Will the COVID-19 Crisis Usher a New Area for Transport?
Where do we see real opportunities to steer transport in a more sustainable direction? In a session moderated by Sheila Watson (FIA Foundation) during the virtual IX SuM4All Consortium Meeting on June 2, 2020, Francois Davenne (International Union of Railways), Octavi de la Varga (Metropolis), Maya Ben Dror (World Economic Forum) and Ida Schauman (MaaS Alliance) shared their views on opportunities emerging for a new normal in the pandemic environment.
Francois Davenne, Secretary General of UIC noted that while the spread of the coronavirus was so rapid because we are spatially well interconnected, it was imperative that we protect and sustain our global interconnectivity through transport. Although people are nervous of using public transportation when the pandemic is at large, we need to reassure them that public safety remains our top priority. The railways have demonstrated their resilience and their capacity to deliver essential services even in these difficult circumstances. In a Joint Statement, UIC, UNIFE, and UITP strongly commit to giving a new sense of urgency to the delivery of new mobility paradigm for the public transport ecosystem.
In the opinion of Octavi de la Varga, all the debates at the meeting were already topics of interest and discussion before the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has put us through a gigantic “live learning experiences”. Decisions on mobility issues such as safety, affordable, accessible, and sustainability should involve different public administrations as well as the private actors and the mix of formal and informal service providers. City leaders should re-imagine the use of urban public space and think beyond the administrative borders of the city they represent and serve.
Different modes of mobility have demonstrated their worth for stimulus-resilient commute and deliveries. One critical action would be to connect railway and public transit with various flexible modes of commute such as bike share and scooter, and with other active digital mobility software. “To enable multimodality and mobility as a service we need data sharing, inter-operability and fair-market access,” said Ida Schauman.
Maya Ben Dror’s view approaches partnership with financial institutions having a major bearing during the COVID-19 crisis period. Such beneficial partnerships will rebuild market confidence and steer funding toward essential investments, not solely during the recovery phase but rather toward a desired stable future that we all want to achieve. The public sector should make wise decisions looking, not at the costs of recovery and of survival, but rather at projected costs in the future on a mobility ecosystem that is resilient to climate change.
“Pandemics have always shaped our cities,” concluded Sheila Watson. All mobility solutions are under threat. More than ever, we should all unite around the same goals because we need sustainability, and we want livable cities.
Story prepared by Mary Ngaratoki Fabian