Professor Tim Jones

PhD Urban Planning

Professor of Sustainable Urban Mobility

School of the Built Environment

Role

My research interest is ultimately about on how urban environments can be (re)configured to support and promote sustainable and healthy urban mobility, particularly walking and cycling but also electrically assisted mobility. By 'healthy sustainable urban mobility' I mean ways of moving around built environments that minimise environmental impact, improve health and wellbeing and provide equal access to opportunities. Ultimately these are spaces that are more democratic and liveable. In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. My work contributes towards SDG3 - Good health and wellbeing; SDG10 - Reduced inequalities; and, SDFG11 - Sustainable cities and communities.

I am also interested in the concept of mobility more generally and how certain types of mobility (particularly walking and cycling and micromobility) are given meaning within certain geographical, social and cultural contexts. I try to develop an understanding of this phenomenon through novel mixed method approaches to try to reveal the physical, social and cultural factors that influence everyday travel decisions and how this affects journey practice and experience.

I am also Research Ethics Officer (REO) for the Faculty of Technology Design and Environment responsible for the management of ethical issues raised by the research work of staff and students in the Faculty and to ensure that research meets rigorous ethical standards in line with Oxford Brookes’ Code of Practice for Research Ethics

Teaching and supervision

Courses

My main teaching areas are transport policy, planning, and mobilities incorporating sustainability, social justice and the health & wellbeing agenda. I teach research methods (quantitative and qualitative and mixed methods approaches) and oversee master’s students undertaking their Spatial Planning Dissertation.

Module leader:

  • Research Methods (PG)
  • Dissertation (PG)
  • Research Methods (UG).

Contribute to:

  • Spatial Planning in Action (PG)
  • Sustainable Development (PG)
  • Urban Design Dissertation (PG)
  • Independent Study in Planning (PG)
  • Urban Design and Planning Research Project (UG).

Supervision

PhD/DPhil Supervision

  • Oscar Natividad Puig. Evolving favela networks in Rio de Janeiro: A network perspective on informality and participation. (Current).
  • Catherine Ross. Liminal light; liminal space: A visual investigation into liminality. (Current).
  • Aline Moreira Fernandes Barata. Governance and healthy urban mobility in Brazil - investigating interactions between civil society and public authorities through the lens of hybrid micro-policies. (Completed January 2023).
  • Daniela Wollrab (née Gamper). Visitor Mobility in UNESCO World Heritage listed city centres: Understanding the influence of mobile technology and the implications for visitor management strategies. (Completed November 2023).
  • Iris Carrington (née Gust). Environmental Sustainability of Travel Behaviour of Families with Children in Outer London: A qualitative study using an everyday life perspective. (Completed November 2021).
  • Lucy Mahoney (DPhil, Oxon). Investigating the Interactions of Travel Behaviour and Wellbeing: A Longitudinal, Mixed-methods Case Study of Penarth and Cardiff, Wales. (Co-supervisor with Dr. Christian Brand, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, funded by EPSRC). (Completed Trinity Term 2015).
  • Andre Neves (DPhil, Oxon). The impact of new walking and cycling infrastructure on personal travel and carbon emissions: the case of Cardiff Connect2. (Co-supervisor with Dr. Christian Brand, Transport Studies Unit, University of Oxford, funded by EPSRC). (Completed Trinity Term 2015). 

Masters Supervision

  • MSc Spatial Planning – 100+ successful MSc dissertations since 2002
  • MA Urban Design - 50+ successful MA dissertations since 2002.

