David’s memories have added a new word to my emerging Mobility Memory Vocabulary. But I don't know the word....

"Breathe out". "Settle-in". Really...what is the word? It is a word which describes the contentment you feel that you’re in place, in your seat, and the journey is starting. It should particularly relate to a transport trip. Contentment doesn't cut it somehow.

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Two questions: When were you last on a bus? What is your favourite transport app?

The conversation always takes many directions.

David and I are partners in Fuse Mobility where we do transport and transport technology consulting

But that’s NOT IMPORTANT: this was a chat about David and his transport life. His mobility stories. His choices.

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Memories of mobility. Happy and scary – not in the middle. 

Being stuck in the old slam door train carriage with a mad woman. Nearly being marooned at the cinema in Kilmarnock (The Incredible Journey) because all the bus fare had been spent on sweets.

Vivid fear of being marooned or stuck – out of control.

And the golden freedom of traveling by yourself when you are small.

Some of the small detail and imagery is there forever: the smell of the upholstered seats in the train carriage; the time (0819 – not 0820) of the morning train from Stewarton to Glasgow in the 1960s (for those interested, it is now 0805 or 0832).

I was talking to a lovely woman on the train on Monday and she also recalled these trains very vividly: “Coffin Carriages” she called them.

What is it about the old slam door railway compartments that make them so emotive?

• Emotive Mobility
• Mobility Memories
• Mobility Moments

Find out more on the Mobility Stories blog page

Incredible Journey Poster image credit: https://www.pastposters.com/details.php?prodId=33306

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Two questions:

When were you last on a bus? What is your favourite transport app? The conversation always takes many directions. To the really important things.

Today it is about island transport and life with Dot!

Dot's wonderful jewellery is here. Next time you are in Tiree pop in to her workshop - or do mail order! 

The interconnectedness of affordable housing and being capable of delivering rural and island services is described perfectly in this letter.

The death of a bus service

Find out more on the Mobility Stories blog page

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Memories of mobility can be so strong and emotive.

Did you go on the bus much when you were a kid? What do you think of when think about going out in the car when you were a child?

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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A Mobility Stories podcast "bite" with some more stories from Matt’s travels as told by Susan and Ian.

This is very short (6 mins) story. It stars Matt, Susan and Ian, the ticket office man, the ticket inspector who knew what discounts were available in that region and for that operator, and the inspector who understood Matt’s needs for space. It’s also about a trip to Filey.

It isn’t about buying a tin of beans on-line. It’s about buying travel. 

It isn’t about eating beans. It is about consuming (experiencing) travel.  

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Jon’s Brain

He’s Jon to most but Thug to a small number. We arrived at Lancaster University on the first day just after my Mum left me with a kiss, a tear and a box of food which had one of everything I would need in a kitchen for the next 6 months. The big bloke opposite suddenly filled my open door with an obvious intent to take my lovingly assembled box. Red Doc Martins, army jacket, highlights, a big necklace and an expression designed to scare. I didn’t realise that was his usual attire, and that face was actually his mild smile. Neither did anyone else on that College corridor in those heady first hours in the early 80’s when flecked hair highlights were actually quite a strong statement. A nickname was christened: the least thuggy Thug in the UK.

What I learnt from our transporty chat:

·      Thug is great at organising! (I actually knew this) He’s therefore good at transport

·      A bike is a great engagement present: cycling and physical and mental health go hand in hand.

·      Even with Jon's very organised brain he can’t work out how to obtain his Network Rail Card discount on a ticket purchased via a ticket vending machine.

·      Traveline has a simple very user friendly interface – great for information, but no need from Jon for them to do the full booking process by the app.

·      “Get me home” is actually within Citymapper: a highly rated functionality for a critical time.

·      You don’t need incentives and competitions to do something you enjoy – Strava’s not for Thug

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I started the podcast as I wanted to think and learn.

In transporty terms, after our chat, I am thinking more about:

• “group” travel and decision making: who does what can be an interesting dynamic;
• the whole notion of downloadable travel app: it can and does play a useful role, but as ever, what would be most valuable to humans in the travel and in the digital space?

I am also thinking about the closed compartment – sitting together and closing the door. Susan told me later about their anxiety of travelling with Matt, especially on a bus: “where room is tight and it's hard to make a 'quick escape' if someone coughs, for instance, and sends Matt into meltdown. So, we worry that there won't be seats to sit together, away from others, so we can calm Matt quickly if meltdown should consume him”. In the last Mobility Stories podcast Rona loved the compartment on the tram. In Ian's Mobility Stories he uses the imagery of the train compartment in his positive transport memories. 

And what about the learnings after out chat? I have learnt about Matt’s many skills and talents in travel planning – just how much he does and does really well. I knew about the challenges he faces in travel but let that blind me to the real talents that he uses every day, including in transport. But the stories of Susan, Ian and Matt’s travel helped me learn and I am grateful for that.

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado

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Two questions: When were you last on a bus? What is your favourite transport app? The conversation always takes many directions.

Rona and Nina took me to the human touch and The Knowledge…and a bus ticket kissing game!

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