Rochdale transport boss 'honoured' with guest speaker role

Rochdale’s transport boss Councillor Zulf Ali was guest opening speaker this week as Greater Manchester’s Public Transport Executive (GMPTE) held its first Travel Training Conference. The conference, which was held at Manchester’s Art Gallery on Mosley Road, was set up by the GMPTE to look specifically at forming a strategic approach to improving public transport for everyone.

Councillor Ali, who is Greater Manchester’s Public Transport Authority’s Equality and Diversity Champion said: “I was honoured to be asked to give the opening speech at such a prestigious event. The idea of this conference was to look at the different ways we can improve public transport in the future for everyone, whether that be for the young, old or disabled commuter.

He added: “We wanted to do this by bringing together a range of speakers and expertise from not only our region but also from across Europe and North America. For example, we invited Peggy Groce, Director of the District 75 Travel Training in New York to Manchester; to give us a talk about how her scheme has helped over 10,000 young people learn how to use public transport.”

Councillor Ali said: “These improvements that we are looking to implement will benefit many across Rochdale. Companies will benefit with the widening of there customer base. Local Authorities will benefit from the reduction of the need of door to door transport. Health Authorities will benefit from the reduction of home visits and much more.

“I am delighted that the first conference was such a success and I look forward to this becoming an annual event”.