Transport Camp Sydney 2025
Transport Camp Sydney 2025, held during the university winter break, has wrapped up for another year.
Sleeping bags and marshmallows were not required but like a traditional summer camp of one’s youth, it brought together a bunch of people united in a common interest for a day of discussion, community, learning and support.
The day began with moderator Knowles Tivendale giving a unique acknowledgement of country, which ended with us walking as a group, reflecting on how together we might contribute to making a better city.
The website explains that “Transport Camp is a global unconference series for anyone passionate about transport, mobility, and the future of cities. It brings together transport professionals, planners, technologists, researchers, designers, and community advocates to explore how innovation and collaboration can shape better transport outcomes.”
The “unconference” part means that participants pitch to present a topic they either know something about, or wish to discuss or receive feedback on. The topic may be related their work or their advocacy. A voting process identifiers the topics of most interest and topics are placed in six sessions through the day, with some 4-5 topics per session. Choosing which topics to attend is probably the toughest part of the day!
Topics included roleplays with Better Streets’ President Sara Stace to sell 30km per hour speed limits on local streets to politicians and the community, traffic signal timings, and the creative use of public transport spaces. Love talking about parking and its impact on urban life but always felt embarrassed to say? At Transport Camp its perfectly normal and you’ll have several sessions to choose from!
The traditional lunchtime local walking tour took us to the newly finished streetscape at Little Eveleigh Street and a fascinating potted history of the space given by Tegan Mitchell of Walk Sydney.
Perhaps the overriding vibe of Transport Camp is one of generosity. The space at Sydney University is fantastic, the organisers generous with their time putting it together (Crowdspot and Movement + Place Consulting), the sponsors ( Modal and Stantec) generous with the provision of lunch and drinks. But above all, the participants are people devoted to making our city work better for everyone, whether in their professional lives or as community volunteers or advocates. Transport Camp is also an opportunity to recognise their achievements in a spirit of appreciation. The Oxford Street West cycleway opened as the day began – a mighty achievement – so it was felicitous that those who worked hardest for it could be thanked over a drink!
The Melbourne 2025 edition of Transport Camp will take place on Friday 3 October 2025 - get tickets here.
The “Agenda”
Walking Tour: Little Eveleigh St Redfern
(bike) parking at a premium when Transport Camp is in town
