In this episode of The Parallel Effect Podcast, railway engineer, writer and accessibility campaigner, Gareth Dennis, returns from a parallel world that chose to invest in long-term mobility rather than short-term transport fixes.
What begins as a conversation about public transport policy and infrastructure quickly unfolds into a far broader exploration of the societies we build around it. Through the speculative lens of an integrated, accessible and democratically accountable transport system, Gareth considers how mobility shapes everything from climate resilience and public space, to governance, economic thinking and our collective capacity to care for one another.
Rather than asking what better transport might look like, this conversation invites us to imagine what becomes possible when movement itself is understood as a public good and the foundation for a more equitable and sustainable future.
Listen to the conversation using the audio player below. If you prefer to read along, you can also access the full episode transcript here.
You can also listen to this conversation and future episodes via Apple Podcasts.
Artist Ted McKinlay Responds to a Parallel World that Chose Public Transport
Responding to this parallel world is artist Ted McKinlay. Working primarily on paper, Ted uses drawing and pastel to construct richly layered images that oscillate between hyper-real precision and deliberately obscured, incidental detail. This tension echoes the mind’s imperfect processes of perception and memory.
This companion documentary traces Ted’s creative practice, following his response to the imagined world of railway engineer Gareth Dennis. Drawing on his years working in public transport, the film reveals an enduring fascination with movement, infrastructure and the importance of accessible mobility.
For Ted, Gareth’s parallel world is not a distant fantasy but a tangible possibility waiting to be taken seriously:
Working in public transport, I see what could be, and I think a lot of other people do too, and they’re quite frustrated! If we had some people that were able to think beyond short term profit, we could start to have a conversation about this parallel world that I think already exists in a lot of people’s heads.
We have to get the smarter people into the room instead of the tech bros and the money guys.
Thank you for travelling with us into this parallel world.
Before you depart, we’d love to hear what stayed with you.
Was there an idea, possibility or perspective from Gareth’s world that changed the way you think about our own?
Share your thoughts in the comments. One of the ambitions of The Parallel Effect Podcast is to create a space where we can collectively explore new possibilities, challenge familiar assumptions and imagine different pathways forward.
If this episode sparked something for you, consider sharing it with someone else who might enjoy the journey. We’re still at the beginning of ours, and every new participant helps this community grow.
A new episode of The Parallel Effect Podcast arrives every Friday. Until then, thank you for travelling alongside us – we look forward to welcoming you back for the next journey.
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Illuminating! Wouldn't it be awesome to have the vision of Gareth realised. It makes so much sense on so many levels.