Professor Christopher James Pettit
Director of the City Futures Research Centre and Professor of Urban Science at the University of New South, Sydney
About Chris
Chris is passionate about improving the bikeability and walkability of our cities. He is global advisor to PGIM’s RealAssetX L. He is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia’s National Plantech Advisory Committee and the Federal Government of Australia’s Urban Policy Network. He is currently the Chief Investigator on a number of cycling research projects including the National Cycling Data Analytics Platform and the Scenario Planning Tool for improving the Bikeability of Our Cities both funded through the Australian Research Council.
Conference Topic
A Scenario Planning Tool - Improving the Bikeability of Our Cities
City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, In partnership with TransportNSW, Wollongong City Council, and Penrith City Council has codesigned an interactive scenario planning tool where new cycling infrastructure can be digitised and the result of bicycling uptake rapidly assessed.
The literature largely recognizes a positive correlation between cycling modal share and overall infrastructure supply. However, determination of how best to improve the cycling network, and so achieve best returns on investment, requires development of a planning support tool to assist governments to explore bicycle infrastructure scenarios, assess their potential impacts, and make evidence-based decisions.
This tool will enable planners and analysts to consider the potential for cycling enhancement as broadly as possible and will support coordinated and strategic cycling infrastructure planning at local and regional levels. This will be a game changer for the transport sector, as the lack of data-driven approaches focused on active mobility has restricted the development of evidence-based business cases for cycling infrastructure investment, when compared to motorised transport. Benefits from this project to the nation include more informed and optimised investment in cycling, increase in cycling modal share, reduction of emissions and congestion, and improvement of safety and health outcomes from cycling.