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University of Oxford

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Dr Robin Hickman

Academic Profile

Robin is a Senior Visiting Research Associate at the Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford and a Senior Lecturer in Transport Planning and the City at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London. He was previously a Research Fellow at the TSU (2009-2011) and an Associate Director and lead on transport research at Halcrow (2002-2011). He has wide experience in transport planning, policy research, strategy development, urban planning and the project management of major multi-disciplinary studies. He is a specialist in transport and climate change issues, urban structure and travel and integrated transport and urban planning strategies.

He lectured at the University of Oxford (2009-11) on the MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy (Sustainable Transport Elective) and MSc in Sustainable Urban Development (Sustainable Transport and the City and Transport Futures Modules) and was a visiting lecturer on transport planning at University College London (2006-11), where he organised and lectured on the MSc Sustainable Urbanism, MSc Spatial Planning and BSc Contemporary Cities.

He gained his PhD in transport planning studies at the Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, in 2007 and MA in Town and Country Planning at Manchester University in 1994. He is a Design Council/CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) Enabler and sits on the editorial panel for the Sustainable Cities manual and the design review panel for the Eco-towns. He has been a member of the Planning and Sustainable Land Use and Transport Committee for the annual European Transport Conference and a steering group member for the PTRC UK Transport Practitioners Conference. He regularly provides reviews on papers and book reviews for a number of transport planning journals and has advised the Norway Research Council and Czech Research Council on grant applications.

Research Studies

Robin has authored a number of policy research studies concerning sustainable transport and city development, including:

Low Carbon and Sustainable Transport Pathways
  • INTRA-SIM Auckland (Auckland Council, 2010-11) - develops an integrated transport decision support and simulation model (INTRA-SIM) of metropolitan Auckland to help assess potential scenarios for investment and intervention in transport and urban planning to 2041;
  • Visioning and Backcasting for Transport in Jinan, China (VIBAT-Jinan) (University of Oxford Future of Cities Programme, 2010-11);
  • INTRA-SIM Oxfordshire (Oxfordshire County Council, 2009-10) - develops a simulation model of Oxfordshire and assesses the likely policy pathways towards sustainable transport to 2030. The model allows multi-criteria analysis, for example consideration of low carbon transport pathways and wider economic and social impacts. The work is being used in the Local Transport Plan and DASTs regional studies;
  • INTRA-SIM Swindon (Swindon Borough Council, 2009-10) - develops a simulation model of Swindon and provides a multi-criteria assessment of likely policy pathways towards sustainable transport to 2030. The analysis is being used in the Local Transport Plan, DASTs regional studies and also low carbon transport fund;
  • Visioning and Backcasting for Transport in London (VIBAT-London) (for UrbanBuzz, HEFCE and DIUS, 2007-09) - considers the contribution of the transport sector in reducing CO2 emissions in London to 2025 and 2050. The work develops a transport and carbon simulation model for London;
  • VIBAT-India and Delhi (scoping study, for the Asian Development Bank, 2008);
  • VIBAT-Victoria, Canada (scoping study, for Transport Canada, 2008-09);
  • VIBAT-UK (for the UK Department for Transport, 2005-06).
Urban Structure, The City and Sustainable Mobility
  • Planning for Sustainable Travel (UK Commission for Integrated Transport, 2009) - a best practice guide, published on planning4sustainabletravel, summarising the role of spatial planning in encouraging sustainable travel;
  • Settlement Patterns and the Demand for Travel (UK Commission for Integrated Transport, 2008-09), including literature review, data analysis with the National Travel Survey and interviews with practitioners around the UK;
  • The transport section of the Sustainable Cities Manual (UK Commission for Architecture and Built Environment, 2008-09);
  • Science review on How to Design a Sustainable Environment (UK Department for Trade and Industry Foresight Panel, 2007) for the Intelligent Infrastructure Futures Project;
  • A literature review on Transport and city competitiveness (UK Department for Transport, 2002);
  • A best practice guide 'Going to Town: Improving Town Centre Access' (for the National Retail Planning Forum and DTLR, published as a companion guide to Planning Policy Statement 6, 2002, available at the National Retail Planning Forum).
Sustainable Urban Transport in Asia
  • Sustainable Fuel Partnership, development of low carbon transport strategies at the regional level globally using the International Energy Agency's Mobility Model (ADB, 2011);
  • Changing Course in Sustainable Urban Transport. An Illustrated Guide (Asian Development Bank, 2010-11);
  • Carbon impacts of major transport projects (ADB, 2009);
  • VIBAT-India and Delhi (as above, scoping study, for the ADB, 2008).

