Conferences

Excellent public appearance / debate for DBR researchers 

Amidst electric cars, bits of very clever tarmac, examples of sustainable services at Schiphol airport and serious games on laptops for better spatial planning, the NWO programme Sustainable Accessibilty of the Randstad (DBR) made its first appearance for a wider audience. This took place on 4 November 2009 at the Innovatie-Estafette Water, Transport and Mobility at the former aviation centre Valkenburg near Leiden, The Netherlands.

In 2008, four research programmes focusing on sustainable mobility were awarded a grant. Prior to presenting their initial findings at the Innovatie-estafette 2009, members of the programme committee met elsewhere on this location with three professors who each received a grant in October 2009 for a new research programme (during the second round of DBR). Professor Martin Dijst (University of Utrecht, The Netherlands) was the first to present his programme on climate change, mobility behaviour and choice of residence. Apart from using statistics and modelling everyday experiences of commuters will also be included in this study. Dijst: 'We have asked a fixed number of people to keep a log for us. This log will show us how the weather affects their choice of means of transport.' After that, Professor Ingo Hansen (Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands) presented his programme which focuses on developing an integrated, sustainable accessibility strategy. Hansen: 'There is an increasing lack of space for tarmac. We are using the public transport network as backbone for movements between settlements. Our research will render very concrete results for policymakers. For example, we will provide more insight into making better use of the volume of public transport available. We will also enable a better match between the development of spatial hubs and transport networks.' Finally, Professor Erik Verhoef (Free University of Amsterdam) presented his programme. This focuses on pricing policy. 'For example, we are studying the interaction between all the different parties involved in the pricing of traffic and transport. We also incorporate problems encountered when implementing a price policy. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial.'

Full of new ideas

After these three presentations, the innovatie-estafette Water, Transport and Mobility started in the large hall formerly used to store aircraft at the aviation centre. This event was opened with an impressive short film and a debate on stage in the presence of the Dutch Secretary of State for Transport, Camiel Eurlings, and other dignitaries. Panel chairman Lennart Booij asked Wim Kuijken, Secretary-general of the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and chairman of the DBR steering committee, what he wished for at the end of the innovatie-estafette. 'I hope that we will all be full of new ideas!' Another issue that was discussed during the opening debate was that various parties, including the government, the world of science and industry, had to become more enterprising and open to change if actual innovations were to be achieved. Taking risks and therefore becoming more vulnerable is essential to bringing about change. 'Dare to be honest with each other and tell the other parties what you need from them,' according to Eurlings.

Session 'What you need to know for sustainable access to the Randstad'

At the end of the afternoon it was the turn of the research group representatives who began with their research in 2008 (within the framework of Sustainable Accessibilty to the Randstad). Chaired by Henk Meurs, consultant at MuConsult, professor at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands and member of the DBR programme committee, researchers defended statements about sustainable access to the Randstad. This debate between researchers and participants in the audience included topics such as the vast increase in freight transport (professor Lori Tavasszy’s subject) and the increase in leisure traffic by professor Bert van Wee. The use of ICT for accessibility in the form of travel information and digitalising services were also discussed.
'Is knowledge always the answer to our problems?' someone in the audience asked. 'Yes, definitely,' replied Bert van Wee, who is involved in virtually all DBR research programmes. 'It's because we know far too little at the moment about certain mechanisms in the behaviour of commuters, for example. If we knew more, we would at least be better able to pick the low-hanging fruit.' It was also wondered whether everyone had the same notion of what 'good access' actually means. There was a warning that the requirements of consumers do regularly change. 'We must be careful that we are not too supply-focused in our transport policy,' stated a policymaker of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. Another warning that was voiced was not to expect too much from ICT and the internet where accessibility is concerned. Caspar Chorus of Delft University of Technology indicated, for example, that the internet will not change our mobility behaviour.

Talking over dinner

The Diner Pensant was the last item on the agenda in which the DBR programmed played a role. One of the tables was chaired by Hugo Priemus, member of the programme committee. The conversation topic at this dining table was: 'Which spatial planning is needed to develop sustainable, intermodal traffic and transport networks at an urban (and Randstad) level?' The guest speaker at this table was Kees Maat who had received his doctorate from Delft University of Technology for a related subject only a few days prior to the innovatie-estafette. The dinner ended with a heavy thunderstorm which made it difficult to hear each other speak at the dining table – as if the organization had ordered fireworks to end the evening with a bang.