Research

Research group membership

Research grants and awards

  • EESOx – Experiences of Electric Scootering in Oxford (1/10/2023 – 30/09/2024) funded by Oxford Brookes Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment research fund 2023/24. Principal Investigator.
  • ENACT 15mC – Envisioning Neighbourhoods and Co-Creating Thriving Communities in the Fifteen-minute City (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2026) funded by European Union (EU) Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Principal Investigator.
  • UMALTraN – Understanding Mobility and Activity in the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2024) funded by Rees Jeffreys Road Fund. Principal Investigator.
  • HELMET – HEaLth iMpact of E-bikes and e-scooTers (HELMET): Baseline data collection for the evaluation of e-bike and e-scooter hire schemes. (1/09/2023 – 31/03/2024) funded by the National Institute for Health & Care Research DoH Ref: NIHR159622. Co-Investigator. Principal Investigator: Dr. Miranda Armstrong (University of Bristol).
  • PARK & STRIDE – The effectiveness of co-designing wayfinding interventions to increase active travel for the school journey (1/02/2021 – 31/05/2022) funded by Sport England/Oxfordshire County Council. Principal Investigator.
  • Our World, Our Futures  – Children’s Global Citizenship for Sustainability Using Arts and Digital Practices in Schools in the UK and the Maldives (1/09/2022 – 31/08/2023). Oxford Brookes Research Excellence Awards 2022/23. Co-Investigator. Principal Investigator: Dr. Claire Lee, Oxford Brookes University.
  • PEST – Post-pandemic Equitable and Sustainable Transport (1/08/2020 – 31/07/21) funded by Oxford Brookes Research Excellence Award Programme 2020-21. Principal Investigator.
  • Co-CAFÉ – Co-Creating Age Friendly Environments for Walking and Cycling (1/01/2019 – 31/12/2019) funded by Oxford Brookes Impact Accelerator Award Programme 2018-19. Principal Investigator.
  • HUM-MUS – Brazil-UK Healthy Urban Mobility/Mobilidade Urbana Saudável (1/02/2016 – 31/01/2019) funded by ESRC Grant Reference: ES/N01314X/1. Principal Investigator.
  • cycle BOOM (formerly PrICELESS Design – 'Promoting Independent Cycling for Enhancing Later Life Experience and Social Synergy through Design) (1/10/2013 – 30/09/2016) funded by EPSRC Grant Reference: EP/K037242/1. Principal Investigator.
  • Bicester Sustainable Transport Strategy (2013-2014) consultancy funded by Alan Baxter Associates for Cherwell District Council. Principal Investigator.
  • SAARS – Sustainable Accessibility of the Randstad Programme (1/05/13 – 30/10/2013) funded by The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). Co-Investigator. Principal Investigator: Professor Luca Bertolini (University of Amsterdam).
  • UWAC – Understanding Walking and Cycling (1/10/2008 – 30/09/2011) funded by EPSRC Grant Reference: EP/G00045X/1. Co-Investigator. Principal Investigator: Professor Colin Pooley (Lancaster University).
  • UEM – Understanding Everyday Mobilities (1/01/2010 – 31/12/2010) funded by Oxford Brookes Central Research Fund (2009-10). Principal Investigator.
  • Children’s Independent Mobility (1/10/2009 – 30/09/2012) funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund. Co-investigator. Principal Investigator: Dr. Ben Shaw (University of Westminster).
  • Home to Hub Evaluation (1/01/2007 – 31/12/2008) consultancy funded by Groundwork South East – Principal Investigator.
  • Bike IT Programme Evaluation (1/01/2007 – 31/12/2007) consultancy funded by Sustrans UK.
  • Oxford Brookes Bus User Survey (1/01/2005 – 31/12/2005) on behalf of Oxford Brookes University. Principal Investigator.
  • Oxford Park and Ride User Study (1/01/2004 – 31/12/2004) consultancy funded by Oxfordshire County Council – Co-investigator.
  • Travel Behaviour in New Residential Development in Oxford (1/01/2003 – 30/06/2004) consultancy funded by Oxford City Council – Co-Investigator.

Involvement in other projects

  • iConnect  – Impact of COnstructing Non-motorised Networks and Evaluating Changes in Travel (1/05/2009 – 30/04/2014) Research Fellow with the Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, on 5-year study to evaluate the changes in travel, physical activity and carbon emissions related to Sustrans' Connect2 project. Funded by EPSRC Grant reference EP/G00059X/. Principal Investigator: Professor John Preston (University of Southampton).
  • Low Carbon, Low Energy Transport for Oxford (1/11/2009 – 31/10/2010) worked with Oxford Brookes colleagues and external partners to develop scenarios for electrification of transport infrastructure using the case of Oxford funded by UK Department for Transport Plugged in Places programme.

Research impact

  • REF21 Impact Case Summary submission titled: Co-Creating Age Friendly Cities for CyclingREF2021 (Unit of Assessment: 13, Architecture, Built Environment and Planning).
  • WINNER of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Research Excellence 2017 (Academic Award) for the project cycle BOOM. Design for Lifelong Health and Wellbeing. EPSRC Grant Reference: EP/K037242/1.

