ITS Monday: Edition 24, 2020
This week’s small collection of curated content from the worlds of intelligent transport systems, smart mobility, and associated areas.
Included this week: Talking (still) about road user charging, fear of public transport, NSW public transport pricing, (re) building town centres, and more.
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 …
Post-COVID transport: It’s time to talk about road pricing
Let’s start with something not at all controversial this week – road user charging. As in other areas of transport, the pandemic has forced if not change, then conversation. This piece is from Alexa Delbosc and Nan Zheng, of Monash University.
For additional reading in this area, Road pricing reform: A thorny issue from Professor David Hensher, and What is the future of road ownership?, by Ian Webb, former Chief Executive of Roads Australia.
READ THE ARTICLE
Fear of public transit got ahead of the evidence
A US-based piece from The Atlantic, co-authored by Janette Sadik-Khan, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, and Seth Solomonow, co-author of Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution. ‘Many have blamed subways and buses for coronavirus outbreaks, but a growing body of research suggests otherwise.’
In case you’ve missed it, we’ve had a series running for a little while now, talking to transport professionals about their thoughts on transport and the pandemic, and public transport has been an oft-mentioned topic. Catch the series at Effects of COVID on the transport sector.
READ THE ARTICLE
A lot closer to home, NSW in fact, Transport for NSW has issued a press release regarding a ‘… temporary 50 per cent discount for off-peak travel on bus, train, metro and light rail services to help manage social distancing measures and keep staff and customers safe on public transport.’
READ THE ARTICLE
Build back better: COVID-19 supplement for town centres
Thanks to Kate Mackay of Mott Macdonald for bringing this article to my attention. It’s from the UK, but the questions raised and matters discussed are pertinent for towns and city centres worldwide. ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) will be blamed for many things as time goes by. But one thing is certain, it has accelerated the demise of town centres and high streets as shopping destinations, and paved the way for a post retail landscape to emerge.’
READ THE ARTICLE
City regions welcome e-scooter trials but highlight need for safeguards
To close this week, a second opinion from the UK-based Urban Transport Group, in response to a story we included in last week’s ITS Monday, regarding the rather bleak views on scooters held by PACTS, the transport safety advisers to the UK Government.
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.
