Veteran newspaper columnist and author Peter Hitchens and behavioural science expert Rory Sutherland go head-to-head over the future of transport in a special series of Highways Voices podcasts this week, beginning with an argument over whether Britain has become far too dependent on the car.
The discussion starts with an area of agreement. Mr Sutherland, vice-chairman of advertising agency Ogilvy UK and co-author of “Transport for Humans”, describes himself as a huge enthusiast for rail and argues that people could be encouraged to use trains more often through better information, easier interchange and measures designed to make rail a more obvious option. Mr Hitchens, who is currently writing a book “The Madness of Cars” agrees that more journeys should be made by rail, but says the fundamental problem is that much of the network that criss-crossed the country no longer exists.
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But the agreement does not last. Mr Sutherland (pictured, left) says the car has brought extraordinary economic and social benefits by providing flexibility across a huge range of journeys, while Mr Hitchens (pictured, right) argues that Britain sacrificed what he considers a more rational transport network in favour of a system increasingly dominated by cars. The pair also debate trams, bicycles, parkway stations, electric vehicles and whether a transport system designed around steel wheels and steel rails would ultimately be more efficient.
The conversation was prompted by an exchange between the two men on social media after Mr Sutherland challenged comments from Mr Hitchens about car ownership and the amount of time vehicles spend parked. Rather than continue the disagreement in short online posts, Highways News brought them together for an extended conversation.
Listen to part one of Highways Voices to hear where Peter Hitchens and Rory Sutherland unexpectedly agree, where they most certainly do not, and why a debate which begins with railways quickly develops into a much bigger argument about how Britain should move.
Highways Voices is brought to you with our podcast partners the Transport Technology Forum, LCRIG, ITS UK and ADEPT.
(Picture – Highways News)