Groups

Projects

  • Envisioning Neighbourhoods and Co-Creating Thriving Communities in the 15-Minute City (ENACT 15mC)
  • Health Impact of E-bikes and e-scooters (HELMET)

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

  • Envisioning Neighbourhoods And Co-Creating Thriving Communities in the 15mC (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2026), funded by: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), funding amount received by Brookes: £146,252
  • Understanding Mobility and Activity in the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (UMALTraN) (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2024), funded by: Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, funding amount received by Brookes: £20,000
  • HEaLth iMpact of E-bikes and e-scooTers (HELMET): Baseline data collection for the evaluation of e-bike and e-scooter share schemes (Led by the University of Bristol) (01/08/2023 - 31/10/2024), funded by: National Institute for Health Research, funding amount received by Brookes: £7,240

Publications

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Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

  • ESRC Peer Review College (January 2024 – current)
  • Oxfordshire Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP) Steering Group. Member (2019-current).
  • Expert Adviser, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (March 2018 – current).

Journal Editorial Boards

Conferences

  • Jones, T. Healthy Neighbourhoods and Cities. Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) Annual Conference: 'Sustainable and Resilient Built Environment'. Oxford Brookes University. 5 September 2024.
  • Jones, T. What is?...[Velo]Mobile Methods: Practical Considerations when performing mobile methods by cycle. National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) Research Methods e-Festival. 7→9 November 2023 [online].
  • Jones, T. 15-minute cities: Can they work for everyone? Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation (GCHU) Public Seminar. Kellogg College, University of Oxford. 11 October 2023. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones. T. Contesting the fifteen-minute city: Dispatches from the "cycling city" of Oxford, UK. Cycling and Society Annual Symposium – Critical Tensions in Planning for Cycling. 7→8 September 2023. Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin. 
  • Jones, T. & Chatterjee, K. Special Session ‘Contested Electric Micromobility Futures’, Royal Geographical Society Conference: Geographies Beyond Recovery. 30 August → 2 September 2022, Newcastle University, UK. Sponsored by RGS Urban Geography & Transport Geography Research Groups.
  • Jones, T. Expert Witness. Creating exceptional places for sustainable and active travel. Street Voice: A Citizens’ Jury to find common ground on solutions to the impact of travel on health and climate change in Oxford. 18 June 2022. Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation, University of Oxford. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Spatial Planning and Sustainable Urban Mobility. Transport for the North, Northern Evidence Academic Forum [online]. 16 February 2022. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Virtuous cycles: the role of bike share in boosting mental and physical health at the CoMoUK The Shared Transport Conference [online]. 7→8 December 2021. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. The cycling paradox: how can cycling be encouraged as a healthy, sustainable, and safe mode of transport? Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation (GCHU) Public Seminar. 1 Dec 2021, Kellogg College, University of Oxford, UK. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Creating places for sustainable and active travel. The role of walking, cycling and electric micromobility. Modeshift Convention. 4→5 November 2021. The Athena, Leicester, UK. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Mobility justice and implications for creating democratic space. Transport for London: London Technical Advisers Group (LoTAG) Latest insights in Transport Planning for Practitioners. [online] 26 May 2021. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Investigating English local authority response to the UK government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF). Joint Workshop of the World Conference on Transport Special Interest Group - Impact of COVID-19 on transport and spatial development: an international perspective. [online]. 11 March 2021.
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. The implications of the EPSRC cycle BOOM study for the Government's 'Gear Change' walking and cycling strategy. UK Department for Transport internal seminar [Online].15 January 2021. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T., Neto, I., Günther, H., Brownill, S., Keivani, R., d’Orsi, E., Spencer, B., Vargas, J., Watson, G. et al. UK/Brazil Healthy Urban Mobility: Final Conference of Key Findings and Recommendations. 19 June 2019, CEFOR, Brasilia, Brazil.
