Don’t blame modellers

In the last issue we covered a new report by Yaron Hollander, a former Transport for London modelling manager, looking at ten misuses of transport models. This is one of a selection of responses from within the modelling community

Keith Buchan, director, TPS

27 November 2015

Keith Buchan has worked as a transport planner for over 30 years, including being responsible for the Greater London Council’s London-wide model. He was a director of MTRU for 25 years and is Transport Planning Society director for skills.

I have worked with transport modellers for over 30 years. They are usually enthusiastic and knowledgeable and, due to the persistent misreporting of their work, have had to develop such a world-weary sense of humour and a profound sense of irony that they should write TV dramas. They usually understand both the power and, equally importantly, the limitations of what they do, unlike many of the people who commission their work.

As a long-term supporter of the use of transport models and...