Why Travel?

Movement is one of the fundamental behaviours that underpin human life and society, yet we still understand too little about its nature, its importance, and how human travel and mobility might be changing in response to technological and social developments. This project is exploring this issue, using as wide a range of insights as possible, and forms part of the ITC’s educational remit to reach beyond the transport world and engage the general public in these questions.

The first phase of the study resulted in an information pack designed for a broad audience, which was launched by the Secretary of State for Transport at a special event hosted at Rothschild. The information pack has since been praised as a significant education resource.

The ITC commissioned a number of experts from more than a dozen fields of human knowledge to contribute their insights on the motivations that drive human travel, each providing a different perspective. Their essays were compiled into a book published by Bristol University Press: Why Travel? Understanding our need to move and how it shapes society. The book was launched at a digital event with keynotes from former Transport for London Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy and former Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis.

To help disseminate the findings, the ITC also created a dedicated website with relevant articles and interviews with leading thinkers and specialists: this is now live at www.whytravel.org .

For the second phase of the study, to be undertaken during 2024, the project will commission a series of workshops around four themes arising from the book: travel and health; travel and the environment; the value of travel; and travel and society. The workshops will use the Delphi consultation technique to develop consensus, and the key findings will be compiled into a set of papers for policy makers.