A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Huge thanks to co-authors Matthew Page, Adrian Bauman, @meghanwinters.bsky.social, Robyn Gerhard, Nyssa Clarke and Laolu Arogubdade 030
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025But when we take this approach without strong evaluation, we miss opportunities to understand how and why interventions succeed or fail, who they benefit and who they leave behind. 👉 Good evidence doesn't slow action - it sharpens it. 140
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025✅ Evidence matters. We need to get better at robustly evaluating what gets implemented. Rigorous, comparative studies are vital to provide evidence about what works and for whom, and in what contexts. We so often hear "we know what to do, we just need to do it" - which is partially true. 120
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025✅ There are lots of promising examples. This includes bike and walking school buses that boosted active travel to school by 42%. 120
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025✅ Travel behaviour is complex and people's decisions are influenced by a myriad of factors, such as safety perceptions, convenience, social norms and local contexts - and we need to make sure that combinations of interventions reflect people's needs and this complexity. 120
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Key findings: ✅ Infrastructure is essential - high-quality infrastructure interventions (e.g. protected bike lanes, modal filters) were the most effective interventions ✅ But infrastructure is not the only way. A number of well designed behavioural interventions were shown to be effective 130
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 28/04/2025What works to increase active transport uptake? It's more than just infrastructure... Led by @drlaurenpearson.bsky.social, we systematically reviewed the evidence to understand what actually works to boost walking and bike riding www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comEffectiveness of interventions for modal shift to walking and bike riding: a systematic review with meta-analysisIdentification of priority interventions to support modal shift to walking and bike riding is challenged by the myriad of interventions available, and a lack of synthesised evidence for what types ... 1101
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 15/04/2025Great to see the new Footscray Rd bridge open! Part 1 of the new 2.5km elevated veloway @bikewest.org 2103
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 16/03/2025We are hiring! We are looking for a transport modeller, and particularly for someone who can think a bit outside of the box. A fantastic opportunity to work with our Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research Group to transform active transport modelling! careers.pageuppeople.com/mob/513/cw/e...careers.pageuppeople.comResearch Fellow, Active Transport ModellingAdvance sustainable transport solutions as a Research Fellow by modelling active travel and shaping future mobility. 033
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 07/03/2025The ride home feels a bit faster tonight! #AusGP 010
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Great to see strong recommendations in Victoria's 30-year Infrastructure Strategy! 🚸 Make local streets safer for children and communities by reducing speed limits to 30km/h 🚲 Build 180km of safe cycling networks in Melbourne and regional cities www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/resources/dr...infrastructurevictoria.com.auInfrastructure Victoria | Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy 2025-2055 030
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckOwen Waygood @owenwaygood.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Shift or improve policies? Using lifecycle GHG emissions we found greater efficiencies in terms of KMs or the number of trips shifting away from cars to #PT 🚌🚇🛤️or #AT🚶♀️🚲 than for #EV. This was examined based on Quebec's very low carbon content of kWh 🔌⚡ www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comHousehold transportation lifecycle greenhouse gas emission predictionThis investigation develops a model to predict household transportation life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and identifies the strongest determi… 051
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 17/02/2025And the associated paper now published: doi.org/10.1080/2374...doi.orgCross-country policy comparison of 30 km/h speed limits30 km/h speed zones are one of the most cost-effective road safety interventions to enhance the safety and liveability of local streets. However, only two zones are currently implemented in the sta... 030
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 17/02/2025The 30kmh revolution: Rethinking speed for safer, happier streets Our new article in @monashuniversity.bsky.social Lens: lens.monash.edu/2025/02/17/1... @drlaurenpearson.bsky.sociallens.monash.eduThe 30kmh revolution: Rethinking speed for safer, happier streetsGlobally, 30kmh speed zones have been shown to enhance road safety and liveability, yet Australia lags behind, with policy implementation facing significant challenges. 2177
