Letter: Urban transport requires a mix of mobility options

The pandemic is indeed exposing global mass transport systems to huge structural and fiscal challenges (“New York and the mass transit crisis”, the Big Read, November 17). As transport operators attempt to prepare themselves for potentially lasting changes in commuting habits, it’s important we consider all mobility options as part of the urban transport mix.

For example, when lockdown regulations first hit in early 2020, global cities saw a sharp spike in the number of cyclists taking to the streets. From New York to London (where the government reported a 200 per cent increase in cycling) more people turned to “active transport” in order to get around. Governments are increasingly trying to lock in the benefits of more people using such means of transport, aiming to incentivise cycling in the long term.

But if levels of cycling are to increase post Covid-19, investment will be needed to provide the infrastructure necessary to reassure cyclists that roads are safe enough for them in post-pandemic cities. We will also need to see greater progress in enabling commuters to easily book and pay for the transport they use for their entire journey, including easy options to hire bikes, to increase urban mobility.

To make these changes requires truly holistic thinking about the way we travel, but the good news is this is already happening. Right now, mass transport systems are successfully tailoring their operations to the needs of their users and, as long as they do so, their relevance and longevity will be assured.

David Powell
Cubic Transportation Systems
Redhill, Surrey, UK