He gave written and oral evidence to the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on Transport and Climate Change in 2006.

He has project managed and contributed to a number of transport planning studies including a Review of Smarter Travel Choice investment in Local Transport Plans (LTP3) (Sustrans and Friends of the Earth, 2011), the DaSTS Corridor 10 study (London-Leeds) (with MVA for DfT, 2010), the North London Sub-Regional Transport Scoping Study (TfL), Thames Gateway Integrated Land Use and Transport Study (TfL, LDA and GLA), the Scottish Transport Strategy Options Appraisal (Scottish Executive), Kent Streetscape Design Guide (KCC), and Dorset Streetscape Protocol (DCC), Canning Town and Royal Docks Strategic Development Options Appraisal (GLA and TfL), City East Highway Modelling (GLA and TfL), London Sub-Regional Development Framework Transport Problems and Opportunities (TfL), and Shipbourne A227 Streetscape Design (Kent AONB Unit).

Robin has led on a number of urban planning studies, including multi-disciplinary master planning work in Cambridge Northern Fringe; Cambridge Eastern Expansion; Brixham Harbour Masterplan; and Coatesville Main Street Revitalisation (USA); and sub-regional planning strategies in West Yorkshire and Peterborough-Cambridge. He has provided sustainable transport planning expertise for masterplans in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft; Harlow; South West Canvey; Camborne, Pool and Redruth; Park Royal (West London); Bermondsey Spa (London Bridge); Walker Riverside Masterplan; and led on an urban design guide for Merseytram. Robin was previously at Llewelyn Davies Yeang (1998-2002) and Surrey County Council (1994-1998). His PhD thesis topic was "New Housing Location and Reduced Energy Consumption in the Journey to Work in Surrey". He is a frequent speaker at conferences on transport planning issues and has published over 60 articles, book chapters and conference papers.

