About

Professor Karen Lucas and colleagues at the University of Manchester and Salford University hosted events in November 2022 to discuss this important topic. At the first event, a panel of experts highlighted the important issues and experiences of people who are faced with transport austerity. The main challenges for tackling these problems were discussed in a public conversation. The second event was a solution-focused workshop involving experts working in the area of transport poverty.

The current cost of living crisis has plunged many people into poverty. In this context, transport poverty has been recognised as an additional burden that many low-income households are struggling to afford. Poverty has widened and deepened throughout the UK over the past decade despite government economic austerity policies. With the costs of living set to rise again, this is an urgent national and local policy issue.

The issue of transport poverty is well-documented within transport research, but currently very little is known about how people are experiencing transport austerity alongside the cost of living crisis. Equally, local transport policies, anti-poverty strategies and planned programmes do not directly confront the transport poverty issue.

The events generated an energy and commitment to take action and it was decided to form this working group to facilitate ongoing conversations and collaborations around this important area. We have set up a group on Microsoft Teams for discussions, meetings and informal conversations and this public-facing website can be used to publicise future events & activities; to share information and resources; and for blogs and discussion boards.

If you are interested in becoming involved, please do get in touch.