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 13/02/2025NSW Parliamentary Inquiry recommends reducing road speed limits to 30km/h in city centres and high streets around childcare centres, playgrounds and healthcare centres, and to 40km/h in all other areas www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...smh.com.auThe move to drop Sydney speed limits to 30km/h and allow cyclists on footpathsReducing car speed limits to 30km/h and forcing e-bike riders to get insurance are among the recommendations of a months-long state parliamentary inquiry. 040
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckDavid Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Congestion pricing seems to have triggered a surge in Manhattan pedestrian activity: “Nearly 36M people last month were in areas south of 60th Street in Manhattan, a 4.6% boost from January 2024.” (The increase was 1.6% outside the zone.) Suggests retail sales are growing within the zone, too.bloomberg.comNYC Sees Pedestrian Traffic Increase in Congestion-Pricing ZonePedestrian traffic on New York City’s busiest streets increased in January even after motorists began paying a new toll to drive into those same neighborhoods. 633773
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 10/02/2025This is so important. It is simply a transportation choice that everyone should be afforded 021
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckBrent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 10/02/2025“…this extreme car dependence is affecting Americans’ quality of life, with a new study finding there is a tipping point at which more driving leads to deeper unhappiness…having to drive for more than 50% of the time for out-of-home activities is linked to a decrease in life satisfaction.”theguardian.comHow extreme car dependency is driving Americans to unhappinessA car is often essential in the US but while owning a vehicle is better than not for life satisfaction, a study has found, having to drive too much sends happiness plummeting 1332167
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckDavid Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 21/01/2025New evidence that reducing cars is good for business: In London, retail spending was stronger after neighborhoods were added to the Urban Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). Spending was also higher than in areas nearby but outside the ULEZ. www.centreforcities.org/blog/ulez-ex... 843197
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 20/01/2025🚨New SMSR publication! 🚨 The long-term impacts of road traffic crashes are substantial, yet we often overlook these impacts in road safety evaluations. Robyn Gerhard’s review highlights infrequent use of health-related quality of life and disability measures www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comA scoping review on the methods used to assess health-related quality of life and disability burden in evaluations of road safety interventionsIntroduction: Road traffic crashes globally cause 1.3 million deaths yearly and the rate of nonfatal crashes is increasing. Nonfatal injuries impact l… 030
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckStephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 18/12/2024An essential read on disability & travel. Finds: “The most commonly mentioned barriers are pedestrian infrastructure, particularly non-existent, narrow, or uneven pavements, while wide, good quality pavements with benches ease travel to local destinations and public transport stops.”sciencedirect.comA meta-review of literature reviews of disability, travel and inequalitiesThe importance of travel for mental and physical health and the adverse impacts of transport on health are increasingly recognised in policy and pract… 096
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 17/12/2024How do we build a future where we don’t need to own a car? Fantastic episode with @gregmarsden-leeds.bsky.social @jilliananable.bsky.social and Ian Philips - worth a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/3i1X...open.spotify.comHow can we build a future where we don’t need to own a car? 0165
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckLauren Pearson @drlaurenpearson.bsky.social · 06/12/202492% of young women want to ride a bike, but participation is 4 times lower than men of the same age. Released today, our research found that young women experience unique barriers to riding a bike, and are actively looking for programs to overcome them. www.monash.edu/medicine/sph...monash.eduPETAL Project: Unlocking young women’s access to bike-riding 0168
Reposted by A/Prof Ben BeckDavid Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 29/11/2024New study finds that London's congestion charge reduced car ownership by ~7%. That's a lot! doi.org/10.1016/j.tr... 429967
A/Prof Ben Beck @beckben.bsky.social · 27/11/2024Want to know more about what we do? Head to Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research’s website: www.monash.edu/medicine/sph...monash.eduSustainable Mobility and Safety Research GroupOur vision is to make active and sustainable modes of transport, such as bike riding and walking, the leading modes of travel of the future, thereby realising the potential for substantial gains in po... 020