practice 72: 1-15. 

• Cervero, R. (1998). The transit metropolis: a global inquiry, Island Press. 

• Davis, D. and A. Altshuler (2018). Transforming Urban Mobility, Oxford University Press. 

• Hall, P. (1994). "Squaring the circle: can we resolve the Clarkian paradox." Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 21: s79-s94. 

• Hickman, R., M. Givoni, D. Bonilla and D. Banister (2015). Handbook on Transport and Development, Edward Elgar Publishing. 

• Lefèvre, B., D. A. Leipziger and M. Raifman (2014). The Trillion Dollar Question: Tracking Public and Private Investment in Transport. 

• Lucas, K., K. Martens, F. Di Ciommo and A. Dupont-Kieffer (2019). Measuring Transport Equity, Elsevier Science. 

• Mattioli, G., C. Roberts, J. K. Steinberger and A. Brown (2020). "The political economy of car dependence: A systems of provision approach." Energy Research & Social Science 66: 101486. 

• Niblett, M. and K. Beuret (2021). Why Travel? Understanding Our Need to Move and how it Shapes Our Lives, Policy Press. 

• Perl, A., R. S. Ray and L. Reardon, Eds. (2025). Handbook of Transportation and Public Policy. Handbooks of Research on Public Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing. 

Exam (40%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period

Project (60%)