The Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Select Committee warns in a new report that – although avoiding public transport has been necessary during the pandemic – action will be needed to prevent a permanent shift in public attitudes towards it.

It highlights fears that social distancing concerns may cause an increase in car use when the economy reopens. “The pandemic has caused substantial shifts in how people travel,” the report says.

“This has had a positive effect on some measures of air quality; but it is likely to be temporary, and positive moves such as more working from home and active travel may be offset by people moving away from cities and becoming more car dependent.”

The committee calls on the Government to launch a public communications campaign working with local authorities and transport providers to reassure the public that buses, trains and other shared modes are safe to use.

In its new ‘Air Quality & Coronavirus’ report, the committee also highlights a need for tougher targets to tackle pollution including a specific target to reduce levels of fine particulate matter in line with World Health Organisation guidelines. Long term targets for other key pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, must also be set.

A Government spokesman responded: “Air pollution at a national level has reduced significantly since 2010 – emissions of fine particulate matter have fallen by 9%, while emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 33% and are at their lowest level since records began. However we know there is more to do as we build back greener from the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Through our landmark Environment Bill we have committed to setting at least two ambitious new air quality targets, with a primary focus on reducing public health impacts.”
On active travel, the committee’s report emphasises that progress on increasing walking and cycling during the pandemic must not be lost, and urges: “The Government must match its rhetoric on a longer term shift to active travel with sufficient funding.”

Temporary ‘school streets’ introduced during Covid to increase active travel to places of education should also be made permanent, it says, and calls for a strategy to put these in place for every school where one would be appropriate.

The report also calls for revised timetables for the roll out of Clean Air Zones around the UK, several of which have been delayed by Coronavirus, and urges investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to be brought forward.

“In rebuilding after the pandemic, we have a moral duty to put improving air quality at its core,” said the committee’s chair Neil Parish, calling for greater ambition from the Government.

“We were quick to return to our old ways following the spring lockdown, with pollution levels bouncing back by the summer,” he added. “The Government has rightly banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, but we need more work to help accelerate towards a greener, cleaner future, so that commuting less and using electric vehicles more will be a real option for the majority.”

Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said:

“How we use our transport networks has changed during the pandemic and how we use transport post COVID-19 must support decarbonisation and address the climate crisis – Active travel and public transport will play a key role moving forwards.”

"CIHT will shortly be launching an action plan to support our climate change pledge that will highlight how highways & transportation must change to work towards achieving net-zero."

(Photograph: Yau Ming Low - Shutterstock)