Publications

Refereed Journal Articles
Books / Monographs
Book Chapters
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O., and Banister, D. (accepted) Modelling the potential transport CO2 mitigation impacts of available policy interventions. In, Shiftam, Y, Geerlings, H and Stead, D. (eds).
  • Hickman, R. (in review) Urbanisation and Future Mobility. Lower Carbon Mobility. Oxford: Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.
Published Reports
Articles (Non Refereed)
  • Hickman, R., and Pharoah, T. (2011) Localism in transport planning. Town and Country Planning, July 2011. London: TCPA.
  • Hickman, R., Seaborn, C., Headicar, P., Banister, D., and Swain, C. (2010) Spatial planning for sustainable transport? Town and Country Planning, February 2010: 77-82.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Should the next government look again at road pricing as a way of bringing in additional funds to support the transport agenda? Transportation Professional. April.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2009) Backcasting for lower transport carbon emissions. Town and Country Planning Magazine. London: TCPA.
  • Hickman, R. and Seaborn, C. (2009) Integrating spatial planning, smarter choices and transport planning. Local Transport Today. Smarter Travel Supplement. November.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2007) Viewpoint: Transport can - and should - do more to reduce carbon emissions. Local Transport Today (December).
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2006) Looking over the horizon: transport and global warming. Town and Country Planning Magazine. London: TCPA.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2006) Viewpoint: Looking to the long term - reducing transport CO2 emissions in the UK. Local Transport Today.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2006) Backcast to the future. Transport Times (January).
  • Hickman, R. and Hall, P. (2005) Integrated urban transport and urban planning: as the maker and breaker of cities. Structural Change in Europe: Entrepreneurial Spirit in Cities and Regions, 4, Germany.
  • Hickman, R. (2005) Backcast to the future? The Network Magazine. Sustrans. Autumn.
  • Hickman, R. et al (2002) Coatesville 2020: a special place, not anywhere USA. Coatesville Visioning Conference, West Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Working Papers
Conference Papers / Other
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Future of London 2062: transport, UCL Symposium, London.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Scenario analysis in transport. What works and why? EU CORPUS workshop, Budapest.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Transport and climate change, Asian Development Bank, Manila.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Pathways towards sustainable mobility, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Pathways towards sustainable mobility: approaches and studies, VIBAT Jinan workshop, Jinan, China.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Sustainable transport? Bartlett Research Exchange, London.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Climate change, transport, and a new London airport? University of Pennsylvania Workshop, London.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Sustainable transport futures and urban structure, Association of American Geographers Conference, New York.
  • Hickman, R. (2012) Transport futures: reflexivity and governmentality, University Transport Studies Group, Aberdeen.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Sustainable Transport Futures. Low Carbon Urbanism Workshop, Birmingham.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Transport Futures in Auckland. Transport Practitioners Meeting, Liverpool.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Scenario Analysis in Transport. Low Energy Futures Conference, Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Sustainable Transport. RTPI Conference, London.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) London's UrbanBuzz - Developing Low Carbon Transport Strategies. Transforming Auckland Research Symposium, University of Auckland.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Developing Sustainable Transport Futures. Halcrow Research Seminars, Melbourne and Sydney.
  • Hickman, R. (2011) Planning for Sustainable Travel. AITPM Workshop, Melbourne.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Low carbon transport scenario development in Oxfordshire, European Transport Conference, Glasgow.
  • Walters, G. and Hickman, R. (2010) Low carbon transport scenarios in Swindon. European Transport Conference, Glasgow.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Scenario Analysis and Backcasting in Jinan, China. Future of Cities, VIBAT Jinan Seminar, Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Low carbon transport pathways in Oxfordshire: what do they do for wider sustainability impacts? RGS-IBG, London.
  • Hickman, R. and Fellows, J. (2010) Low carbon scenario development in Oxfordshire, Transport Practitioners Meeting, York.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Scenario Analysis and Backcasting. Future of Transport and Energy Use, Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Low carbon transport and scenario analysis. Asian Development Bank Transport Forum, Manila.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2010) Low carbon transport scenarios in Oxfordshire. World Conference on Transport Research, Lisbon.
  • Banister, D. and Hickman, R. (2010) Low carbon transport futures in London. World Conference on Transport Research, Lisbon (Special Session).
  • Hickman, R., Schwanen, T. and Banister, D. (2010) Enabling sustainable mobilities: social, cultural and experiential dimensions, and the role of planning. World Conference on Transport Research, Lisbon.
  • Hickman, R. (2010) Quantification and forecasting GHG emissions for urban passenger transportation. Transport Canada conference, Ottawa (Teleconference).
  • Hickman, R. and Headicar, P. (2009) Planning for sustainable travel. SoGE Open Lecture. Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2009) Transport in sustainable cities. CABE core cities conference. Aston Business School, Birmingham.
  • Hickman, R. and Swain, C (2009) Planning for sustainable travel. RTPI Transport and Development Conference. London.
  • Hickman, R., and Banister, D. (2009) Backcasting for lower transport carbon emissions. ECI 4 Degrees Conference Poster.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2009) Backcasting for lower transport carbon emissions - London and Delhi. ETC, Leiden.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2009) Backcasting for transport from London and Delhi. RGS, Manchester.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2009) Backcasting for lower transport carbon emissions - London and Delhi. TPM Reading.
