When were you last on a bus? What is your favourite transport app? Did you travel on the bus much as a kid?
The conversation always takes many directions. To the really important things in life.
Mobility Stories. Mobility Memories.
https://www.sympatric.co.uk/mobility
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Mobility Memory Vocabulary: What is the word?
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 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Oct 2024
David Smith: Toddling with a lawn moor and rationality
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 (https://www.fusemobility.co.uk/) 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 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Jul 2024
Mobility Memories: The Incredible journey
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 (https://www.sympatric.co.uk/mobility) blog page
Incredible Journey Poster image credit: https://www.pastposters.com/details.php?prodId=33306 (https://www.pastposters.com/details.php?prodId=33306)
Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
19 Jun 2024
Dot: Safety and belonging in Tiree
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 (https://www.dotdotsim.com/). 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. (https://www.thenational.scot/comment/24299754.people-love-islands-killing-housing-crisis/)
The death of a bus service (https://johnkennedytransport.com/ring-and-ride)
Find out more on the Mobility Stories (https://www.sympatric.co.uk/mobility) blog page
Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 May 2024
Mobility Memories: We all like to travel…don’t we?
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 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
13 May 2024
Beans means beans. Travel means experience.
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 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
30 Apr 2024
Jon’s Brain: getting organised, getting out and getting home (via Citymapper)
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
9 Apr 2024
Ian: In the Campo and Googling Osbaldwick
In today’s Mobility Stories podcast I am talking to Ian. He’s from York but lives in Spain. He travels back regularly to care for his Mum. You can hear where the conversation goes when I ask my usual two transport questions. It ends in a happy place – can you guess where it is?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
18 Mar 2024
Susan, Ian and Matt: out and about - together
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.
Susan, Ian and Matt took me to trains and planning for travel with autism. They are a formidable unit.
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 (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
11 Mar 2024
The Human Touch and the Kissing Ticket
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!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
12 Feb 2024
Gerrit: A Christmas Stormy Story
Christmas Past – the very recent past.
Eight of the family in Kinloch Rannoch for Christmas 2023. We sang carols in the little village church. We jumped in the Loch. We drank whiskies by the fire.
All good things come to an end. 27 December 2023: it was time for the last of our kids and partners to pack up and get back to their friends and lives.
I am usually a tad melancholy when everyone leaves. Today I was a tad nervous. Storm Gerrit (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2023/2023_12_storm_gerrit.pdf) was starting to hit. Two cars would be heading south via the A9.
As I shut the gates I wondered when I would see them again....
Picture Credit: www.express.co.uk 27 December
Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/puppet-show/life-of-a-wandering-wizard/) by Serge Quadrado (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/serge-quadrado/)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Contact Mobility Stories
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Mobility Stories?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
