How can communities move beyond consultation to play a meaningful role in shaping the transport decisions that affect their daily lives? This question was at the centre of Community Voices: Shaping Europe’s Sustainable Future, an associated event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, held at Trinity College Dublin on 28 October.

The event drew on the work of the CONUNDRUM research project, which aims to support greater public participation in transport planning and help communities identify and develop low-carbon mobility solutions. Led jointly by Professor Brian Caulfield of Trinity’s School of Engineering and Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry of University College Dublin, the project brings together research and community engagement to address transport challenges across Ireland.

Participants explored TownsMatter.eu, a platform combining digital engagement, local knowledge and face-to-face discussion to help communities identify mobility challenges and develop practical responses. The workshop put this approach into practice on Trinity’s campus, inviting participants to identify local issues and propose potential solutions.

The event opened with contributions from Jane Stout and Rachel Iredale, followed by a panel discussion featuring Jane Hackett, Vinnie O’Shea, Robert Kelly and Kieran Harrahill. Researchers, practitioners and other participants considered how more meaningful public involvement could help shape sustainable transport and create better places to live.

The discussions reflected a wider European challenge: how to support the transition to lower-carbon mobility while ensuring that transport planning responds to the needs and experiences of different communities. This is particularly important in rural areas, where transport choices can be limited and changes to infrastructure can have significant social impacts.

Funded by Research Ireland through the Sustainable Communities National Challenge Fund, CONUNDRUM is working to extend community-led approaches to transport planning across Ireland

The event highlighted how research, digital tools and collaboration with communities can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable solutions and bring local perspectives into conversations about Europe’s future.

The event featured an interactive workshop demonstrating how the TownsMatter platform can support participatory approaches to identifying and addressing transport and mobility challenges.
Using a version of TownsMatter developed specifically for Trinity's campus, participants explored challenges relating to walking, cycling, public transport and accessibility, before working together to identify potential solutions. The exercise demonstrated how community knowledge and lived experience can inform practical improvements to campus mobility, with the findings contributing to ongoing discussions around Trinity's Campus Travel Plan.

Have your say: Members of the Trinity community and wider public are invited to contribute their own transport and mobility challenges or propose solutions through the TownsMatter Community Voices platform

Read more about the CONUNDRUM project: CONUNDRUM secures Research Ireland National Challenge funding for transport planning