  • Jones, T., Günther, H., Brownill, S., Keivani, R., d’Orsi, E., Spencer, B., Vargas, J., Watson, G. et al. UK/Brazil Healthy Urban Mobility: Final Conference of Key Findings and Recommendations. 12 June 2019, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK.
  • Jones, T., Vargas, J., Barata, A., Chauhan, R., Cycling in the Global South | Discourse and Dissonance. Special Session: Livability and Non-Motorized Transport. 15th World Conference on Transport Research, 26→31 May 2019, Mumbai, India. 
  • Jones, T. Future Food Week. Creating Healthy, Sustainable Menu Options. 1→4 October 2018. Choreographed multiple site-based events at Oxford Brookes University 
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. Staging Healthy Urban Mobility. Presented at C-MUS 2018 Conference: (em)Powering Mobilities. 29→30 August 2018, University of Aalborg, Denmark.
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. Walking and cycling for health and wellbeing. The therapeutic potential. Presented at Active Living Research Conference. 11→14 February 2018, Banff, Canada.
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. A Tale of Two Cities: Moving around edge estates in Oxford. Presented at Health: The Design, Planning and Politics of How and Where we Live WHO/AMPS Conference, 25→26 January 2018, UWE, Bristol, UK
  • Jones, T. The Role of Electric Cycles in the Healthy City. Presented at Healthy City Design 2017. Unleashing Health by Design: Creating a Culture of Wellness in our Cities. Royal College of Physicians, 16→17 October 2017, London, UK.
  • Jones, T. Electrifying Wellbeing: the cycle BOOM study and the potential role of electric bicycles in promoting public health. Presented at Planning for Better Health and Wellbeing hosted by Public Health Network Cymru. 30 November 2016, Cardiff, Wales, UK. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. et al. cycle BOOM Summary of Key Findings & Recommendations Presented at the cycle BOOM Project Final Conference. 26 September 2016, London South Bank University, London, UK. 
  • Jones, T. et al. cycle BOOM Summary of Key Findings & Recommendations Presented at the cycle BOOM Project Final Conference. 28 September 2016, Central Library, Manchester, UK.
  • Jones, T. What are mobile methods? Seminar and Workshop. 7th Research Methods Festival 2016. 7 July 2016, University of Bath, UK. Sponsored by NCRM. 
  • Jones, T. The Potential of E-Bikes in Smart Urban Transport Futures Presented at the 3rd Workshop on Sustainable Urban Transport Futures. 28 June 2016, University of Greenwich, London, UK.
  • Jones, T. Riding in the Margins: The Contemporary Condition of Cycling as Urban Mobility Presented at The Sociology of Contemporary Urban Life. 17 June 2016, University of York, UK.
  • Jones, T. with Spinney, J. Velomobile Methods: Execution, Interrogation, Interpretation. Seminar and Workshop. 24 May 2016, Oxford Brookes University, UK. Sponsored by EPSRC.
  • Jones, T. & Burgess, M. Lifeworld of the Mamils: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of motives, experiences, and aspirations of emergent sports cyclists. Presented at the session: Approaching Everyday Sport: socio-cultural geographic perspectives on sports, exercise, and fitness. Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference. 1→4 September 2015, University of Exeter, UK.
  • Jones, T. Velo-mobile atmospheres: capturing and representing the multi-sensual cycling experience Presented at Atmospheres. 1→2 July 2015, Morgan Centre, Manchester, UK
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. Velo-mobility and an Ageing society: The UK cycle BOOM study Presented at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) Transport and Health Seminar Series. 28 April 2015, London, UK. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. with Spencer, B. Design for wellbeing: Innovative research methods for understanding older people’s everyday mobility. 20 April 2015, Oxford Brookes University, UK. Sponsored by EPSRC and British Society of Gerontology (BSG).
  • Jones, T. & Spencer, B. Cycling in an Ageing Society: A Critical Mobilities Perspective. Presented at the Transport Studies Unit Seminar Series. 26 November 2014, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK. [Invited speaker].
  • Jones, T. Keynote address: Cycling in an Ageing Society: A Critical Mobilities Perspective Presented at the Nationaal Fietscongress. 20 November 2014, Zwolle, The Netherlands. [Invited as keynote speaker].
