Monday 25 October 2010  When Mancunians roundly rejected a new transport plan in 2008, Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester’s city council said 'There is no plan B, which is why we will have to have a period of reflection'. The plan would have made £3billion of funding available for transport improvements: much of it borrowed against future revenue from a proposed rush-hour congestion charge. The voters of Manchester, it appeared, were in no mood to have to foot the bill for improvements funded through a tax on driving.
 Making transport system changes is rarely a straightforward process. Our transport systems are complex and engineers are locked into an infrastructure designed for a previous age. Proponents of the Manchester transport plan claimed that the city has the slowest-moving traffic in England. In built-up areas, there is clearly an acceptable limit to how many extra roads can be built. Many agree that public transport services need to become more frequent, less crowded and more reliable. And that means spending money. While nobody likes paying higher fares or more tax, that may be just the kind of uncomfortable choice that needs to be made.
 More broadly, on top of concerns about congestion and worries about safety, changing cultural attitudes mean that for many mobility itself is no longer an unquestioned good: cars are frowned upon; aviation deemed too carbon intensive, trains too expensive, and space travel simply pointless. We are urged to consider other alternatives: whether it is restricting car use in favour of cycling or reducing unnecessary journeys through stay-at-home tele-conferencing. Local government supports car pooling schemes and energy-efficient transport. The idea of environmental taxes to fund new infrastructure and penalize transport use has widespread support.
Should politicians be unashamed about arguing for the funding required to make travel easier if that is what the voters want? Or do they, and we all, have a responsibility to curb our enthusiasm for rapid transport: in the interests of both the environment and just slowing down the pace of life a little? The technology now exists to make what were once the dreams of science fiction a reality: jet-packs; hydrogen powered cars; Maglev public transport; and automated highways. Yet we have much more modest transport ambitions today in which high-speed rail links come only but slowly and at the price of new runways. What do we make of this apparent irony? What future for transport in the 21st century? What are today's guiding principles shaping our future vision, and what needs to be done to benefit the next generation? This session provides speakers and attendees the opportunity to do a little star gazing, and even be a little adventurous about the transport of the future.
Initial background readingsThe spirit of motoring past, present and future, by LJK Setright, Telegraph 27 Dec 2003 The Future of Transport: a network for 2030, Department for Transport July 2004 The train that never stops at a station - Innovative idea for reducing time and energy, YouTube China Wants to Connect its High-Speed Rail to Europe (Largest Infrastructure Project in History), Zachary Shahan, CleanTecnica, 13 March 2010 Can the Lada make a British comeback?, by Brendan O'Neill, BBC News Magazine, 10 May 2010 Heathrow runway plans scrapped by new government, BBC News online 12 May 2010 The Coalition: our programme for government, see No. 30 Transport, Website of the UK government, May 2010 Monitor: Making the bodywork, The Economist, 10 June 2010 Electric planes: High voltage, The Economist, 10 June 2010 A 'cycling revolution'? On your bike, Borris, Brendan O'Neill, spiked online 22 July 2010 Manchester Airport declared 'A380 ready', BBC website, 19 August 2010 If you have any additional background reading you think would be useful, please do pass them on.
Sponsors and Partners This discussion is joint initiative between the Manchester Salon and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to help develop a fuller two way conversation between engineers, technicians, secientists and a wider public audience. To ensure the widest possible engagement, this discussion is included in the prestigious Battle of Ideas 2010 festival of ideas as a satellite event, and as part of the Manchester Science Festival programme. The IET have also helped make this discussion possible through their generous sponsorship to cover the costs associated with venue and speakers.
 This discussion has been included as a satellite event in the prestigious Battle of Ideas 2010 weekend festival of ideas being held on 30 and 31 October 2010, hosted by the Royal College of Art, London. Now in its sixth year, the Battle of Ideas festival comprises 75 debates and satellite discussions confronting society’s big issues and unresolved questions. It affords the opportunity for some clear thinking, rational debate and agenda-setting - above all, it's future-orientated, whilst retaining a healthy regard for the past achievements of humanity.
 A first for the Manchester Salon is inclusion in the fabulous Manchester Science Festival which this year runs from 23 – 31 October 2010 plus trailblazers throughout the summer. This year, it celebrates the International Year of Biodiversity; offering learning opportunities about our amazing planet, highlighting the plight of the bee and knitting some endangered species. You’ll also have the chance to explore all things science; how to make chocolate, lust vs love, the latest gadgets, the secrets of sporting success, sweet music, hilarious stand-up, heated debate, workshops, hands-on activities, stories and science busking.
Venue and Time In the discussion area of Blackwell University Bookshop, The Precinct, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RN. Please arrive before 5:45pm for a light buffet reception and 6:00pm start - expected to finish at 7:30pm. Tickets are free (as sponsored by the Manchester Network of the Institution of Engineering and Technology) but need to be booked in advance as limited space in venue by Emailing
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