  • Hickman, R. (2009) Long term scenarios for carbon efficient transport - methodological issues. St Annes, Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2009) Sustainable transport futures in London. SoGE Open Lecture. Oxford.
  • Hickman, R. (2009) Transport and climate change: backcasting from London. TSU Oxford Seminar. March 2009.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O., Banister, D. (2009) Achieving carbon efficient transport: backcasting from London. Transportation Research Board. Washington.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2009) Achieving carbon efficient transport: backcasting from London. UTSG Conference, London.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Achieving carbon efficient transport. UrbanBuzz Final Conference. London.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Carbon efficiency in transport. TPS, ICE, IME. Great Transport Debate. London.
  • Hickman, R., Headicar, P. and Ashiru, O. (2008) Urban structure and the demand for travel. CfIT Workshop. Oxford Brookes University.
  • Hickman, R. and Ashiru, O. (2008) TC-SIM: Playing the transport and carbon emissions reduction game. Building Centre, London.
  • Saxena, S., Leather, J., Hickman, R., and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London and Delhi. Asia Better Air Quality Conference. Bangkok. 12-14 November.
  • Hickman, R., Bradbury, A., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London. ETC Conference, Leiden.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and climate change: playing the emission reduction game. TPS Workshop, London.
  • Hickman, R., Saxena, S. and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London and Delhi. ADB Conference. Manila. 9-11 September.
  • Saxena, S., Banister, D., and Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London. RGS Conference, London. August.
  • Hickman, R., Bradbury, A., Ashiru, O. and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London. TPM Conference, Reading, July.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London. Highways Agency workshop. Leeds. July.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and climate change. LTN Conference, London. July.
  • Hickman, R., Banister, D. and Saxena, S. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in London and Delhi. Asia Clean Energy Forum. Manila. June.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in the UK and India. CIRIA AGM: London. May.
  • Hickman, R. and Saxena, S. (2008) Transport and climate change: reducing CO2 emissions in India and Delhi. Internal Seminar. Halcrow: London. May.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and global warming: reducing CO2 emissions in India and Delhi. Asian Development Bank, Delhi.
  • Hickman, R. (2008) Transport and global warming: reducing CO2 emissions in Canada. Seminars in Vancouver, Victoria, Ottawa, Toronto.
  • Hickman, R., Ashiru, O., Banister, D. (2008) TC-SIM: Playing the transport and carbon emissions reduction game. Sustainable Development UK Conference, London. March.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2008) Transport and reduced energy consumption: the role of urban planning? UTSG Conference, Portsmouth.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2007) Transport and energy consumption: does co-location of housing and workplaces occur over time? ETC Conference, Leiden.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2007) Transport and reduced energy consumption: what role can urban planning play? TPM Conference, Manchester.
  • Marceau, C., Bradbury, A. and Hickman, R. (2007) Designs for life: learning from best practice streetscape design. TPM Conference, Manchester.
  • Hickman, R., Banister, D. and McCartney, P. (2007) Transport and global warming. What is the potential for carbon reduction in Scotland. STAR Conference, Glasgow. Awarded best conference paper.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2006) Looking over the horizon: transport and reduced CO2 emissions in the UK by 2030. ETC Conference, Strasbourg.
  • Banister, D. and Hickman, R. (2006) CO2 minus 60% by 2030 - the impossible challenge for transport. Planning Research Conference, University College London.
  • Hickman, R. and Carson, G. (2006) Streetscape design in Kent - the importance of context. ETC Conference, Strasbourg.
  • Hickman, R. and Carson, G. (2006) Shared space streetscape design in Kent. TPM Conference, Manchester.
  • Hickman, R. (2006) Spatial and transport planning. RTPI Conference Series, Holborn.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2005) Transport and global warming. Driven to extinction Conference. Sustrans. Cambridge. UK.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2005) If, at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it: towards 15 MtC in the UK transport sector. The 45th European Congress of the Regional Science Association. ERSA: Amsterdam.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2005) Images of the future - CO2 emissions reduction and UK transport policy. European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. ECEEE: Mandelieu, France.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2004) The land use and transport interface: reducing travel by design. ETC Conference, Strasbourg.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2004) Integration in land use and transport planning: urban form and the commute to work. Association of European Schools of Planning AESOP Conference, Grenoble.
  • Hickman, R. and Banister, D. (2003) Transport and city competitiveness. ETC Conference, Strasbourg.
  • Hickman, R., Pharoah, T. and McGreevy, R. (2003) City-region planning in east London: towards a sub-regional development and transport framework. TPM Conference, Nottingham.
  • Hickman, R. (2003) Transport and city competitiveness, delivering maximum impact from transport on urban regeneration. Queen Mary University, Public Policy Seminar.
  • Hickman, R. (2003) Clear zones and urban design. Clear Zones Forum, Camden.
  • Hickman, R., and Herbert, J. (2002) Going to town: improving town centre access. RTPI Branch Conference, Leicester.
  • Hickman, R., and Herbert, J. (2002) Going to town: improving town centre access. Fifth Symposium of the International Urban Planning and Environment Association: Creating Sustainable Environments; Future Forms for City Living, Christ Church, Oxford.
  • Hickman, R., and Banister, D. (2002) Reducing travel by design: the impact of time. Fifth Symposium of the International Urban Planning & Environment Association: Creating Sustainable Environments; Future Forms for City Living, Christ Church, Oxford.
  • Pharoah, T., Hickman, R., and Herbert, J. (2002) Going to town: improving town centre access. Urban Design Quarterly, 83, Summer 2002.
Submissions
  • Banister, D. and Hickman, R. (2006) Evidence to House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee - Inquiry into transport and carbon emissions.
Project Websites
Press
  • Articles on research studies in The Guardian, The Times, Metro, Local Transport Today, Transport Times, Planning, Regeneration.