As the study states - the outbreak of COVID 19 was an unprecedented shock in an era of highly connected and globalised living. It was, and still is, a serious medical emergency and an episode that we must learn from. 

From the initial Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, what have we learnt, and where do we go next? Here are five key takeaways I learnt from speaking with Professor Greg Marsden, Professor Julian Anable, and Dr Llinos Brown from the Institute of Transport Studies at the University of Leeds. 

1. Traffic is not back to normal

‘Things have gone back to normal’ is a phrase that people might have read or heard regarding road traffic levels since Covid-19. This is not the case, the study found; weekday traffic is down 7% compared to pre-covid levels. This is a major change, and one that has persisted. Something that behavioural change experts have been delighted to achieve, as the study authors said: “a change both modest and extraordinary.” 

2. EV’s will not solve the decarbonisation of road traffic

Although a reduction in weekday traffic is a welcome development, weekend car travel has risen. We cannot achieve our carbon reductions without significant reductions in our car use, it cannot just be down to a change in the power chain. Further reductions in car miles travelled are required over the next 10 years. And not everyone can work from home.

3. The (car dependent) cost of living crisis

As the cost-of-living crisis and inflation hits the headlines, there is less mention of transport poverty. The study found that people who were unable to work from home, tend to live in more disadvantaged communities. Often living on the edge of cities, with heavily car-dependent commutes: they must continue to travel to work and cannot avoid fuel price increases. There is also an absence of alternative transport options. This poses questions for transport investment for economic growth and social outcomes.

4. Value and purpose not just cost

Which brings us to question the future of public transport. The bus industry was supported through Covid, as one mode to help key workers get to work. However, there is now a question around the longer-term funding support to the industry. With cuts on the horizon, a thought experiment would be if the UK was to enter another lockdown, would our transport system be robust enough to still support key workers get around?

5. Active travel

Finally, walking was the one mode of transport that saw an increase during Covid. Let’s make sure environments support walking with well-maintained footways and a transport appraisal system that values this in a broad sense including the wellbeing and health benefits.

Listen to the 'How Covid has changed the way we travel' podcast here. 

Words by Justin Ward- Head of Policy and Technical Practice at CIHT