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home / programmes / research associates / 2002 / living city / how people do it
Marie Lenclos / Communication Art & Design
how people do it: taking young children on public transport in London
A video documentary project to raise awareness about the difficulties parents and carers face when travelling with young children on public transport in the city.
A public transport system that works for everyone is essential to the living city. But while healthy, able-bodied adults can usually take for granted the speed and possibilities of the modern metropolis, many other people find it difficult if not impossible to get around. This communication study concentrates on parents and carers of young children for whom public transport is the only means of accessing shops, parks, schools, hospitals and other key amenities. Inspired by the personal experiences of the Research Associate, who regularly takes her child in a buggy on buses and tubes, it illustrates the exclusion faced not only by parents and carers but other physically or financially marginalised groups.
The project started at MA level with a short video in which parents described their struggles in their own words. This work was used during the research phase in forums and lectures to create awareness and provoke dialogue, and as a catalyst to meet experts in transport and the built environment. A new, expanded documentary film 'How people do it' has been produced in which parents and experts share their different perspectives on the importance of public transport as a tool for social inclusion. This video, supported by talks, seminars and an information leaflet, aims to show that, along with improving design and planning, we must change attitudes to create more accessible cities.
research partners:
Reid Architecture and Transport for London