Coming from Manchester, he has been working and creating in Kaunas for a long time. Teaches technical writing. is interested in mobility, transport, urban planning. environmental issues and culture. Often finds out about the events and innovations in the city more and sooner than any Kaunas resident. He replaced traffic jams with bicycles a long time ago.
You have been living in Kaunas for many years. What changes have you noticed in the field of mobility?
I think that Kaunas has done many things that we mistakenly do not consider special. For example, buses to and from Žalgiris Arena during various public events, providing an incentive for fans to not drive their cars, reducing traffic jams and so on. Or apps like TRAFI or Žiogas. Buses run quite frequently, it’s convenient for people, and these things encourage the use of public transport.
Do you include environmental and mobility topics in your lectures? Is it important for you to introduce this to your students?
Yes. I think it’s important not to separate teaching and learning from some other areas. Transport, urban planning, and general mobility are relevant topics. If you live in a city and can’t get from point A to point B because of poor street structure, poor pavements, no bike paths, or because bad lighting makes pedestrians feel unsafe, then that’s everyone’s problem. If simple city mobility is troublesome, then no one will stay here for long. That’s why we talk about it with students. They develop their own ideas about sustainable solutions to city mobility and present these to other students. I am interested in learning. It is wonderful to know what young people think, how they see the city changing, what problems are relevant to them. They come up with amazing ideas!
What else would you improve in the city?
More pedestrian-friendly traffic light systems, meaning pedestrians do not have to wait more than 15-20 seconds to cross the road. Switch the priority of movement away from cars to pedestrians and cyclists. What else. To charge drivers to come into the old town and higher prices for parking there. This does not mean you can’t drive a car in the city. On the contrary, it just pushes people to rethink their mode of travel; if affordable, comfortable alternatives are available – use them.
To meet the other faculty members please visit: fssah.ktu.edu/teachers
