ITS Monday: Edition 19, 2020
This week’s small collection of curated content from the worlds of intelligent transport systems, smart mobility, and associated areas.
No surprises, transport conversations are still being dominated by the pandemic. In this week’s ITS Monday collection there are two strong themes. First the concern that post-pandemic traffic congestion could be worse than ever, based mainly on the distinct possibility that commuters will shun public transport.
Secondly, the pandemic success story that is the bicycle. Are our roads bicycle-friendly? And what is being done to solidify the current shift to two wheels?
Finally, a story on Mobility as a Service, and how it might fare post-pandemic.
And just in case you hadn’t caught it yet, we have a new series of interviews with transport professionals – Effects of COVID on the transport sector – what they see now, what they would like to happen post-pandemic, and what they think will happen. If you’d like to be join this conversation, drop us a line!
Now, scroll down, and see what’s in this week’s edition. Oh, and before you do, be sure check out the quickest way to receive our new content via the subscription box just below …
The car is staging a comeback, spurring oil’s recovery
There’s been quite a few articles on this theme lately, indeed there’s a few in here today, that in any post-pandemic ‘recovery, there will be more congestion on the roads. This piece looks at how it might play out in a few locations around the world.
READ THE ARTICLE
Transport after coronavirus: how will we fly, drive, commute and ride?
In this from The Guardian, the focus is Australia, via interviews with a commuter, politician/transport spokesperson, academics, and Marion Terrill from The Grattan Institute.
READ THE ARTICLE
Coronavirus restrictions will ease as we return to work, but how safe is public transport?
As mentioned above, here’s one very big reason why traffic congestion could well be worse post-pandemic … ‘But even with all major public transport providers issuing coronavirus guidelines, how comfortable will we feel about catching buses, trains, ferries and trams again?’
READ THE ARTICLE
Coronavirus: How will you commute to work after lockdown?
And in the UK they’re having the same discussion. Not only wondering if commuters will return to public transport, but what if they do? ‘One recent report warned that maintaining a 2m (6ft 6in) distance between Tube passengers in London, for example, would reduce its capacity to 15% of normal levels, and buses to 12%.’
READ THE ARTICLE
The impact of coronavirus lockdown on Sydney’s busiest roads
Meanwhile, right now on city roads, congestion is for now a memory and a future concern. In Sydney, ‘Traffic volume has halved across Sydney during the lockdown, while travel times have decreased by up to 60 per cent on the Harbour Bridge in morning peak hour, according to government data.’
READ THE ARTICLE
Cycling is taking off in Tasmania amid coronavirus, but how bike-friendly are Hobart and Launceston?
Moving from four wheels to two, in what has been a true pandemic transport success story, the shift to bicycle use. Again this story about how bike-friendly roads are could be any Australian city, perhaps even town, but here the question is asked of locations in Tasmania.
READ THE ARTICLE
Brits pushed to cycle or walk amid public transport restrictions
Still on two wheels, here’s what’s happening in Old Blighty. ‘More commuters should consider cycling or walking when Britain’s coronavirus lockdown is eased to take the pressure off public transport capacity that is likely to drop by 90 per cent under social distancing requirements’,said Transport Minister Grant Shapps.
READ THE ARTICLE
£2 billion package to create new era for cycling and walking
More on two-wheel transport from Transport Minister Grant Shapps in the UK. A bit of a war chest to build, ‘Pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle- and bus-only corridors.’ All of that, and more.
READ THE ARTICLE
Why Mobility-as-a-Service is the future of transport
A piece by Sandra Witzel, of SkedGo (providers of the app for our MaaS trial in Sydney project) – ‘… although there will sadly be casualties amongst the myriad organisations that make up MaaS, as with any crisis there will also be opportunities for those strong and positive enough to emerge from the turmoil.’
READ THE ARTICLEThe idea behind ITS Monday was in part driven by our ITS Weekly Roundup, an email newsletter we send each Friday (subscribe to that here, plus/or our monthly iMOVE newsletter!). That newsletter contains a substantial number of links, and sometimes I think interesting content could be lost in the mix. I also see quite a lot of interesting content on social media (yes, you can follow us on Linkedin and Twitter). So every week I’ll collect a few things, and put them in ITS Monday.
*Inclusion in ITS Monday does not equal iMOVE endorsement. It’s more aimed at discovery, thought, or discussion … or all of those and more. And while for the most part I expect content to be current, a little age doesn’t mean diminished interest.
Discover more from iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre | Transport R&D
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
