Transit Trends
Short, numbers-first pieces on transport, cities and infrastructure by Andrew Collings, KA Advisory.
The 8:40 problem and why I hate school drop off
For those who know me, you will know we have four children - three adult one 15 year old at home and at school. Almost feel like empty nesters...except we still do the occasional school drop off. Today was the first day of Term 4.
Here in New Zealand we have just changed four road rules - I actually thought one was already the law!!!
On 1 October, four road rules changed in New Zealand. There wasn't too much flair just legislative changes were made based on feedback and research - probably a good thing!
Three Chinese cities, one missed connection, and a few things worth bringing back home
I have just come back from three weeks in China, in Guiyang, Beijing and Guangzhou. I was there through sport rather than through work, which turned out to be the better way to see a transport network.
Five bottles for a bus ride - What Surabaya’s scheme actually earns, and why the maths doesn’t work in other locations
Every few months a photo of the Suroboyo Bus does a lap of LinkedIn. Passengers boarding with bags of empty plastic bottles, paying their fare in waste. It is a genuinely good idea and the coverage is uniformly warm.
ASEAN didn't beat us on EVs. It beat us to the harder question.
Wishing everyone a good start to the week and hope everyone had a good weekend. Was amazing weather here in New Zealand...although slightly cold.
The Pacific is quietly becoming the world's transport-resilience laboratory
Rising seas are forcing the hardest questions in infrastructure to be answered first - in the smallest places. Spend enough time working on transport in the Pacific and you start to notice the same thing on almost every island.
Asia is Building for Walkers and Cyclists. How Do We Make It Work for Everyone?
We spend a lot of time reading and listening to podcasts. One we listened to last week really stood out from Charlie Munger and his famous quote..."Invert, always invert" While the quote isn't originally his, he has borrowed it from the...
From Buses to Ride-share - Uzbekistan's Quiet Transport Glow-Up
We have spent a bit of time thinking about Uzbekistan recently. This is for a few reasons: The Stans (well at least some of them) are fast becoming very competitive host nations for sports.
The fuel shock doing what our business cases couldn't!
Just a short article this week:) While fuel prices are having a massive impact globally, it's interesting to see that this 'financial shock' has achieved more than some of the public transport business cases we have worked on.
700 Fewer Deaths a Year. What Barcelona's Superblocks Mean for How We Plan Streets in New Zealand
With a cyclone over New Zealand over the weekend we had a bit of time to think about transport planning and network resilience.
Getting People Moving: How Smarter Transport Can De‑risk Sport’s Invisible Economic Threat
Over the last few years, I’ve worked across two worlds: transport planning and sports governance. In both, I’ve seen the same pattern. When everyday movement drops, the costs compound. Sport isn’t just stadiums and scoreboards.
Thailand's Public Transport: What Works, What's Next - and lessons for Aus & NZ
Having recently used Thailand's public transport system we can say this... Bangkok has quietly become one of Asia’s most dynamic public transport cities.
Thailand's 7-Eleven network - cyclists oasis and also a logistics masterclass
We have spent the last three weeks riding around Thailand on our bikes. It was my wife's idea. Mixing work meetings, the SEA games and some holiday time together.
SEA Games -Why Last-Mile Connectivity Matters
I will be travelling to Thailand this December for the Southeast Asian Games. While the role is sport governance, I can’t help but keep my transport planner hat on. Major events like this are a fascinating for urban mobility planners!
Urban Mobility and Economic Benefits in New Zealand
“Every hour stuck in traffic is an hour lost to productivity, family time, and economic growth.
Congestion Charging in Auckland: Are We Ready for the Shift?
Congestion charging is no longer a distant concept for New Zealand—it’s on the legislative books, and Auckland is set to lead the way. The goal? Like most transport goals - Reduce congestion, cut emissions, and make urban mobility smarter.
Turning on Red in Beijing: A Crosswalk Culture Shock
After spending a week in Beijing for sport, and now back in New Zealand, I realized what a shock cars travelling through pedestrian crossings was - even when the pedestrian signal was green and the traffic light was red.
The Global Reset in Transport Infrastructure: What it Means for the Future
We spent time this week reading the KPMG report on a global reset in infrastructure. Its clear that as we move towards 2030, the transport sector is undergoing a profound transformation.
Qatar 2036: A Connected Games for a Connected Future
Last week we were on a call with a person who has been an Olympic Athlete in two sports.
Connecting cycling and public transport to create a greener network and growing ridership
We were recently looking at cycling infrastructure in the Middle East, and it got us thinking about how creating a green network, where cycling isn't a standalone mode, is key to success.