From Reds to Roads, the Clydeside Care Revolution 1950 - 1970

Seminar abstract

Much discussion of the relative merits of private vs. public transport systems is framed by rationalist arguments which condemn the transition from public to private means symbolised by mass car ownership. In this developmental paper I use extensive data from the annual reports of the Glasgow Corporation Transport Department and the Greater Glasgow Transportation Study to examine why a large metropolitan area, Strathclyde, re-orientated its transport policy from a socialised public transport system to a major road investment programme supporting the private car in twenty years between 1950 and 1970. I argue that the details of this transition expose the shortcomings of rationalist, collectivist arguments concerning public transport, and reveal patterns of mobility to be more closely connected to personal prosperity rather than collective efficiency.

How to join this seminar

This seminar is free to attend with no need to book in advance.

We welcome you to join us online on Wednesday 4 May 2022 at 1pm.

Speaker bio

Dr James Fowler

James joined the University of Essex in 2019 as a Lecturer in Management. Previously, he had been an associate Lecturer at the University of York.

James has completed a PGCE in Further Education, an MSc in Educational Practice and Innovation and his PhD and subsequent research interests cover business and management history.

He has written two books on London’s Transport 1905-87 and has published articles in Business History, The Journal of Management History, The Journal of Transport History and Essays in Economic and Business History.