Week 4 of our interviews featuring each of our Board Members. This week you can find out more about Rob Bounds, Modeshift’s Regional Representative for the East and West Midlands.
How long have you been involved in sustainable travel?
I have been involved in sustainable travel at Derbyshire County Council since 2004 – so 17 years now!
What have you most enjoyed about your job?
I enjoy the every day interactions with pupils, parents and staff – which obviously have been limited in current times – so the challenge has been to try and creatively maintain those links through social media. I am also an accredited Balanceabilty instructor so it is always a joy to see the thrill, excitement and sense of achievement when a child first learns to ride a bike and all the potential that skill holds for the future.
What are you working on now and what’s next?
As well as the usual day to day practical work supporting school travel plans through Modeshift STARS I am also involved in activities to promote and campaign for equality and diversity. I was delighted to be involved in helping to pull together the Equality and Diversity action plan for Modeshift and I’m looking forward to developing closer working relations with organisations such as Cycling Pride, Spoke Out and the Cycling Diversity Alliance to ensure everyone feels included in the work we do to promote sustainable travel.
What do you like about being on the Modeshift Board?
As a member of the Modeshift Board I have had the privilege of meeting lots of people to gain a wider insight into the sustainable travel profession. It has been a great opportunity to share my own experiences and to learn from others. I also feel honoured to be entrusted with hosting the Modeshift Sustainable Travel Awards to share in celebrating the achievements of our members.
My picture
This photo is from 2015 in Klapparstigur street in Reykjavík which has been pedestrianised using bicycles as barriers and the road surface painted as a rainbow to celebrate gay Pride – so of course posing for a picture was obligatory!