  • Jones, T. A Cycling Future for Ageing Populations. Presented at the 10th Anniversary Cosmobilities Conference: Networked Urban Mobilities. 5→7 November 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Jones, T. Space for oldies? Ageing society, older people and the UK ‘cycle boom’. Presented at the Cycling and Society Annual Symposium 2014. 8 September 2014, Newcastle, UK.
  • Jones, T. & Burgess, M. Voice of the Mamils: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of motives, experiences, and aspirations of new sports cyclists. Presented at 10th Cycling and Society Symposium. 9→10 September 2013, Llangollen, Wales, UK.
  • Jones, T. Household Decision Making for Everyday Travel: The case of cycling, Shifting Gears: Making cycling a policy priority for health and sustainability. 2 July 2013, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
  • Jones, T. The Challenges of Understanding Walking and Cycling in English Cities, Making Mixed Methods Work in Transport Research Workshop, organised by EPSRC Disruption project and Travel Behaviours Network. 20 June 2013, University of Leeds, UK.
  • Jones, T. Economic, social and cultural transformation and the role of the bicycle in Brazil, 9th Cycling and Society Research Group Symposium. 3→4th September 2012, University of East London, UK.
  • Jones, T., Bird, E., Baker, G. Mutrie, N. & Ogilvie, D. The application of an extended theory of planned behaviour to understand cycling intentions: The UK iConnect study, 5th International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology. 29→31 August 2012, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • Jones, T. Understanding the Relationship Between Urban Form and Walking and Cycling. Approach to measuring the built environment – analysis and conclusions, Presentation of findings from EPSRC Understanding Walking and Cycling Project. 8 September, London and 13 September 2011, Lancaster, UK.
  • Jones, T. Mobile Interviews Cycling: the experience of walking and cycling in British urban areas, Presentation of findings from EPSRC Understanding Walking and Cycling Project. 8 September 2011, London, and 13 September 2011, Lancaster, UK.
  • Jones, T. Understanding Everyday Walking and Cycling in Cities: Identities, Practices, Experiences and Visions, 27th Annual Q Methodology Conference. 7→9 September 2011, University of Birmingham, UK.
  • Jones, T. Understanding everyday cycling in cities: identities, practices, experiences and visions, 8th Cycling and Society Research Group Symposium. 5 September 2011, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, UK.
  • Jones, T. Strano, E. & Jopson, A. Understanding the Relationship Between Urban Form and Walking and Cycling, Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference. 31 August→2 September 2011, Royal Geographical Society, London, UK.
  • Jones, T. Analysis of Social Psychological Measures for the iConnect Baseline Survey, iConnect National Seminar. 14 July 2011, Girton College, University of Cambridge, UK.
  • Jones, T. & Strano, E. The contribution of urban form in encouraging everyday walking and cycling in English cities, Mobil-TUM Conference, Making Sustainable Mobilities - Interdisciplinary Perspectives. 7→8 April 2011, Munich, Germany.
  • Jones, T. Convenor of 7th Cycling and Society Symposium and Workshop. 6→7 September 2010. Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK.
  • Jones, T., Pooley, C., Chisholm, A., Horton, D. & Scheldeman, G. Understanding Walking and Cycling: Interim Findings from a Multi-Method Approach to Investigate Household Decision Making in Relation to Short Journeys in Urban Areas, World Conference on Transport Research. 11th→15th July 2010, Lisbon, Portugal.
  • Jones, T. Effects of Urban Traffic-free Paths on Everyday Cycling, World Conference on Transport Research. 11→15 July 2010, Lisbon, Portugal.
  • Jones, T. The Role of Urban Traffic-Free Paths in Getting People on Bicycles. Paper presented as part of Sustainable Transitions, Culture and Values, Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British Geographers Annual Conference. 26→28 August 2009, Manchester, UK.
  • Jones, T. (2009). Understanding Walking and Cycling: A Multi-Method Approach to Investigating Household Decision Making in Relation to Short Journeys in Urban Areas. Cycling and Society Research Group Symposium. 7 September 2009, University of Bolton, UK.
  • Jones, T. Convenor of Future of Streets. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) series of lectures/workshops for practitioners and professionals representing Transport for London (TfL) and Living Streets. September 2004, Oxford Brookes University, UK
  • Jones, T. (2003) From Mud to Macadam - The impact of recreational cycling on utility cycling in the UK, Velo-City International Conference. 22→26 September 2003, Paris, France.

Further details

Other experience

  • Sustainable Transport consultant.
  • Environmental Education/Community Engagement/Urban regeneration project worker.
  • Trade Union Representative.