Why Travel?

“A must-read for transport professionals and anyone interested in travel. Trains, planes, bikes are agents of social change and self-realisation, not just means of getting from A to B. This book tells that story.” Lord Adonis, former UK Secretary of State for Transport

“This is the book I’ve long wanted to have written, but never had the time to accomplish. Fortunately, it has appeared anyway! Its multidisciplinary perspectives are indispensable to a richer understanding of why we travel.” Patricia Mokhtarian, Georgia Institute of Technology

“Required reading for all of us in transport, and the much wider number of people curious about human behaviour and its consequences. Much in it is new, and all of it is fascinating!” Sir Peter Hendy CBE Chair, Network Rail, ITC Patron, and former Commissioner of Transport for London

“After a year of staying home, many of us are desperate to get travelling – this book explains why and provides food for thoughtful policy-makers.” Lilian Greenwood MP, former Chair of the UK's Transport Select Committee

“After a year of lockdowns, and with walking now recognised as the perfect exercise, this timely book looks at the cultural and social meaning of movement, and how our joy in the journey, shapes people, places and our planet.” Mary Creagh, Living Streets and former Shadow Secretary of State for Transport

“COVID-19 has shown us all how much we value travelling. This interesting study will help us think about the future of travel as we approach this new phase of the pandemic.” Lord Patrick McLoughlin, former UK Secretary of State for Transport

“Transport is planned with no consideration of why we want to make the trips we do. It’s the first time I’ve seen a book attempting to unpack that motivation which is so important.” Bridget Rosewell OBE, National Infrastructure Commission

Kris Beuret OBE is the Director of Social Research Associates (SRA). She is a sociologist, previously an academic, and a member of the Independent Transport Commission and Highways England’s Research and Innovation Advisory Board. Kris has advised the House of Commons Transport Committee, TfL, the DfT and overseas governments on disability and diversity issues.

Dr Matthew Niblett is Director of the Independent Transport Commission and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He oversees the ITC's research portfolio and has presented findings from this research to Ministers and Parliamentary Select Committee enquiries. Matthew holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and was a Senior Research Associate at Oxford's Transport Studies Unit.

Foreword by Tony Wheeler, co-founder, Lonely Planet

1. Why Travel? An Introduction – Matthew Niblett and Kris Beuret

Part I: Fundamental Motivations

2. Biological Perspectives on Travel – Charles Pasternak

3. Travel and The Mind – Tony Hiss

4. Philosophy and Travel: The Meaning of Movement – Matthew Niblett

5. The Economics of Travel: It’s Not the Destination, It’sthe Journey – Matthew Dillon and Alexander Jan

PART II: Travel for Exploration and Knowing Ourselves

6. Why Travel? The Sociological Perspective – Kris Beuret and Roger Hall

7. Religious and Spiritual Travel – Alison Kuznets

8. Travel in Art and Literature – Alison Kuznets and Matthew Niblett

9. Why People Travel: An Anthropological View – Tom Selwyn

10. Tourist Travel – Hazel Andrews

11. Travel as Exploration: Science, the Unknown, and Personal Discovery – Emily Thomas

Part III: Limits and New Horizons

12. Technology and Travel – Glenn Lyons

13. Placemaking and Travel: The City Is Where the People Choose to Go – Deborah Saunt and Tom Greenall

14. Travel’s Place in the Environment – Terry Hill

15. Conclusion: What Have We Learnt? – Kris Beuret and Matthew Niblett