Transport participation to improve connected journeys

Developed with Transport for West Midlands

A special participation task was developed in conjunction with Transport for West Midlands.

This involves a meeting and written comments and analysis document for Craig Shipley, the information and products developments lead at transport for West Midlands. This is related to the signage and passenger information in Birmingham and the West Midlands metropolitan area.

Since 2018 the passenger information in the region was evolving due to gradual rebranding until 2021, the involvement was related to my experiences as a public transport user and how to enable passengers to fully understand the integrated transport network and the connectivity. My aim for participation is to enable the passengers confidence to navigate from their journeys from A to B regardless of different transport modes. This is regardless if the passenger is a regular user, a visitor to the region or who is local but doesn't use public transport that much.

The Meeting
This participation task began with a face-to-face meeting with Craig having one and one of his co-members. We had a tour of examples of different transport information infrastructure around Snow Hill train station and the nearby bus interchange at St. Philips Cathedral. Craig as mention some of their recent developments and some of the changes planned.

Also I make some feedback with comments I have pre-prepared before the meeting began.

The Document
Following the meeting Craig asked me to develop my comments and feedback based on their proposals and my insight as a public transport user. Several months later I shared my additional comments.

The document titled transport information and signage suggestions covered different aspects including connection and outward travel around Birmingham City Centre and the network as a whole. The document also covered detailed aspects around signage and Solutions of connectivity.

Feedback
After receiving feedback from Craig simply he mentioned that my comments was well received and fit into their objective and strategy related to signage and passenger information.

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Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant

With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.

Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions twice a year at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity.

In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games