What is Reinventing Urban Transport trying to achieve?

For the last year or two, most of my work (and blogging) has focused on parking (see the Reinventing Parking blog or on facebook).

But now I also want to revive this neglected blog and to use it to stay mindful of what really motivates my work (including the parking work).

So what exactly is it that motivates my transport policy work?

The statement below is an attempt to capture what I am trying to achieve as clearly as I can. A mission statement for my professional life, if you like. Yikes.

You will see signs of these motivations throughout this blog, its predecessor, in my tweeting and in much of my professional writing. 

I aim to help cities, towns and streets unleash greater success, equity and conviviality 

by focusing more on transport's 'ends' (such as placemaking, accessibility and mobility) than its 'means' (such as vehicles and traffic)

and 

by enhancing choice and choice-making in transport (especially by escaping or avoiding car dependence, which locks in just one choice and impoverishes other options).  

Does that sound a bit wanky? I guess 'mission statements' often do.

More of a problem perhaps is that it is too wonky. Oh well.

By the way, I am inspired to do this in part by a helpful little book by Tad Waddington: Lasting Contribution. Among many other things, he suggests injecting a dose of mythical, heroic quality into important life goals. They need to be dramatic.

Maybe a wonky mission like mine doesn't sound very heroic?

Not until you think about the trends it is up against.