Coronavirus has changed population projections and behaviours across society. With fewer commuters we need to shift transport planning based on a hub-and-spoke network to focus on more local travel.
Profit margins in South Africa’s minibus taxi industry have been under pressure long before the COVID-19 lockdown.
Karel Prinsloo / AFP via GettyImages
The role of government should be to improve and reorganise this sector to address the needs of users. The proposed national operational subsidy is an opportunity to do precisely that.
A policeman stands guard during a protest by minibus taxi operators against a new bus service for Johannnesburg.
Alexander Joe/AFP via Getty Images
It is vital that the latest move by government towards restructuring succeeds in making the industry safe, reliable and viable, contributing to the country’s economy.
Remote working in London, March 2020.
EPA-EFE/Neil Hall
New Zealand voters are divided on climate policy along party lines, with the majority on one side of the political spectrum calling for urgent action while at the other end most recommend caution.
Masked passengers on the London Underground.
Yau Ming Low/Shutterstock
People with disabilities are exempt from wearing face coverings on public transport and in shops, but this exemption has not been well communicated to the public.
Car use and cycling have soared to above pre-pandemic levels in our biggest cities (Melbourne is an obvious exception). Walking is not far behind, but public transport is being shunned.
As COVID-19 restrictions are eased, cities face crippling congestion if people shun crowded public transport. More frequent and faster services, using innovations like pop-up bus lanes, can avoid this.
How do we overcome this new physical embodiment of fear – the fact that any one of us, including ourselves, could be a threat – and negotiate life after coronavirus?
Masks protect you from infection and protect others from getting sick. But authorities are leaving it up to individuals to decide if they want to wear masks on the bus or train. Here’s how to decide.
Social distancing isn’t really compatible with public transport – especially during peak times. So how can we stay safe if we’re starting to take public transport again?
Some new habits we’ve seen emerging during the pandemic could help us solve tricky problems like traffic congestion, which have challenged our cities for a long time.